[ARCHIVE] Yellowstone River Report 04/29/19

As is typical this time of year, water clarity has fluctuated and been inconsistent. With colder temperatures, flows have dropped and cleared somewhat, so there may be a window to fish. The water temperature is still very cold, but once the day starts to warm up and the sun gets on the water, look for Midges and BWOs to come off, particularly in the slacker water sections. Look for March Browns as well as they were appearing sparsely before the cold snap. If the water is clear enough, fish beadhead mayfly nymph patterns like a hare’s ear, pheasant tail, or red copper john. Otherwise, nymphing with black, brown and coffee colored rubber leg patterns like girdle bugs and Pat’s rubber legs, or similar colored stonefly patterns is likely the best way to go unless there are actively feeding fish. Black and darker color streamer patterns like the Grinch or a black bugger as well as a san Juan worm are good options in off color water as well. For dry fly action to rising fish, try a smaller size Purple Haze or Parachute Adams. Once we get into more consistent, warmer weather, runoff will likely be here. It remains to be seen if we’ll see caddis before it does.