[ARCHIVE] Yellowstone River Report – 05/06/19

Flows dropped and cleared. If there are no heavy rains in the system, it should stay clear enough to fish through the weekend. 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. Overcast days should provide the best conditions for dry fly action. To rising fish, try a smaller size Purple Haze or Parachute Adams. Otherwise, if the water is clear enough, fish beadhead mayfly nymph patterns like a hare’s ear, pheasant tail, or red copper john. In off color water, nymphing with black, brown and coffee colored rubber leg patterns like girdle bugs and Pat’s rubber legs, similar colored stonefly patterns, or a san juan worm is likely the best way to go unless there are actively feeding fish. For streamers, black and darker color streamer patterns like the Grinch or a black bugger are good, standard options. Once we get into more consistent, warmer weather, runoff will likely be here to stay. It remains to be seen if we’ll see thick caddis before it does.