[ARCHIVE] Yellowstone River Report 09/23/19

Now is the time to float fish the Yellowstone. Fall colors have come on, crowds are thinned and fishing can be excellent. The river has started to cleared back up after being off color following last week’s rain. Hopper fishing has slowed from what it was, but is still active on most days. On most days, from late morning on, fish are on the hopper. Several types of hoppers are taking fish. Try the Yellowstoner Chubby, Yeti Hopper, Fat Frank, More or Less Hopper, Otter Hopper and Pink Pookie in tan, pink, peach, olive, yellow or grape body colors in size 10-14. Nymphing can usually be a good way to start out the day early as fish have been gorging on nocturnal stones. Try fishing a big rubber leg nymph like a girdle bug, Pat’s rubber leg or bitch creek. Make sure to use a long enough leader and weight to get it down in the heavy water. It’s a good time to consider streamer fishing using the Grinch, Kreelex, Bow River bugger, Sparkle Minnow patterns, and basic black buggers. Pre spawn Brown Trout will start being aggressive. Fish may be eating the dry fly early too, so fish a Jack Cabe, stimulator, PMX or Purple Haze. If they’re not hitting the big dry or hopper consistently, drop a bead head nymph on a long dropper off of it. Also, keep a Purple Haze, Parachute Adams and Caddis handy for any rising fish. The cloudy, overcast and showery weather days should produce some nice BWO hatches. Look for pods of rising fish in the tailouts and slicks. Use a smaller size Purple Haze or Parachute Adams.