The weather is finally giving us a break from the heat - look for high 70's to low 80's through next week and always the chance of afternoon storms.
Madison River
Flow from Hebgen is up now at 1500cfs, a little higher than norm but crystal clear. Flow at Kirby Place at about 1600cfs. Good caddis action continues through out the day with blanket hatches in the evening. PMDs are still important through out the day with spinners mid morning. The fish are starting to look at hoppers and other attractors like wulffs, trudes and humpies. Have some flying ants as well.
For nymphs stick with the stone/caddis pupa or mayfly nymph and hopper dropper combos.
Some Epeorus starting to show in the evenings. Remember these little guys have a pinkish body and don't stay on the water long - fish a Pink Hackle Stacker or Pink No-hackle in the film.
Brown Rubber Legs, RAM Caddis, Good N Plenty , BH Mangy Caddis, Copper John and BH Prince 14 for droppers. Henryville Special 12-14, Tan X-Caddis 14, Goddard Caddis 12-14, CDC Caddis Emergers 14-18, PMD Sparkle Dun 14-16, PMD Cripple 14-18, Rusty Spinner 14. Grand Hoppers 10-16, Dave's Hopper 10-14, Para Hopper 10-14.
Gallatin River
The Gallatin is now in great shape. Lots of Caddis, PMDs, Yellow Sallies, small hoppers, Royal Wulffs and Humpies. The biting flies are starting to improve but have a headnet just in case.
X-Caddis 14-15, Tan Elk Hair 12-14, Goddard Caddis 12, PMD Sparkle Dun 16-18, CDC Caddis Emergers 14-16, Henryville Special 12-16. Royal Wulff 12-16, Yellow Humpy 12-16, Para Hopper 10-14.
Lakes
Hebgen - The Lake level is at 96%. Tricos are now standard morning fare along with good numbers of Callibaetis. Fish the edges of the weed banks from a tube or boat.
Para Sparkle Callibaetis 14-16, Callibaetis Thorax 14, Poxyback Nymph, Pheasant Tails 14-16.
Quake Lake - Same as Hebgen.
Yellowstone Lake - Black Leeches and Black Wooly Buggers are taking some nice Cutts from Gull Point to Sand Point and Mary's Bay. Callibaetis and PMDs in the AM before the wind blows.
Henry's Lake - Reports are good with some big fish taken on a Bill Schiess Mighty Mouse (which we don't sell).
Yellowstone Park
New fishing regs for the Park this year, the most important "All Barbless".
Give the Firehole a rest til September.
The Gibbon has been picking up with attractor dries with small nymphs as droppers.
Golden Stones and attractor patterns still on the Gardner between Mammoth and the North Entrance, bring some small hoppers as well.
The NE is the place to go! Slough and Soda Butte are really fishing well and the Lamar suffered a small set back earlier this week but is now just about clear again. I'm going to make my annual trip this weekend so I'll get a first hand report out next week.
The upper Yellowstone has dropped a bunch so it should make finding the fish a bit easier although reports continue to be spotty. Lots of times those cutts are right on the bank so look before you step. Good reports of Caddis, PMDs, Green and Gray Drakes and a few of the big bugs.
For the NE - X-Caddis, PMD Biot 14-18, Yellow Sallies, Flying ants, Gray Drake Cripple, Para Biot Drakes, Hemingway Caddis 14-18, Krystal Beetles 12, Grand Hoppers 14-16.
For the 'Stone - PMD Sparkle Dun 14-16, CDC Caddis Emergers 14-18, Olive X-Caddis 14-18, Gray and Green Drake Cripple, Para Biot Gray and Green Drake 12, Norm Woods Special 6-8, Rogue Salmon Fly.
Henry's Fork
Flows into the Box right around 1400cfs.
The higher water seems to have brought on another round of Golden Stones. Streamers, Caddis, Stone nymphs. Box - HotWire Caddis 14-16, Olive RAM Caddis 12-14, Yuba Pupa 14, Good N Plenty 14, Coffee/Black Rubber Legs 6-8, Pepporoni Yuk Bugs.
Last Chance and the Ranch continue with PMD and Caddis hatches and the Flavs are offering an afternoon show when the thunder storms come in.
Have some ants, beetles and small hoppers with you and look for the bank feeders. Last Chance PMD Sparkle Dun 16-20, PMD Cripple 16-18, HOH PMD Captive Dun, Hemingway Caddis 12-16, X-Caddis Olive 14-16, Silvy Visible Caddis, HOH Yellow Sally.