Current Conditions:
The bulk of the Blue Winged Olive hatches have ceased on the creeks. But if a cool, wet cold front comes the BWOs will return and the spring creeks will be a great place to be. Hatches of caddis can also occur on the creeks in the coming weeks, so on any given day the creeks can provide some legit dry fly fishing opportunities when other rivers like the Yellowstone and Gallatin Rivers may be blown out due to runoff.
Before a hatch occurs on the spring creeks, trout will be holding in deeper runs, buckets, or holes. These fish are best targeted with subsurface tandem nymph rigs fished on long leaders and light tippets. Midge, mayfly, and scud patterns are most successful. Choose sizes 18-24 and patterns that tend to be sparsely tied rather than bushy or large profiled.
Visit Our Shop for These Top Spring Creek Flies Right Now:
Juju Baetis size 22
Beadhead Zebra midge, black or red, size 22
Mole Midge size 18
Brooks Sprout, BWO size 18
Almost-a-Dun BWO size 18
The Month Ahead:
This time of year the ideal spring creek day has overcast or showers and little wind.
Because the spring creeks often demand intimate knowledge, booking a local guide can be a good way to get the most out of these unique fisheries.