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The Yellowstone River has moved out of winter mode and is now in spring mode...which means some days it can fish well and some days it is windy, cold and tough fishing. And because the Yellowstone River is a freestone, the good days and the bad days are hard to predict. But if you the daytime highs are in the 50s for more than two or three days and the wind forecast is for calm, then it could be worth going fishing. Most of the ice shelf ice is now gone and the majority of ramps are accessible. If you are planning to float double check in advance that both your launch and take out sites are accessible. Late morning midge hatches are often encountered on nicer days and you may even find some rising fish. Water temps are still cool in the morning hours and fishing tends to improve in the late morning and into the afternoon as temps rise. Trout are still in their winter lies so expect to find them in slower runs with a bit of depth for protection. Trout will be highly concentrated so search for the right holding water and once you find some fish slow things down and work the water. Nymphs will be very productive most days and target smaller patterns like size 16-18 bead head attractors and maybe even some larger midge larva. Streamers can still be effective but fish them very slow and deep.
If you are looking for a little something different than the large water of the Yellowstone, consider one of the Paradise Valley spring creeks of DePuy's and Armstrong's. The Paradise Valley spring creeks offer some of the most challenging fly fishing conditions for wild trout in the world. These technical fisheries originate from underground aquifers and flow cold and clear year round. The biomass in the spring creeks are astounding and trout densities are extremely high. The combination of abundant food options and gin clear waters produce conditions that require stealth and match the hatch presentation. Many anglers consider spring creek fly fishing to be the ultimate challenge in the sport.
Best Flies for the Yellowstone River Right Now:
Pat's Rubberlegs in brown/tan or black in sizes 8-12
Beadhead FKA Princes in sizes 10-16
Para Adams in sizes 10-18
Para Purple Haze in sizes 10-18
Beadhead Pheasant Tails in size 16-20
Beadhead Copper Johns in sizes 16-20
Rainbow warriors in sizes 16-20
Zebra Midges in sizes 16-22
Beadhead PTs in sizes 18-22
Juju beatis in flash, black, or olive in sizes 16 and 18
Current Conditions:
Streamflows are well below average for this time of year which makes it a little easier to find the trout. Look in the deeper water next to shallow water, adjacent to riffles, shelfs, and banks. Trout will still be where there is some current because the current is what is bringing them food. Most trout are going to be caught in water that is 4-6 feet deep and has some current but isn't too fast or pushy. Trout want consistency right now...consistency of flow and food source. Trout on the Yellowstone River right now aren't actively feeding nearly as much as they were even just a few weeks ago. But if you fish during the warmer parts of the day you might get into some pretty solid action.
The Month Ahead:
The Yellowstone should fish better and better as spring progresses, with hatches of march browns and spring baetis becoming more prevalent. By mid April we should have more and more surface activity over hatches. As weather slowly warms remember to be mindful of air temps and check the river gauges so avoid spikes in levels from early snowmelt.