The following report is by Montana Angler in Bozeman:
We have reached the end of snowmelt runoff here in southwest Montana. Our freestone rivers have stabilized and it’s game on for rivers such as the Yellowstone and Gallatin. The freestones are in their ideal post-runoff form, so get out there while the getting is good. Our tailwater rivers and Paradise Valley springs creeks will continue to be a viable option through the season.
We are experiencing a rare event of awesomeness in its totality at the moment where everything is awesome in the Montana fly fishing universe. This doesn’t happen every season and it doesn’t happen for long…but it is happening right now. You simply can’t find a bad place to fish right now. The Smith River is low but still floating for another week and fishing great. The Yellowstone River is a little high but runoff is over and it is of course fishing awesome. The Missouri is in its abundance of mayfly hatch nirvana as a parade of PMDs grade the water each day….and fishing is of course AWSOME. Damsel flies are popping on ranch lakes, the Firehole in the park is close to the end of its run BUT still awesome in the mornings. The Yellowstone inside the Park has just dropped to fishable levels and maybe only 85% awesome, but still not too shabby. Salmonflies are even popping on the Upper Madison. So there you have it – sheer and complete awesomeness.
Overview
Stonefly nymphs are going to be getting more and more active as water temperatures warm. Fishing the banks and “walking speed” water will be the primary focus for the next couple of weeks. Target bankside structure like rocks, logs, etc. On rivers like the Madison this is the time of year to focus on the banks. On the Gallatin and Yellowstone this is the time of the year be sure to use shorter leaders and stout tippets because you are not likely to be able to see the structure and if you snag up you want a stout enough leader so you don’t lose too many flies.
If you want to fish crystal clear water and try some more technical fishing–either dry fly fishing or shallow water/tight line nymphing action, choose the Paradise Valley Spring Creeks or the Missouri River.
Hatches
Caddis, stoneflies, golden stones, yellow sallies, and PMDs.
Fly selection
Parachute Adams in sizes 12-18
Comparaduns in sizes 12-18
Royal PMX in sizes 10-12
Beadhead Little Green Machines in olive or natural in sizes 16 to 22
Pat’s Rubberlegs in contrasting colors in sizes 6-12
Beadhead Pheasant Tails in flashback or natural in sizes 12-22
Firebead or hot bead SJ wormies in sizes 8-12
Beadhead Perdigons in natural, olive, peacock, black, in sizes 16 to 22
Sawyer Pheasant Tails in sizes 16 to 22
Home Invaders in darker/contrasting colors in size 2 – 10
Sculpzillas in black, olive, or brown in size 2- 10
Sparkle Minnows in a variety if colors in size 2 – 10
Elk Hair Caddis in sizes 10-18
Buzzballs in sizes 16-22
Your favorite go-to streamer pattern
Reading water
On our freestones reading water right now it relatively simple–fish the banks and bankside structure and find slow water near the structure. On our tailwaters and spring creeks, the game is a little bit different. It is important to pay attention to a river’s pockets, seams, riffles, runs, and pools. Because the main hatches right now are caddis and PMDs, fish are going to be scattered. Caddis are going to hatch from riffles or along the banks and PMDs are going to hatch at the start of runs or in shallow riffles. The place to look for trout during these two hatches are where two speeds of water mix. Focus on current speed and depth changes. The composition of the bottom is also important on tailwaters and spring creeks. This can give you a clue to the type of insects that might be hatching…especially in a spring creek or tailwater. PMDs most likely will hatch from streams with small cobble or tiny gravel.
