2010 Season Outlook (June 23)

General Fishing Outlook

Conditions should be near-normal.  With the long range summer outlook calling for normal conditions, with the chance of a return of La Nina by late summer, we expect good water levels and temperatures for the entire season.

Due to the cool, wet spring, mosquitoes will likely be intense, especially in meadow areas like Slough Creek.  Headnets and long sleeves are basically necessities through early August.

Extreme populations of grasshoppers are forecast for much of the Northern Rockies this year, including Yellowstone.  Plan on having a lot of grasshopper patterns from around July 10 until the end of September.  As was the case last year, we expect the fish to grow somewhat particular about the grasshoppers they eat since they will be seeing so many (both real and fake), so you should bring a wide range of sizes, patterns, and colors.  Last year the trout first seemed to prefer large hoppers (#6 Rainy's Grand Hopper in tan), then medium-sized impressionistic ones (#8-10 wood-grain GFA, Charlie Boy, or Chunky Chernobyl), then large yellow ones (MFC Yellow Foam Hopper) and small ones (Letort, small GFAs, #14-16 Grand Hopper, and finally pink hoppers (PFS Winged Chernobyl, Pink Pookie).  The preference for large black terrestrials did not seem to materialize last season, but we would not be surprised if the trout want black in September this year.

In-Depth Yellowstone River, Lamar Drainage, and Salmonfly Hatch Outlook

The Yellowstone is ALMOST there, but it is still dropping from spring runoff.  It is currently at 11,500cfs flow.  Here are the expected dates it will become fishable using various techniques:

Nymphing on Foot: Now fishable, but very tough getting along the banks, especially in private sections where the high water mark might only be a couple feet from the river's edge.  Faster sections with larger boulders will offer more fishing.  Not suitable for kids or weak waders.

Streamers from a Boat: 9,500-10,000cfs at the Corwin Springs gauge is basically the cutoff.  We expect it to drop to this level by July 2-3, a bit later than expected due to recent rains..  This is not fishing for novices, but advanced anglers can put up some BIG fish and BIG numbers hitting the pockets just as the river gets into some sort of shape.

Nymphs from a Boat: 9,000cfs is the cutoff to get any kind of drift.  We expect the river to reach this level around July 3-4.  This is a slightly better bet for novices, but even experts should be prepared to lose A LOT of flies to logs when nymphing at this level.  We like nymphing with Woolly Buggers tied to ride upside down trailing a San Juan Worm or large attractor nymph.

Dry Fly Fishing: 8,000cfs is the realistic cutoff (or anytime the Salmonflies are out).  This will probably be around July 5-7.

The Lamar Drainage is also dropping rapidly.  Here are the fishable dates we expect for the three main rivers:

Slough Creek: Fishable now with streamers, except after rains.  Fishable with dries around July 4-6.

Soda Butte Creek: Fishable around July 4.  The creek will rapidly drop into shape due to the forecast below normal temps Friday-Sunday.  Please beware of disturbing spawners in the side channels through July 20.

Lamar River: Fishable July 5-7, for the same reason as Soda Butte.

Salmonfly hatches are about done on the Madison and Firehole inside the Park.  Here's when the best fishing will be on our other nearby rivers:

Madison Outside the Park: Mixed reports, according to contract outfitter Pat Straub.  Check with Bozeman/West Yellowstone/Ennis shops.

Gardner River: Dry fly action now starting, but subsurface fishing has been better.  Will get better for another 3-5 days, then start to taper below Boiling River (though caddis will be coming on then) before a resurgence above Boiling River that should last through most of July.

Yellowstone River, Downstream of Gardiner: We expect EPIC conditions this year, as the cool weather means the river should drop into clear enough shape prior to heavy emergences, and should lead to an upriver progression rather than the bugs exploding over all of Paradise Valley and the Gardiner-Yankee Jim reach at once.  July 7 is our prediction for good dry fly fishing, though of course this is subject to weather.

Yellowstone River, Black Canyon: Scattered emergences possible near thermal areas any time now, but the heavy hatch will get going (nymphs) around July 4, with dries around the 10-12th.  The hatch should continue until at least July 20, especially just below cold creeks, and may last almost through the month.

Yellowstone River, Grand Canyon: Scattered emergence likely near the Tower Falls/Sulphur Beds thermal complex any day, but the real heavy hatch will start around the 10th and last until the 25th or so.  This goes for the few pockets of Salmonflies below Yellowstone Lake, as well.

Others: We suggest you check with Troutfitters in Bozeman about the Gallatin and Madison hatches, and Blue Ribbon Flies in West Yellowstone about the Madison outside the Park.  We are going to be busy enough with the water right outside our door to worry much about the water 2 hours away...

2010 Rates

We have set our rates for 2010.  Rates on walk trips remain unchanged.  We have slightly raised our rates for half-day float trips and single person full day float trips to reflect increasing costs for fixed expenses like shuttle service fees, which are identical regardless of how long a float we do or how many clients we have in the boat.  We have also raised our rate on shoulder season floats for one or two anglers, for the same reason.  Our rates remain towards the lower end of average for fly shops in the region.

Contact Information

Phone:

PO Box 196

202 Second Street South (US-89)

Gardiner, MT 59030

Richard Parks, Owner

Walter Wiese, Head Guide