[longs for cutts]

I’m curious about the action. Right now my only seven is a TFO Pro Series, because my preferred high-end rod make (Orvis) doesn’t have a medium-fast seven weight and my shoulder can’t handle really fast rods. I am getting more and more into streamers, and would love to downgrade the TFO to a “client boat rod” and fish something more expensive myself.

[longs for cutts]

Peak snowpack varies from April 1-May 1 depending on location. High mountains (Absarokas) peak late, while the western and NW parts of the state peak early.

It is unlikely at this point we’ll be low, but I make no concrete predictions about how high we’ll be until after mid-May, when we know if there’s a weak of summer early that blows things out. An 85-90 degree week in early May at low elevation can happen, and it guts the snowpack.

Here are very preliminary predictions for YNP and surrounding area if everything runs near average from here out: http://www.parksflyshop.com/news.html

Also, the long range NOAA outlooks suggest a transition to warm and dry for summer. So it’s a good thing we’ve got plenty of snow. Actually, that’s always a good thing. I’ll take the Yellowstone right to the edge of the willows until mid-August over getting on it on June 20 anytime.

[longs for cutts]

–run up fish from Hebgen into the Madison, Lower Firehole, and Lower Gibbon
–run up fish from the Yellowstone into the Gardner
–on the Yellowstone (mostly streamers AM)
–on windswept, rocky banks in the private lakes
–from Lewis Meadows up to the base of Lewis Falls (limited but under the radar)
–from Lewis down the river to Lewis Falls, from Lewis and Shoshone into the Lewis Channel (late in October)
–up the Yellowstone to various stretches of gravel, late in the month. We mostly leave these fish alone due to the fact most are actively spawning.
–into the spring creeks from the Yellowstone.

The Madison and Lewis runs are the most famous and see the best chance at numbers of big fish, but they are also crowded. The Yellowstone treated us really well this year fishing big junk AM and matching hatches PM. The private lakes aren’t all that popular in the fall, but they’re probably the best bet for numbers. The Gardner is tricky as the fish are hard to intercept except immediately after rain/snow (like steelhead), and the fish in the Gardner aren’t as big as those in the Madison/Lewis, but there also aren’t as many people chasing them.

[longs for cutts]

There is no chance whatsoever that Slough Creek or anything else in the NE corner of YNP will be fishable at that time this year. There is a very small chance that the Yellowstone in the Grand Canyon between the falls and the mouth of the Lamar will be fishable, but it is unlikely. Even if it is clear enough, it will be green/brown and in the bushes. The closest certain fishing to Slough Creek campground is going to be Joffe Lake, a little brook trout pond near Mammoth. The lower Gardner MIGHT be nymphable if the few days before have been cool. It can be really good on stonefly nymphs if it’s just barely fishable, but it’s physical to fish and can feel like work.

In the park, the best bet by far will be the Firehole. PMD and White Miller caddis should be hatching, maybe still some BWO if it’s cold. The Madison and the Gibbon Canyon are maybes if runoff is either early or slow/gentle. Grebe and Cascade Lakes will fish well if you can hike 3-4 miles.

Outside the park here at the north end the Yellowstone will be so high that 50-70 foot trees will be rolling down it. We’ll be fishing/guiding private lakes ($60-100 rod fee but big fish and no competition).

If you really want the “Yellowstone experience,” the best time to come is mid-July through Labor Day. This timeframe has the largest number of fishable waters. May-June and October has fewer options but fewer people (and fall-run browns in October). September is kind of a mixture depending on the weather. Hoppers on warm/sunny days and BWO and streamers when early weather happens. What September isn’t is uncrowded. Frequently the Lamar drainage is more congested for the two weeks after Labor Day than at any other time, mostly because there’s simply a lot less water in the streams and far fewer fishable side channels.

If you are stuck coming in early June, I’d say a guided day on the Firehole/Madison/Gibbon and one on a private lake outside the park would be your best bets. More but smaller fish on the Firehole, and a better chance of dry flies, plus impressive scenery, then fewer but bigger fish on the lake.

Thanks for the shoutout to our site, Mike.

Walter Wiese
Parks’ Fly Shop http://www.parksflyshop.com

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