It is March 18 th at 9 P.M. A stiff south wind blows. All day it’ come hard from the south. A huge stream runs down our driveway, from the melting snow and ice. The thermometer says it is 41 degrees F. A late winter Chinook wind eats away at over 100% of the thirty year “normal” snow pack. Here in southwestern Montana , and all the way east through Yellowstone National Park , we have a lot of snow to melt this coming spring and summer.

It’s been a tough winter with lots of wind and snow. Today I walked up behind our house, on Horse Creek where the cornices of snow tower 20-40 feet above the streambed. I came upon a dead calf moose half eaten by the Sentinel Pack of wolves. The wolves’ tracks appeared fresh in the mud leading away from their recent kill. Maybe you have read that this pack, along with the Ennis Lake pack have been killed by officials during the last week. These two packs have wintered on our ranch and the one across the road for the past few winters. They have preyed on some of the thousands of elk and deer that winter here, as well as the few moose along the creek. But this winter things were different. With all the snow in the valley the elk were pushed further down the Madison River , down where the snow wasn’t as deep and forage easier to find. The wolf packs followed the elk, downstream into the valley where ranchers winter their cattle and these cows were beginning to calve. The wolves found young calf Angus cows much easier to pursue and kill. This lead to the inevitable, government hunters called in to eliminate them. It has been done.  

  It’s been that kind of winter, tough on mammals, but great for the trout. The good news for trout and fly fishers is all the snow and water content in the snow pack. It should be a good fly fishing season.

The early season midge fishing has been good on Montana ’s Madison , Gallatin , Ruby, Beaverhead, and Yellowstone Rivers : lots of rising trout to fair midge emergences. These big early spring midges are just beginning to emerge on southwestern Montana , and eastern Idaho ’s waters, and the fishing will get better as midging gets stronger. Same with the early spring stoneflies. And, we are all looking forward to the tiny Baetis   mayflies to show in late March, April, and May. The #14 Rhithrogena mayflies will soon follow on rivers like Montana ’s Madison , Stillwater , and Gallatin . This dirty olive fly brings some very large trout to the surface to feed on its activity. It is the first large insect to hatch of the young season and big rainbows that have just finished spawning can’t resist it. Midges and mayflies all emerge best on overcast, rainy, or better yet snowy days and we get plenty of this type of weather in May and June.

The lower Madison below Ennis and the Yellowstone around Livingston will have Brachycentrus caddis coming off around Mother’s Day, May 9 th , 2004 . Locals refer to this caddis as “The Mother’s Day Caddis”. On both rivers this insect emerges over a short period, barely two weeks. Both the emergence and egg laying flights are spectacular, with seemingly infinite numbers of caddis in the air and on the water. It is not uncommon for huge rafts of spent adults, often several inches thick, to build up along the shoreline and back eddies. The best activity is in the afternoon around 2-4P.M. The trout will feed on both emergers and spent adults. Then the fish are easy to catch and usually by using a fly pattern that doesn’t even resemble this caddis is the best way to compete with the myriad of naturals for the trout’s attention. A Royal Trude or similar downwing attractor which are easily visible are good choices.  

Montana ’s general fishing season opens May 15 th this year. Idaho ’s opener is scheduled for May 22 , and Yellowstone National Park ’s season opens on May 29 th , 2004 .

If your plans include Montana , Idaho ’s or Yellowstone Park in the early season you should be ready with midge patterns like Zelon, Hatching, and Griffith Gnat Emerging Midges. Early Baetis mayflies will come off too, especially on cool, rainy/snowy days so have flies like Sparkle Duns and emergers. And if you are planning on fishing here in May or June be prepared to fish caddis emergences like the Brachycentrus, Hydropsyche , and Helicopsyche . For success have Iris and X Caddis patterns to represent these important caddis species.

On May 29 th , when the Firehole, Gibbon, and Madison Rivers in Yellowstone National Park open to fishing hatches like Baetis, Pale Morning Dun, and Gray Drake mayflies should be expected during the morning and early afternoon hours. Always be prepared for spinner falls of these mayflies too. In the late afternoon and evening hours look for caddis to emerge, as well as egg laying flights. If you don’t have mayfly patterns like Pale Morning, Baetis, and Gray Drake Sparkle and Knocked Down Duns, Cripples, and Foam/Hackled Spinners along with Iris, X, and Spent Caddis you won’t take your share of big-wild trout!

Late May and early June is a favorite time for us in Yellowstone . And fishing a good Pale Morning Dun emergence can be a profound experience. Our minds are full with memories of early June days spent fishing the Firehole, while the river poured forth wave after wave of duns. Trout often fed for hours, rainbows splashily rising in the middle of the river as well as the big browns barely wrinkling the surface along a protected bank. It is possible then to fish leisurely, enjoying the spectacle of Yellowstone blossoming into spring. Baby bison and elk calves will romp along the river’s edge and wild trout will be rising to mayflies. Days ten years past are still fresh in the memory.  

Salmon flies will show on the Henry’s Fork in the Box Canyon area in late May. And by June 1 st the same hatch will come off on the Firehole River in Firehole Canyon . The Madison River in the Park usually has a good emergence and egg laying flight in early June too. The Gibbon River below Gibbon Falls has a fair salmon fly hatch, but a much better golden stone fly hatch the second week of June.

In June most rivers clear of snow melt and by late June you can expect to fish trout rising to emergences of mayflies like Green, Gray, and Brown Drakes and Pale Morning Duns along with several species of caddis and stoneflies on selected area rivers. Even late clearing rivers and streams like the Lamar and Slough Creek will begin fishing by the 4 th of July.

Some of the most exciting dry fly fishing of the young season is that of fishing trico mayfly hatches on Hebgen Lake and Callibaetis mayflies on Montana ’s Hidden, Cliff, and Wade Lakes and Yellowstone Lake in the Park. This is very demanding fishing for it is all on stillwater . If you’ve never fished our lakes, sloughs and ponds during these two mayfly hatches and spinner falls you are missing out.    

  The large rainbows and browns rising to these mayflies make an audible gulping sound that can be heard for a hundred yards or more, hence their nickname “gulpers”. There are a few things to keep in mind for successfully fishing gulpers.

First, trout often react to insects on a lake surface independently of the insects themselves. The mere presence of the mayflies on the surface, regardless of how susceptible they might be, doesn’t mean the fish will feed on them. The presence and degree of wind is the key factor in determining whether the trout will surface feed or not. Trout will surface feed when the surface is calm, they will be reluctant to do so if the wind ruffles the surface.

Gulpers are very sensitive to waves sent by wading, paddling or motoring into casting position. They will change direction when they feel these waves which always seems to happen just outside your maximum casting range.

Next, keep false casting to a minimum and lead the gulper by the same distance he is traveling between gulps. This is usually a function of the number of insects on the water, the greater the number of mayflies the shorter the distance between gulps. If the fish passes by pick up the line quietly, and with no false casts present it again. Presentation is paramount; the fish are feeding rhythmically and won’t break their pattern or move side to side to take a fly. Have flies like sparkle duns and hackle spinners for both emergences. Once you fish gulpers you will do it time and again!

     July always brings great fishing in Yellowstone . During the day you can fish emergences of Pale Morning Duns, Small Western Green Drakes, and Pink Lady mayflies on rivers like the Yellowstone , Gallatin , Madison , Gardner , Lamar, and Henry’s Fork. Or you can check our smaller streams like Slough , Soda Butte, Pebble, and Tower Creeks. When the mayfly activity slows in the afternoon try terrestrials like beetles, ants, crickets, bees and grasshoppers in likely looking holds. Then, have a leisurely dinner and head to the Yellowstone or Madison for some wonderful caddis fishing until well after dark. Improved X and Iris Caddis are required for success.

There are two important insects that have come on strong here the past few seasons. Both haven’t been written about much in the past. Let’s take a look at them and how they can bring up the trout, and if you are prepared, you will do well during their times on the water.

The Epeorus albertae is our first insect to discuss. It is a fast water mayfly. The common name for this insect is Pink Lady derived from the body color of the female dun and spinner of this species. The male dun and spinners have pale olive bodies. On the Madison River this mayfly has become a very important insect to both trout and fly fisher. These insects emerge in July and August and the trout feed on them daily during these two months. The hatch begins around 5P.M. and peaks at 8P.M. On bright days it is usually sparse, cool-overcast-rainy days bring on better emergences. Even though the hatch might be small, the trout relish the duns and will take an emerger or dun. The spinner falls are more coordinated and just before the evening caddis bring up the trout the fish will sip Epeorus spinners. Be ready and do not assume that because there are a few caddis around that the rises are just to them. Spinner falls occur around 8 to 9P.M. Caddis activity begins just after the mayfly spinner fall.

Epeorus numbers have greatly increased over the past few seasons. Some feel it’s because of the warmer water temperatures over the past few summers of drought, (Pink Ladies prefer warmer water temps). Other biologists feel their populations have increased due to higher river flows during summer months. The Madison ’s flows have been higher as more water has been released from Hebgen Lake to keep the river cooler downstream of Ennis , Montana . Whatever the reason(s), this #16 mayfly has been a huge factor in successful dry fly fishing the river. You will want to be prepared with Epeorus Emergers, Sparkle Duns and spinners.   

The other insect that has caused fits for those anglers not prepared to fish its activity is the tiny Glossosoma montana caddis. For unknown reason(s), many feel might be drought related, this #20 black caddis has been responsible for dozens of fun evenings fishing its emergence on the Madison, Firehole, and Henry’s Fork. A bright reddish-amber pupa pattern we call “Glossosoma Twist”, and a #20 Black X Caddis with a distinct amber shuck has given us fine evening angling. Be prepared for Glossosoma to bring up the trout here anytime July, August, and into Septmeber.

When September and October roll around all of us here in Yellowstone think of the great dry fly fishing we’ll have when hatches of Fall Baetis mayflies, midges, Hydropsyche and Brachycentrus caddis bring the trout to the top. Too, terrestrials like Longhorn Beetles, hoppers, bees and crickets can all be counted on to raise a trout. The best angling is always late in fall. October is best, and the later you can come during that month the better. This is also the best time to fish streamers and large nymphs to big fall run browns and rainbows preparing to spawn.

Fall is a very special to all of us here. Gone are the lines of tourists at local gas stations’ pumps. Locals can reclaim “their” seats at restaurants. Big bull elk bugle their harems together at meadows along the Madison , Gibbon, and Firehole Rivers . Trout rise freely to mayflies, caddis and midges. The first snows come closing roads not maintained for late season and winter travel. The fall season is always too short. There’s always a river or stream we wanted to fish all season but never got to. Or a trout or two we remember from earlier in the season we couldn’t fool, but planned on catching later in the year, before early November snows set in and the park closed to fishing or the road closed due to snow.

But today is early in the fishing season. Time is on our side with many hatches to fish, and trout to catch! Let’s all have a great fly-fishing season. I hope to see you soon in Yellowstone Country. And, I look forward to bringing you the “Fall Letter from Yellowstone ” in the next issue of the Bulletin.