Snake River

Flows from Jackson Lake Dam currently stand at 2,900cfs.  This is the happy place right now for gamefish on the tailwater reach of the Snake.  Callibaetis continue to pop along with midges and now a smattering of PMDs.  There is more surface action on the entire reach, so be prepared to fish either dry-dropper rigs or tandem dries.  Double/triple nymph rigs are still receiving more consistent action.  No matter what tactic you employ, focus primarily on deep riffles, eddies, and seams.

Streamers are producing on all reaches and in the same water and dries and nymphs, although banks and structure (particularly downstream of Oxbow Bend) can fish just as well.  Moderately sized patterns are outperforming larger and smaller baitfish imitations.  Fish these on floating lines, hover lines, or sinking tips (12ft as opposed to 7ft) in the INT to 3ips range.  Neutral colors – think tan or olive – are working better than darker or brighter streamers.

South Fork

Flows from Palisades Reservoir stand at approximately 2,900cfs.  Visibility is good and fishing is also good if you focus your attention subsurface with nymphs or streamers.  Double nymph rigs are working well on all reaches, with stonefly imitations, CDC soft hackle patterns, and caddis patterns performing best.  Stonefly patterns have been dominating total catches by two to one on the lower river from Byington down to Lorenzo.  Riffles, banks, structure, seams, troughs, and side channels are the most productive holding water types.

Streamers are working well on all reaches with both large and moderately sized patterns producing.  Literally every piece of holding water can produce at some point during the day.  Side channels, banks, troughs, and confluences have been the most consistent waters to target.  Go with slow retrieves in slower currents and moderate retrieves in faster water.  Rapid retrieves are getting solid chases and eats, but are not necessarily getting into hookups at the moment.

Green River

Despite a recent warm weather bump, flows have dropped significantly over the past week and a half with flows at Warren Bridge standing at approximately 1.540cfs.  There is decent visibility on all reaches but is most consistent upstream of Daniel Bridge.  Salmon flies are popping upstream of Warren Bridge and gray drakes are starting to emerge on most reaches.  Expect to see some waning caddis, PMDs, and yellow sallies making an appearance in at least an intermittent fashion most days.  Their imitations are getting into fish, as are larger surface attractors imitating stoneflies.  Surface action is best along structure, seams, eddy current margins, confluences, and riffles.  Dry-dropper rigs are producing in the same water.

Stramers are working very well and have been the most consistent approach no matter what reach you focus on.  Banks, structure, troughs, seams, and structure deflection current lines are best waters to target.  Neutral and bright patterns are outperforming darker ones.  Go with floating lines or short sinking tips in the INT to 3ips range and moderate retrieves primarily.   

Yellowstone National Park

Firehole River – White Millers are waning but other caddis (including brachycentrus and rychophila) as well as PMDs and yellow sallies are making for a broad emergence, leading to some decent surface action most days from around 11am to 3pm.  There are salmon flies about on the lower reaches below and just above the falls.  Dry fly fishing has bee most consistent in riffles with pocketed pools and on seams deflecting off of banks and structure.  Eddies can produce as well, but are less consistent than the former holding water types.  These waters are obviously working just as well, if not better, with nymph rigs. Caddis pupa imitations in riffles is working as well now as it was on opening weekend.

Madison River – Caddis continue to pop on most reaches and salmon flies, while waning, are still around and it is worth fishing their imitations, particularly on the reaches above Riverside. Riffles, seams, and undercut banks are all solid targets at the moment.  Surface action is not quite what it is on the Firehole or Gibbon, but there are opportunities during the afternoon hours in riffles and seams.  Small streamers are also worth throwing along undercut banks

Lewis Lake – Lewis continues to fish solid, although there is more action on drop-offs than anywhere else.  Baitfish imitations, dragonfly/damels nymphs, and swimming gray drake or callibaetis nymph imitations are all working equally well if you get the right retrieve – moderate with baitfish imitations and slow to moderate with everything else.  Flat are fishing well from around 8:30am to 2pm and can fish deep into the afternoon on those days with cloud cover (which there has not been a lot of recently).  Go with hover lines, full sink intermediates, and sinking lines in the 3ips to 6ips range.

Yellowstone Lake – Fishing remains good throughout the Lake and there are some larger specimens being caught, particularly on drop-off and submerged weed beds.  Drop-offs are key target water right now and producing best.  Flats have a decent number of cruising cutties and worth concentrating on, although you will experience more follows and short eats than actual hookups.  Go with small baitfish imitations or damsel/dragonfly nymphs and moderate retrieves for the most part.  Hover lines and full sinking intermediate lines are critical, although integrated clean sweep lines that max out at 4ips can work well on drop-offs.