Fishing Report – 4/10/26

The guys have been out fishing the last week, on the Yellowstone River, Mill Creek, and the spring creeks. The fish have been hungry everywhere! For what it’s worth, the warm spring weather and relatively high flows are making for the best spring fishing that I can remember. You should get out while the getting is good!

Here’s the skinny from the Sweetwater staff:

Rich Ridgeway on the Yellowstone River:

Flows are holding around 3,200 cfs. The river has some color to it, but it’s still very fishable if you slow down and focus on good water. Water temps are hovering around 42°F.

Fish aren’t overly aggressive right now, but they’re definitely still willing if you adjust your approach and fish with intention. No need to overcomplicate things—bigger profiles are still effective with the added color in the water.

• Size 4–10 Pat’s Rubber Legs

• Size 8–10 Jigged Zirdle Bug (olive with orange bead)

• Size 12 jigged Pheasant Tail variations

• Size 12–14 darker patterns (purple, black, olive) — Purple Blow Torch, Black Blow Torch

Keep it simple and fish with confidence. This is one of those stretches where success is less about perfect conditions and more about slowing down, covering water thoroughly, and spending time with the river.

Mike Allen on Mill Creek and the ‘Stone:

Hit up Mill Creek this weekend. Lots of water, saw some bugs but nymphing was the ticket for me. Size 16 and 18 worked well 2ft under the indicator. Chartreuse moved a few nice one. Landed a nice cutty on a red pheasant tail nymph (my own creation). Had a few day on the Yellowstone no luck. I did see rising fish at Loch Leven 4:30-5 pm ish small midge nymphs 18-20 will do the trick. Find those feeding lanes and enjoy. Happy a great weekend and keep em wet. Your favorite shop guy Mike .

Jan Axtell on the Paradise Valley spring creeks:

The Paradise Valley spring creeks are fishing very well with the influx of rainbows running up them to spawn.  Fish are eating egg like patterns below the redds as well as baetis nymphs and midges.  Nymphing is still your best bet, but there are more and more reports of good baetis hatches on cloudy days.   Working deep holes have been producing great fishing.  Additionally, there is some very good midge hatches early in the morning and in the evenings.

Exercise caution around the spawning beds.  DePuy’s has several areas marked off as refuge.  Nonetheless please avoid wading around the redds as well as targeting actively spawning fish.