Go High

There are still a bunch of salmonflies out on the Yellowstone River. The bulk of them are up above Yankee Jim Canyon, up towards Gardiner. So you might want to head up high today or tomorrow, while you still have a chance to fish the hatch before it moves up into Yellowstone National Park. If you’re floating above the canyon, be sure to have someone experienced at the oars, as that section can be a bit sporty at these flows. We’ve been having good luck with the Cat Puke, the Irresistible Rubberleg Henry’s Fork Special, the South Fork Special, and the Flutter Bug. These can all be leader-twisters, so be sure to use a relatively stout tippet (3x or even 2x). If you want to avoid the crowds, don’t be afraid to float below the main hatch, as the fish will keep looking up for the big bugs for a few days after the hatch has passed. Carbella to Point of Rocks or to 26 mile could be a good shorter float this evening. If you’re wading, the lower Gardner can be a fun spot to fish salmonflies in smaller water. By the weekend, all of the excitement could be over (though there are also a lot of caddis and yellow sallies about), so take a sick day (“Salmonfly Fever”) and participate in the madness.