Livingston’s winter has set in. Low atmospheric pressure, snow accumulation, and colder winter temperatures prevail through the weekend making for challenging conditions.
Overcast days with some precipitation can and will create good fishing conditions, most notably on the Paradise Valley spring creeks, provided the wind is down and temperatures are relatively stable. There are still random surface feeding fish on the local spring creeks, most notably to irruptive hatches of midges in the slower calmer water in, above, and below the ponds as well as the tails of pools. With that said the best fishing of the day will be on nymphs through the warm part of the day. Midge (size 20) patterns in black, olive, and red have been the most productive day in day out.
We’ve been receiving reports on the Gardner River. There are still a good number of brown trout in the pocket water of the lower river that have been taking bead headed rubber legs and stoneflies under indicators. Having the Gardner River open to fishing year-round is another great option for winter fishing in the area.
Please be mindful of spawning redds/beds and their location, please avoid wading over them
Fish appear to be most active through the middle of the day 10:30am-2:30p and, at times, eagerly take a dead drifted nymph rig of a scud/sowbug with a zebra midge or baetis nymph dropper. Focus your attention below the cleared spawning redds and in the deep stabile pools. Fish the rig deep and slow.
Note on safety: whether you are walk and wading the Yellowstone, the Gardner, or the Paradise Valley Spring Creeks, please be aware of the effect of air and water temps during winter outings. Use caution traversing ice covered shoreline, shelf ice can give way, and be a slip, trip, fall hazard. Additionally, the risk of hypothermia is increased. Dress appropriately for weather conditions and have a plan.
Gardner river flow chart
Gardner River near Mammoth, YNP – USGS Water Data for the Nation
Yellowstone River flow chart at Livingston:
Yellowstone River near Livingston, MT – USGS Water Data for the Nation
National Weather Service forecast for Livingston MT
Suggested Flies:
Nymphs:
Bead headed Rubber legs (brown, black), 20 Incher, Tungsten jig stone, Craven’s two-bit stone, Tailwater sowbug 16-18 and other nymphs , Zebra midge (red, olive, black) 20, Frenchie, 12-16, Psycho Prince (yell/or) , Rubber legs, Darth Baetis, Sawyer Pheasant tail, sow bug, scud, blood blister midge, Squirmy worm, Perdigon, Cheeseman Emerger, Pink var. Blow Torch.
Streamers:
Wooly bugger (black, olive, white,), Sparkle minnow (olive, black), Home Invader, Slump Buster, leach patterns, Baby Gonga, Rubber legged cone head Krystal bugger (Blacl, ol, yellow), Intruder style spey flies, large soft hackle flies, McCune’s Olive Sculpin.
Dries:
Harroup’s hanging midge, Brooks sprout midge emerger, cluster midge, Harroups CDC adult midge, CDC olive comparadun 20, Last Chance Cripple (BWO) 20,
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