Yellowstone River & Spring Creek Fishing Report for the Holiday Week

A Fresh Fishing Report from Jan Axtell and Rich Ridgeway

What a week we have had in Paradise Valley.  High winds and no snow have us all a bit squirrelly.  Despite our unique winter, fishing conditions remain very good; consistently producing fish throughout the day.  If you aren’t fired up about the skiing, you might as well go fish.

The Yellowstone has been a tough one the last couple days with the wind, if you can find that corner with a high bank to cut you some slack from the wind it can be productive.  Recommended flies, #8 Pats Rubber Legs, #12 Prince Nymph, #14 Pheasant tail, and #10 Twenty Incher.  Tip: Find those deep holes and slower water.   

The Paradise Valley Spring Creeks have been fishing very well.   Spawning behavior has largely concluded. Post spawn browns as well as rainbows have been grabbing flies as they look to bulk up after the rigors of spawning.  Swung leeches are still producing grabs, albeit a fair amount of short striking   We continue to do very well on sow bug/scud and midge rig.  Day in and day out midge rigs or combination rigs with midges in them are producing the most consistent action throughout the day.

Regardless of how you are fishing, bites have been subtle in many situations. A highly reactive indicator will put more fish on the line than an overly buoyant one.  Even on the swing, the bite has been subtle. Fish a shorter leader and watch the tip of your fly line for lateral or upstream movement.

Looking forward:  Our predicted weather pattern over the next ten days looks like colder temperatures with intermittent snow showers….and dare I say …lighter winds.  Weather fronts with snow showers will bring corresponding drops in the barometric pressure and should turn on the fish bite.   Colder temperatures will slow down the big river, but the Paradise Valley spring creeks will fish consistently in their winter conditions.

Note on weather and personal safety: Whether you’re walking and wading or floating the Yellowstone, the Gardner, or the Paradise Valley Spring Creeks please be aware of the effect of air and water temps during late fall and winter fishing.  The risk of hypothermia is increased: 1. Be prepared, weather conditions change throughout the day so have a plan. 2. Eat well and stay hydrated 3. If you’re fishing alone, let someone know your plan.

Flies To Fish

Nymphs/Wet flies

Egg patterns, hot bead sowbugs and other nymphs, Pink Blow Torch, Zebra midge (red, olive, black),  String thing #18-22 (red, olive, black, cream, brown),  Frenchie, Psycho Prince (yell/or) , Darth Baetis, Sawyer Pheasant tail #22, sow bug, scud, blood blister midge #18-20, Perdigon (bwo) #18, Cheeseman Emerger (ol, blk, red),

Streamers

Ruby eyed Canadian Leech, Ice Breaker Leech, Mini Intruder patterns, bugger (black, olive), Sparkle minnow, Home Invader, Slump Buster, Baby Gonga, Rubber Legged Cone Head Krystal bugger (yellow), Galloup’s Boogie Man, Sex Dungeon (yel, ol, blk)

Dries

Harroup’s Hanging midge (blk, gray) #20, Transitional midge 20, Snowshoe baetis #20-22, Sprout BWO #20-22, Last Chance Cripple #20-22, rusty spinner #20-22;