Yellowstone river fishing conditions

Summer in S.W. Montana this year wasn't exactly a barn burner like the fly fishing community had predicted. Late winter and early spring snow filled our mountains with sufficient moisture to keep our rivers full of water for the up coming summer months. But, as it turned out, the precipitation kept coming and left us with inconsistent river conditions for much of the summer. Also, this year was supposed to be the year of the grasshopper, with swarms of the late summer gobs of protein. Unfortunately, the cold weather drug on so long that it killed most of the Hoppers larva and left anglers scratching their heads when trout refused normally productive patterns.

It's fall now, and unlike our summer season, fall is fishing like fall. Water conditions right now are perfect. On sunny days ants and beetle patterns will bring fish to the surface, but cool cloudy days are setting off hatches of Baetis and Drakes. Also, the White Fish are begining to spawn, so a little yellow egg behind your favorite bead head should produce. If your not into the dry fly thing or watching a bobber all day, it's time to start huck'n junk. And by junk, I mean Big nasty streamers. Pulling streamers on those gray days will bring pre-spawn Brown Trout out of the depths and could put the fish of a life time in your hands.

TY