Good news from Yellowstone Country Fly Fishing: April and May actually threw us a bone with some chilly weather, slowing down the runoff and saving local guides from a total low-water disaster. Right now (valid from June 12 until about June 20, or when the Salmonflies finally explode), we are officially transitioning into early summer. The main Yellowstone River is still rockin’ that “Montana dirty” look—high and murky—but it’s totally fishable if you hug the banks. Throw heavy stonefly nymphs or meaty streamers on tippet thick enough to tow a truck, because those trout are sitting right against the rocks. Meanwhile, fast-dropping spots like the Boulder and Stillwater rivers are already moving into peak pocket-water mode, so skip the deep pools and target the choppy stuff.
The Clock is Ticking: Thermal Warnings & Small Stream Tactics
If you’re heading into the Park or eyeing the area’s smaller waters, Yellowstone Country Fly Fishing warns that you need to watch your watch and your thermometer. The countdown is officially on for meadow streams like the East Gallatin, which are in prime shape right now but will likely face drought closures by early July. Over on the Lower Madison, Firehole, and Gibbon, afternoon water temps are already spiking into the high 60s and 70s, meaning you need to fish early and pack it in by lunch to give the trout a break (and avoid the impending invasion of recreational tubers). For the best action, bypass the muddy Lamar System for another week and hit the Gardner River instead—leave the wimpy Euro-nymphing rods at home, rig up a heavy 6-weight, and tight-line big stonefly patterns into the bankside pockets.
Check out their whole general fishing report here.
