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Its that time of year again. Fishing is hot, but will not last forever. The run off should start kicking in within the next month or so while temps climb. We have already seen the flows jump a bit, but only to make the fishing better. When flows start to come up and temps rise, it triggers the spawners to start running. I would stay away from the spring creeks and side channels for now being that the cutts and rainbows are making their way in there for their annual spawn. If you do want to fish the springs be wary wading, and fish behind the redds. A lot of the time you will see a hungry brown staged up yards behind a paid or spawners chompin on some eggs. Although the glo bug is usually a daysaver, you cant go wrong this time of the year, and could be a go to fly right off the bat. salmon, and yellow colors have worked best for me.
Its also the best time to be throwin streamers in my opinion. Water is getting some color, flows are on the rise, and browns are starting to chase some big bugs. Even though with that said, unless you find yourself out there on a cloudy warm day, try dead drifting them on the bottom or slow retrieve. Sculpins are starting to lighten up a bit being a brown or olive color so out with the black in with the color. Other streamers such as the Bow river bugger, wolly bugger, and all sculpin patterns should be productive right now. If you are feeling lucky, or just wanna go big, try tossing out something big and ugly like a large articulated home invader or articulated monkey. Color in these big flies are up to you. Sunny days, go with yellow, white, purple, and cloudy days, go with something more natural like black, olive, or brown. But whatever works for you works for you. Swinging a 5 wt with these big flies does not always work out well, especially on the yellowstone being that wind is always present. I use an 8wt single spey for the most part when i am throwin big flies, and accompany it with some nice 12 lb mono for my leader. Its not common that you are catching anything smaller than 4 lbs when you are fishing these big articulateds so why mess around.
Nymph wise is pretty standard here right now. #14 prince, lightning bug, PT, HE, really any stonefly or attractor will be productive right now, along with a midge dropper. Dirty water days, go red, or green on the midge. I like the serendipity in a #16-18, and clear water a little smaller, and maybe in a rootbeer color. Lightning bug in grey is good right now and will only get better with the baetis hatch that just started.
Speaking of baetis, duns have been spotted on cloudy warm days in the paradise valley. Although midges are still the bug of choice for the fish. Not for long though. Once the fish realize they can get a bigger meal, they will key in on baetis. Dry fly wise, I like to fish a standard cdc bwo, or a cripple mayfly in olive or grey. The spring baetis have more of a greenish tint, while the fall hatch is a big smaller in size and grey (rs2, my favorite NJ fly).
Wont be long before the yellowstone jumps from 1500 cfs to 12,000 so get out and fish while its hot.
