July 14, 2011 Most of the local rivers and creeks are still a little high to fish. Water clarity is fine on most, but the amount of water makes fishing tough. It can be done, but it is a lot of work for a little reward right now. That being said, this is a time when big fish make mistakes, so????. It was not worth looking that hard for that one big guy to me, so I spent the last week on the Bighorn. The fishing is crazy over there right now. There is great dry fly fishing most of the day on PMD's, Yellow Sallies, Black Caddis. The nymph fishing is really good too, I mostly fished a tan Ray Charles with a bead, followed by anything that looked like a PMD nymph. Most of the fish ate the PMD nymph. The streamer fishing was spotty, but when it was good it was real good. Oh, and there is nobody over there right now. The water temperature is in the mid 50's, so you can skip the waders too. I don't think it will be long until the Stillwater River is ready. I do not mind guiding on the Stillwater at high water, and it has almost dropped to a level I consider safe and sane. It will not be the easiest fishing in the world, but it can be good. Call my cell at 406 425-1761 for up to date information, or to book a trip.
This fatty had a girdle bug dinner for Valentines Day
Yep, snowshoes and waders, All Terrain Transportation for the Madison
Beautiful trout, green grass, gorgeous scenery, and snow in the high country!! 6/2/2010
Bo enjoys the green grass on 6/2/2010
I have just spent the last 4 days on the Stillwater. The dry fly fishing has been as good as ever. There are midges, Baetis, and March Browns. The fish generally don't seem picky. I have watched a lot of them gobble which ever bug is floating over them at the time. I have fished #18 olive sparkle duns, #18 ICU Baetis, #14 tan sparkle duns, #14-#18 H.C. Pheasant Tails, and #18 bead head flashback pheasant tails. All have caught plenty of fish for me. The same bugs worked on the Yellowstone the last time I was there. I have not fished Rock Creek myself, but I have heard pretty much the same report. I would get to the river at around 11:00 and fish nymphs in the riffles until you see bugs and rising fish. You know what to do after that! Good Luck! Any questions, just call (406)425-1761.
Dave hooks a good one on the Stilly 4/6/2010
This one ate a #14 H.C. Pheasant Tail 4/6/2010
A #14 tan sparkle dun fooled this one and a bunch of his relatives
4/4/2010 Easter Dinner!
This healthy brown trout hammered a streamer stripped fast through knee deep water!
UPDATED 1/22/10
Fishing in 2010 has started out great. Until today I had fished 10 out of 11 days, and the last 8 days in a row. It was a great run for January, but mother nature has put an end to it with a dose of winter. I did a 4 day trip to the Bighorn and had a couple good days of streamer fishing. When they would not eat a streamer we got them on nymphs. Tan Ray's, Brown San Juans, Baetis nymphs, and PT's all caught fish for us. I'm not sure it mattered what streamer we threw, but we mostly stuck with brown or olive. Other than the Bighorn I have been poking around on area freestones looking for water open enough to fish. Because of the ice you can't just go fish anywhere, but if you look hard enough you can find open water. Out of 10 days of fishing I got skunked once. The weather was changing that day, and I fished a couple runs behind someone else. I never noticed him hook up, but I did not watch closely either. I did see him standing where he should have been fishing for a while. That could have effected the outcome for both of us. There was one day that I got a bunch of whitefish and hooked but did not land a trout. Otherwise fishing was really good. Most days I even found a big fish, yesterday I found 3 big trout plus some whitefish and average sized trout. About 2/3rds of the fish have been caught on nymphs or dead drifted streamers, the rest either swinging or stripping streamers. I don't think the fly really matters right now. I have fished a lot of standard stuff from hares ears and pheasant tails to brown buggers and sculpins. The only fly I have tied on that has not worked was a red San Juan with a gold bead. I started to get a feeling they were afraid of it. I never even caught a fish on the other fly I fished with it. The day I got skunked I fished the Juan above a brown bugger. I started off the next day with that rig and fished hard for a long time until I got my first fish on the bugger. I kept fishing and got nothing else for a while. I finally took the Juan off and immediately got into fish. It ended up being a great day. ??????? Probably just coincidence, but who knows? Go to RECENT PHOTOS to see more pics from the last couple weeks.
UPDATED 1/22/10
Fishing in 2010 has started out great. Until today I had fished 10 out of 11 days, and the last 8 days in a row. It was a great run for January, but mother nature has put an end to it with a dose of winter. I did a 4 day trip to the Bighorn and had a couple good days of streamer fishing. When they would not eat a streamer we got them on nymphs. Tan Ray's, Brown San Juans, Baetis nymphs, and PT's all caught fish for us. I'm not sure it mattered what streamer we threw, but we mostly stuck with brown or olive. Other than the Bighorn I have been poking around on area freestones looking for water open enough to fish. Because of the ice you can't just go fish anywhere, but if you look hard enough you can find open water. Out of 10 days of fishing I got skunked once. The weather was changing that day, and I fished a couple runs behind someone else. I never noticed him hook up, but I did not watch closely either. I did see him standing where he should have been fishing for a while. That could have effected the outcome for both of us. There was one day that I got a bunch of whitefish and hooked but did not land a trout. Otherwise fishing was really good. Most days I even found a big fish, yesterday I found 3 big trout plus some whitefish and average sized trout. About 2/3rds of the fish have been caught on nymphs or dead drifted streamers, the rest either swinging or stripping streamers. I don't think the fly really matters right now. I have fished a lot of standard stuff from hares ears and pheasant tails to brown buggers and sculpins. The only fly I have tied on that has not worked was a red San Juan with a gold bead. I started to get a feeling they were afraid of it. I never even caught a fish on the other fly I fished with it. The day I got skunked I fished the Juan above a brown bugger. I started off the next day with that rig and fished hard for a long time until I got my first fish on the bugger. I kept fishing and got nothing else for a while. I finally took the Juan off and immediately got into fish. It ended up being a great day. ??????? Probably just coincidence, but who knows? Go to RECENT PHOTOS to see more pics from the last couple weeks.
This nice fatty finally ate the brown bugger under the beaded San Juan (read 1-22-10 report for story)
Updated 1/11/10
As the weather is a little warmer now, I am going to go poke around on some local rivers and streams and look for some open water. I am not expecting to find much because of all the cold weather we have had this winter, but I know a few places to look. The Bighorn is always an option. It has been good with streamers and all the standard fare under and indicator. If you want to check in and see where I've been just call (406)425-1761.
UPDATED 10/01/09
Seasonable Fall weather has finally arrived. I am sorry to see the warm temperatures leave us, but this weather change should turn the fishing on. The nymph fishing has really been pretty good on both the Stillwater and Yellowstone Rivers. I have had some really good dry fly fishing on the Stillwater, and a small taste of it on the Yellowstone here and there. Streamer fishing has been spotty, but I would not leave home without your streamer box in your vest for the next few weeks. I would also have size 12-14 pheasant tails, hare's ears, H.C. pheasant tails, size 18 Baetis nymphs and dark grey hare's ears, as well as midge larvae and pupae in olive and black. For dries I would have baetis parachutes, comparaduns, or sparkle duns in sizes 18 to 20. I would have a size 16 yellow mayfly for both rivers and a size 12 for the Stone. I will keep my terrestrial box as well as my caddis box with me, but I doubt if I will open them much. Expect the fishing to be pretty good, but the fish to be a little picky about what they want. What works today may not work tomorrow (flies as well as techniques). Your standard hopper/dropper rig may not really get the job done anymore. Be ready to change your tactics.
Brad netted this nice brown for Will at lunch
And a couple minutes later he netted this nice one for Bill
8/8/09 The Stillwater River has been fishing very well for the most part. We have had quite a bit of weather roll through in the last couple weeks, and that has dictated how the fishing will be. On the hot, sunny days the hopper fishing has been incredible. On the cloudy, stormy days it has usually been nonexistent. Nymph fishing on the cloudy days has been really good though. Brown girdle bugs, red San Juan's, caddis pupa, and hare's ears have all worked well for me. On the nicer days there is some caddis activity in the evenings. Some days it is better than others, but it is usually worth sticking around for. I've had a couple days when my clients had to be off the river early. I went and grabbed an early dinner at the Dew Drop and then hit the river around 7:30 until dark. Each night I got about 12 or 15 fish, some on spent caddis, and some on caddis emergers.
The Yellowstone River has mixed reports. I've only been on it one day because the Stillwater has been so good. It was brown yesterday from the rain, but fished well with hoppers the day before. Some days have been better than others out there, but when it has been good, it sounds like it has been real good. That is the way the Stone is, you have to pay your dues to get one of those good days. I'm going to the Stillwater today, but I am about to get out there and start rolling the dice on the Yellowstone regularly.
Miles got this one early on his first float trip
One of the many nice fish Bill caught after lunch
One of Miles' many fish before we had to move him to the back of the boat
7/20/09 The Stillwater is still fishing good. The late afternoon/evening has been the best time of day for me to fish. I am mostly fishing big dries like the club sandwich. Pheasant tails, beetles, and partridge and yellow soft hackles have all caught good numbers of fish for me lately.
The Stillwater River has dropped to around 2,000 cfs, and is fishing great. The fish are up eating big dry flies. I've been on the river the last couple days throwing big dries. For me a Club Sandwich outfished everything else I tried, but yesterday every fly I tied on caught at least a couple fish. A good nymph fisherman could still go out and catch more fish nymphing than on dries. Pheasant tails, hares ears, and any pmd nymph, all in size 14 to 16 would be my choice. If you feel the need to throw a big fly then a brown rubber legs could be your lead fly. Now is the time to take a guided trip on the Stillwater. It will be at it's best these next couple of weeks. To book your day just call me at (406) 425-1761, or email me at aszofran@hotmail.com
Updated 7/7/09
Lindsay with a rainbow on the rubber legs
The Stillwater River has been dropping and fishing really good. Fish are starting to look up at times for big attractor dries. I am still catching more fish on rubber legs, San Juans and pheasant tails below the surface. Fishing is very good now if you have a boat to get around. There is still a lot of water if you are a wade fisherman. The dry fly fishing is only going to get better on the Stilly in the near future. There are a few Pale Morning Duns around. Now is the time to book a guided day on the Stillwater. It should fish its best these last few weeks of July. Call (406) 425-1761 to book your day on the river.
Rock Creek is clear, but still high. An experienced angler could go out and catch a few, but it would be tough work.
Some of the lakes across the face of the beartooths are opened up. I've been to Line Lake a few times and it has not disappointed.
Updated 7/2/09
The Stillwater River continues to run high and clear above the Rosebud. Not much has changed, this morning it is at around 4600 cfs. They are releasing over 800 cfs out of the West Rosebud, so that is where some of the increase came from. It is fishing good if you can get into a run or two to fish. A boat makes that a whole lot easier right now. We are getting some fish on big attractor dries, but most on nymphs. The H.C. pheasant tail, and olive hares ear have been most effective for me.
Updated on 06/28/09
Brown trout on the foam wing stone
I floated the Stillwater River on Thursday (6/25) and Saturday (6/27). The water is still pretty high, peaking over 4,000 cfs every day. The water temps are around 46 at mid day getting up to the low 50's in the evening. On Thursday the fishing was ok. We caught a fish or two every time we stopped and got out of the boat, and a few from the boat. We got fish about 50/50 on nymphs and dries all day, and a few at the end of the day fishing streamers on the way to the take out. Yesterday the fishing was good. The first few runs I fished gave up a fish or two each on dries. When the water warmed a little in the afternoon I got into a couple little riffles that each gave up about a dozen fish, mostly on the H.C. pheasant tail. For flies you want girdle bugs, H.C. pheasant tails, San Juan worms, foam wing stone fly, and PMD's. I have seen a few PMD's each day. Thursday I saw a few fish rise to them, yesterday nothing, but I would not be on the river without them. With the amount of water in the river right now it would be tough to fish without a boat. I will be on the river today, so hopefully there will be another good report on the Stillwater.
Hello, As we are getting our website up and running my fishing reports may be brief. I will try to keep it updated as I go fishing, or talk to buddies who do. Please feel free to call or email me for more information.
Local rivers and creeks: The Stillwater River is very high and cold, but clear to barely tea colored above the Rosebud, and fishable to barely fishable below. I have been on it a few days in the last couple weeks in these conditions. Fishing has not been red hot, but it beats not fishing. The water has been dropping the last couple days, if it stays on that trend it should be fishing good in no time.
Rock Creek is in about the same shape. It is very high, very cold, but clear. An experienced and determined angler could go out and catch a few fish with a whole lot of effort. Would it be worth it? You have to be the judge. You could fish the creek below town and have a chance at some bigger fish. If it were me, I would fish one of the forks of Rock Creek above town. There are some fishable pools along the roads up the Main Fork, and the West Fork, or you could hike to find them up the Lake Fork.
Flies: On any of the above waters the fly pattern is not as important as where you put it and what you do with it. I would be fishing Girdle Bugs, Stone fly Nymphs (your favorite pattern will do), #12 Pheasant Tails, #12 Hares Ears and red San Juan Worms. I would keep them on the bottom in the pockets near the banks, or through the bottom of the plunge pools up high on Rock Creek.
Beartooth Lakes: Most of the mountain lakes are still frozen. Beartooth and Lilly are both open, and I have heard of fish being caught at both. Little Bear, Long and Twin Lakes were all just starting to open late last week. In the past week I have been to Line Lake a few times and done fairly well, depending on how hard the wind is blowing. Olive scuds, Soft Hackled Wet Flies and brown Wooly Buggers worked well for me.
Line Lake Cutthroat on a Partridge and Yellow Soft Hackle
