Here are the latest fishing reports from Blue Ribbon Flies out of the Yellowstone area, and you can reach them via phone and email at:
The Madison in the Park will be the prime attraction these last few days of the season, with plenty of run-up fish spread out throughout the Madison from the lake to the junction. With forecasts showing cool, sunny weather, we anticipate that swinging flies will be best for the first few hours of the day and the last hour or two, while fishing nymphs will most likely prove most productive through the middle of the day. Try swinging flies like the Montana Intruder, Baker’s Hole Bugger, natural Super Squirrels, black Prospectors and brown/yellow Soft Hackle Streamers, as well as Shakey Beeleys, Full Dressed Reds, Grouse & Pinks, orange Partridge & Ice and Blew on Blue for soft hackles. For nymphs, look for the slower, deeper water and drift a #8-10 black Rubberlegs with a #16 Prince Nymph, #14 Euro Stone, #18 purple Perdigon Nymph, or #16-18 brown $3 Dip for a dropper.
On the Gibbon River, there are solid numbers of fish all the way up to the falls now, and it continues to be a place to escape a few of the anglers that are sure to come out for the last weekend. Don’t be afraid to cover some water here, as the big fish will often be a little less concentrated than they are on the Madison, but hooking into a hog on this little river is a memorable experience. Try stripping a copper Zonker, black or olive/white Prospector, or a black Sculpzilla through all the little pockets and deeper runs, or go deep with the same nymphs mentioned above.
The Firehole is still fishing well and will be another solid option for finishing out the season. Baetis mayflies are still emerging between 12pm and 4pm, and be sure to have #22-24 Sparkle Duns and #20-22 Baetis Soft Hackles to match this hatch. Swinging soft hackles will also produce some fish this weekend, with #16 Ephemerella Emergers, #19 Peacock & Starling, #14 Partridge & Green, and #16 Snipe & Purple soft hackles will all be great choices.
If you’re looking to avoid the park altogether, the Madison below Quake is another top choice. A few Baetis are still emerging in the afternoons, and midges are becoming more important by the day as well. If you see risers, try #22-24 Baetis Sparkle Duns, #20-22 Scotty’s Midges and #22-24 Improved Zelon Midges. Nymphing has still been productive as well, with #16-18 brown $3 Dips, #16-20 black Zebra Midges, #18 Darth Baetis, #16 cream Montana Bullets, #18 Micro Madison Baetis, and #10-12 coffee Rubberlegs being the flies to have.
