This is still a very good time on the Paradise Valley Spring Creeks. As the Yellowstone River rises and gets muddier and muddier, there are plenty of Yellowstone River resident fish that take refuge in the creeks. Expect the creeks to fish well for the next month and then they will fish very well once PMDs start to hatch in mid-June.
The two main creeks we fish are Armstrong's and DePuy's spring creeks near Livingston and Bozeman, Montana. The next several days should be ideal on the creeks---scatterd clouds or overcast skies and showers is an ideal forecast for prolific hatches of Blue Winged Olive mayflies. These creeks are private and do require a rod fee, but, if you enjoy sight-fishing to rising or shallow water feeding trout, this is a very good time to be fishing these creeks.
If you do go, expect nothing to happen till around 11 ish and then it will still be mostly nymphing. You can almost always find a rising fish or two if you hunt hard enough that are looking for midges but on most days expect to nymph fish. The slower slots will concentrate trout, but they won’t move far to take flies so expect takes to be subtle. We've been targeting the lower sections a little more than the riffle and upper reaches. This is true for both creeks. These fish are best targeted with subsurface tandem nymph rigs fished on long leaders and light tippets. Midge, mayfly, and scud patterns are most successful. Choose sizes 18-24 and patterns that tend to be sparsely tied rather than bushy or large profiled.
Keep in mind when fishing these spring creeks that they are major spawning tributaries for the Yellowstone River. Rainbow trout are moving into the creeks to begin to spawn. It is very important to be aware of redds and avoid walking on or targeting fish on redds. But not all trout in the spring creeks are rainbow trout and not all rainbow trout in the spring creeks will spawn at the same time. Because of this, the spring creeks in our area can offer consistent fishing. Hatches of Blue Winged Olives will increase in abundance so plan your fishing to begin late morning and wrap up by late afternoon. Before a hatch occurs on the spring creeks, trout will be holding in deeper runs, buckets, or holes.
As a rule we often use yarn indicators on spring creeks – generally custom cut to be just big enough to not sink. These indicators allow you to detect very subtle disturbances resulting in more hookups. Most trout are going to be selective and eating midge pupa or emergers or mayfly nymphs, emergers, or dries if you are lucky. The exact fly isn't always key, but something that is tied well, sparsely tied, and the right size is more important than making sure you have "that one hot pattern." Where you fish and your presentation is much more important than changing out lots of flies. Because the water is crystal clear
If you are looking for some places to fish this spring near Bozeman or Big Sky that offer consistency when some of the larger rivers do not, consider the spring creeks. Additionally, the creeks can also offer a respite from the windy conditions that can be prevalent during March and April. The consistent flow of the spring creeks mean water temps are the most conducive to find feeding trout when other rivers and creeks may fluctuate on a daily basis. The consistent water temps produce a higher metabolism in spring creek fish than trout in other waters and gives anglers a better chance to hook up.
Visit Our Shop for These Top Spring Creek Flies Right Now:
BWO Captive Dun in size 16-22
BWO Sparkle Dun in size 16-22
Para Adams in size 16-22
Juju Baetis size 22
Wondernymphs in black in sizes 18-22
Beadhead Zebra midge, black or red, size 22
Mole Midge size 20
Scuds, sowbugs like Ray Charles in natural or pink in sizes 18-22
Midge larva in red or purple in size 20-22
The Month Ahead:
This time of year the ideal spring creek day has overcast or showers and little wind. Hatches will increase in frequency as water temps climb into the range of 50 degrees F and stay there. Because the spring creeks often demand intimate knowledge, booking a local guide can be a good way to get the most out of these unique fisheries.