![Yellowstone River Montana Yellowstone River Montana](/sites/default/files/uploads/2021-04/hank.yellowstone.2014-23.jpg)
The Yellowstone River has been consistent lately. Reports of grasshoppers are getting more and more common so expect the terrestrials to start showing up in force here soon!
Fish are still keying on abundant hatches of PMDs, Yellow Sallies, and plenty of caddis. Flows are ideal for a variety of fishing opportunities--from fishing dry flies from a boat and targeting the variety of bank structures to fishing tandem nymph rigs along shelfs and through deeper runs to early morning big brown trout hunts with streamers, anglers on the Yellowstone are enjoying the river that is showing all its glory at the moment.
Current Conditions:
The Yellowstone is flowing about half the normal flow for mid-July. This means trout can be found in a variety of places. Nymphing tight to banks or in the deeper corners of riffles have produced the most. Trout are still holding along many banks but as hatches transition from stoneflies to PMDs and caddis, look for trout to move off the banks to riffles, secondary shelfs, and mid river structure. Also be sure to target inside corners and around rocks. Trout have been looking up off and on for a variety of attractor patterns, with Stimulators and Royal Chubby Chernobyl's ruling the roost. For those anglers willing to get an early start, the streamer fishing has also been very good during low light levels before the sun gets really high on the horizon. Most guides fish streamers right now by using a tandem rig with a large sculpin or baitfish pattern trailed by a smaller beadhead nymph.
The Month Ahead:
As the river continues to drop expect trout to slowly slide into faster water. As banks recede the trout will move to deeper flats with 2-4 feet depth. Giant attracter dries won’t work as well as smaller patterns as the trout see more flies when throwing dries. Trout will continue to move into progressively faster water as temps increase. We are in the summer thundershower cycle so pay close attention to the hydrographs of tributaries like the Gardiner and Lamar and if you see them spike after turbulent weather expect some mud to come down.