It was great be on the water lately.  We took advantage of a great window, especially after waking up to a bitterly cold, wet and snowy morning today. This window will stay open! Temperature and precipitation will play a huge roll in predicting what happens with the future of the Mother’s day caddis…ideally, once the “run-off” officially begins, rarely does it ever “come back”…except for this year!

In order for the fly fishing to continue to be good, or better yet, better, we need cold nights and mild days.  According to the local Montana forecast, that’s just what we will get!  I personally don’t like predicting the weather, let along the fishing, especially on the Yellowstone River, but it’d be my guess that she will fish well the rest of this week and into the weekend.  If it doesn’t, blame the weather man.  The point is, the upper Yellowstone might not be a bad place to be in the next few days. 

There’s an old joke about hunting and fishing guides.  It goes like this:

QUESTION: “What’s the difference between God and Guides?”

ANSWER: “God doesn’t think He’s a Guide”.

That being the case, come prepared for just about any type of weather.  Today felt more like Fall than spring, but by the afternoon, the sun was out and the low lying clouds lifted from the mountain tops.  While the river came up a bit in the last 24 hours, the next couple of days will tell the tale and be a good predictor (if you can’t see it from your office like I can) of just how well the Yellowstone river will fish!

The Caddis Hatch seemed to blow through, however we saw some smaller caddis, March Browns and some small dark stoneflies.  If we see fish feeding, you can bet we put on a caddis of some sort.  It’s not a bad idea to rig up two rods, one with a dropper and dry or wet dropper, then a deep, rock-scraping nymph set up.  To take a step further you could have another rod set up with a streamer…then again, you could just dunk worms and sit on the bank and drink beer.  It’s best to keep it simple-Have fun!

We’ve got some good dates open for our traditional “Slacker specials”….These go super fast because they’re smoking deals, often 50% or more off of regular rates…and still during the best times of the year to be hear!  If you’ve not signed up to recieve the Yellowstone River Fishing Report” and other drivel by your’s truly, please pass this on and make sure you sign up for this newsletter or just give us a call to check on dates and specials!  After all, a call to us is still FREE…800-313-4868!

“Tight Lines & Smiles”

EVENING FLOAT SPECIAL…$150.00!!!!  Call us…800-313-4868

JB Klyap, 800-313-4868

Now is the time to fish the Yellowstone.  With recently cooler nights and the occassional cold front, the river actually went from mud to tea and 3 feet of visibility.  As of last night caddis were emerging through Dome Mountain Ranch stretch and south of Yankee Jim Canyon.  It was great to be out on the water with some pals! 

The Mother's Day Caddis on the Yellowstone River...spring is in the air!

It looks like the river will hold out for a few more days, but don’t delay, take a day off work and get on the water, it -won’t be long until the run-off begins.

We’ve done well with Caddis emerger patterns, and believe it or not, JB’s Brown Fat Boy caught as many fish as the actual Caddis patterns.  The Cutthroats were very colorful and heavy!  The winter was kind to them.  In spite of cold water temps they were more than willing to take a fly from the surface-this of course, gets any fly fishers heart pumping!

The hatch has been somewhat sporatic.  Our evening floats have been the most productive since the caddis have both been emerging and coming off the willows to lay eggs. Ideally, fishing two flies worked well, even if one is iand foamy, fish will eat it once they start looking up for this for this first big hatch of the season.

There's been some great mid-day and evening Baetis action with the calm days!

You’ll more than likely have the river all to yourself, especially the upper stretches from MM26 up.  Though a few boats have been floating down low, most of the good fishing continues to be up stream or further down river towards Big Timber where the silt has had an opportunity to settle.  At least until the Boulder and Stillwater start rocking, the lower stretches will be the place to hunt for some real hogs! 

We’ve got some open dates this week, so give us a call and lets float the Yellowstone!  Until then, happy fishing and happy spring!

JB Klyap, Outfitter #7843

Most folks count the Yellowstone River out once the run off begins, they’ll head off to the Missouri, or worse yet, to the Big Horn, when fact is, there’s fish to be caught in the Yellowstone NOW.

The modern day fly fisher might have missed a link. As for me, I like to keep it simple. Growing up fishing for Steelies in the nastiest conditions taught me one thing-keep casting. While the Yellowstone river might look like baby poo…the fish still eat.

However, the visibility is going to cut down on their normal senses that they might have in August when Trout readily gobble anything floating by. Fishing during the run off takes a complete fly fisher (pun intended)

Visibility may only be a foot…but, a foot is all you need if you can properly swing the right fly by the right hungry Trout. If this sounds too easy, then you should move on and keep buying your flies from North Korea…or you can read on.

Since the Yellowstone River is arguably the last best free flowing fresh water river on the planet, one needs to understand the basics. Fish eat during high water. Pretty much every day. The question is, how to catch them on a fly.

Since the average Trout’s sense of sight will be challenged, this leaves two options…scent and sound. Which leaves the purist fly fisher with one option only…tie a fly with rattles. If you don’t mind cheating, soak your bugs in Crab-oil or some other olfactory exciter. Otherwise…add flash!

We’ve always done well with brightly colored Zonkers dredged deep. Small baitfish will often have trouble breathing in the cloudy water and as a result, will become O2 deprived and flutter helplessly in the current-introduce me to one Trout that will pass on this and I’ll give you the stocking schedule for the upper Yellowstone.

As the water rises it washes all kinds of goodies into the dining room of Troutious Maximus. This includes good old garden hackle…or, in fly fisher talk, the “San Jaun Worm”. While there’s lots of versions, a think fly fisher must consider the situation. Chances are, “scenting” the fly will go beyong your religious beliefs…but, adding some sparkle will allow you more sleep at night. Try a red san jaun heavily weighted with some sparkle. Stop in at your local fly shop. Wrap a few. Find some slow water and dredge.

I bet you’ll catch some fish!

“Tight Lines & Smiles”
Outfitter JB Klyap

The weather in Paradise Valley, Montana is about as unpredictable as my retirement plans.  One day can be a sunny, blue bird 70 degree stunner, then the morning will bring a foot of snow…by the afternoon midges are already popping.  It never fails to receive some good therapy and get outside in the water during this time of year.  You’ll more than likely have plenty of productive Trout water to yourself.

The Yellowstone River during a dead of winter cold snap.

We’re still in pre run-off.  Our snowpack is 1o0% of normal, and as usual we’ll keep our fingers crossed that the big water holds off so we can enjoy that epic Mother’s Day Caddis Hatch.  So far, if the cold nights and semi-mild days continue we could be in for a real cast burner!  Right now, most of the dry fly action has been limited to small midges, but catching “sippers” is fun too!  On the other hand, once these big caddis get on the water strikes become much more viscious!

The colorful Yellowstone Cut Throat Trout

We’re looking forward to a great season and excited to have so many trips already on the books!  We’ll be offering some special packages as always with personalized attention right down to what fly to tie on and where to cast next.  Most folks are planning a few day floats on the upper Yellowstone, some walk and wade fishing on our hidden mountain freestones, and of course day trips to the Lamar Valley to fish hands down the greatest trout waters in the US!  Don’t miss out, give us a call soon.  We’re looking forward to hearing from you. 

“Tight Lines & Smiles”

Jim “JB” Klyap, Outfitter #7843

P.S. Stay tuned for our Florida Keys adventure!  Word is, Tarpon are lining up in droves!!!

There’s lots of reasons I sure love the Yellowstone River.  Maybe the biggest one is because even though she’s ever changing, she’s still always there.  It’s the endless mysteries she continues to present that bekon me to feel her rush by.  To see into her soul where her heart is, in the form of Cut Throat Trout…and a whole boat load of Whitefish.

I just ordered a smoker from Cabela’s, found one pear of old waders and an equally old pair of wading shoes with knotted laces.  Hunting season is over, and what a great one it was, but now it’s time to head back to the waters.  The next few days are going to be sunny and mild, perfect conditions for those no see-ums to be peppered on glassy surfaces ideally presented to sipping trout.  Wish me luck.

Cutting my teeth back east I’d listen intently to the legendary tales of the west. Yarns of 10 pound Browns caught on streamers the size of the fish I used to take home for dinner in Pennsylvania!  Like many, I assumed that the fall in Montana was more like winter, I was wrong. 

I spent 5 summers in Yellowstone and southwest Montana before I ever saw the other seasons. Upon graduating from college, I drove west after Christmas in my pap’s front wheel drive car and was safely having a beer in the old basement of the Two Bit Saloon in Gardiner, Mt. on New Year’s Eve!  Since that time I’ve spent quite a few years here through all the seasons and I can confirm that September through October is a great time to be here. The fishing, the colors, and the solitude are all ideal.

Though it can snow anytime from mid-August through June, Paradise Valley, Montana is considered a Banana belt by Montana standards most anytime of the year.  Accommodating weather far outweighs a reason to stay inside, or worse yet, go back to work. The lack of humidity contributes to the “feels like” weatherman forecast adding several degrees.  On a sunny, calm day you’ll still need sunscreen and on days like this the water can boil as sipping Trout feed on tiny midges.

Once the kiddies head back to school in the late summer, the millions of tourists who come to visit Yellowstone follow back to other less fun places. Of course, this accounts for about 80% of those who fish our great river and visit the area.  Even though the Yellowstone is never considered a crowded river, it’s during the later season when a fisher really does feel alone and can see past the tourist crowd to the true wide open spaces.  Wildlife seems to return again as well.  Even though there’s always abundant critters along this great river, once the noise of summer is gone there is much more to see and enjoy.

By September the Yellowstone has dropped in flow from the June run-off where it may have been gushing and rolling car sized boulders at nearly 30,000 cubic feet per second, down to a crystal clear calm flow of around 1,000.  For both the floating and wading fly fisher this offers abundant opportunity.  In contract to the summer months of nonchalantly tossing flies to the bank, the fall is the time of big fish and exposed lairs.  As big predatory Browns begin their spawn, fat Rainbows will also move in to take advantage of their eggs. 

When the Yellowstone reaches this low point the angler can both see and get close to the treasures normally hidden by bigger, off-colored water. Because the Yellowstone is so big, most wade anglers are overwhelmed by its size, and often humbled by its strength.  Wading comes easier now, and often a fisher need not even get wet waders. Matter of fact, at this time of the year, the upper stretches of the Yellowstone offers plenty of places to safely wade to the other bank. We’ve all been in that situation where we see rising Trout just out of our reach; this isn’t the case in the fall.

We spend most of our time floating the river because it still seems to offer the most fun.  It’s also the time of the year when we pull out big, articulated streamers like our patented “Yankee Jim’s Revenge” and the “Momofo”.  The actions of these two flies when stripped hard and quick from the bank trips a trigger-like reflex in big trout that can snap heavy tipped like a cobweb and wreck well-engineered gear.   When Trout hit these streamers, they hit them with a vicious passion that can leave a person stunned as fly line is ripped from the reel. If you wonder why there is backing on a 5 weight fly rod, hang on and your question will be answered!

Tight Lines & Smiles! 
JB Klyap, Outfitter & Hydrotherapist

If you fish this river long enough, you’ll be tested.   There will be days when it doesn’t seem to matter what fly you fish, they’ll eat it.  Be it generic hoppers, dollar buggers, bead heads, chubby chernobyls or your own secret pattern, then there are other days.  Other days that you consider rolling over a log and picking a few crawlers just to catch a fish.  That’s the Yellowstone.  That’s why we love it. 

It’s snowing in the high country tonight, and we happen to live in the high country, far from the lights and glitz of self-proclaimed fly fishing “towns”.  We’re on the river, not at the local bar or shop.  We see what’s happening and what’s not happening. 

Water temperatures have dropped dramatically.  While there’s still some hoppers around, there’s not many.  Fish really didn’t eat them much this summer anyway.  As for mayfly hatches, I’d have to agree with some of my experienced guide pals (experienced means more than “a season”.) that due to the extreme high water, many bugs simply got washed away.  I’d have to agree.  While there’ve been some sporatic PMD’s, BWO’s, there has been too much action.  That is, unless you look close and visit this river when the fish are really feeding.

If you like the tiny, no see-um stuff, now is your time.  Plenty of midges made it through the high water and there’ve been some evening floats that have held us up past dark.  It’s a good thing we know where those craggly boulders are!  Swinging a wet fly can be a lot of fun and is a good “go to” if you’ve already been through the box a couple of times.

Later in the evenings big cuts have moved to the banks to suck down some Moths.  Most of these are white to gray and are easily duplicated with some split indicator yarn. A foam body with some hackle helps, but for the most part, cuts are dumb fish, they’ll eat it if you put it where they can get it…and LEAVE IT THERE.  Don’t cast too much.  Remember, Cutthroat Trout are notorious for slow, methodical rises that seem to take forever.  If you’re getting fish to come to the fly but missing them, slow down.

If you’ve been holding out for big fish, it’s on.  Once the sun gets behind the Gallatins try throwing your favorite streamer, strip it hard and quick back to the boat and be ready for some reel-screaming fun.  About every big fish in the river is chasing big stuff since there’s been so little to eat.  Enjoy!

“Tight Lines & Smiles”

Jim “JB” Klyap, Outfitter #7843

The best fishing on the Yellowstone River is from anywhere in Yellowstone Park to Point of Rocks.  Most of the water downstream below these areas is starting to get chuck full of Algae as a result of all the over-fertilized trophy homes on the upper Yellowst0ne.  If you’re looking for consistent top-water action, book a float with someone from Paradise Valley, someone who lives on the river.  They’ll know what’s really going on.

Now that the holiday weekend has passed it shouldn’t be hard to find open water in the park.  Lamar Valley might have a few wolf watchers crowding the pull offs, but for the most part, they rarely see anything important.  Trick is to figure out which way the Bison are feeding and plan your attack of the Lamar from there.  You could hike up to the second or third meadow of Slough, or be lazy and wait by the pull off for the PMD’s to come back.  Either way, you’ll be into some serious fish.  Rainbows have been caught way upstream, so don’t be surprised if every cast doesn’t warrant a big cut.  Then again, it’s not a bad thing.

Hoppers are still around and fish will still eat them, but it’s old news.  You can trade a 20 fish day for a 40 fish day by fishing smart.  Don’t be too proud to pull a big streamer from the banks, chances are you’ll hook up!  Make sure you’re out early or plan to stay late, mid-day fishing is going to suck for awhile.  Try to hit the river early or at last call.  You’ll certainly catch fish from 9-5, but you’ll cast more without thinking.

God Bless the Whitefish!

Not too long ago many fly fishers didn’t have much respect for the Rocky Mountain Whitefish…even though every person I’ve seen hook one expresses the very same entertainment-factor reaction.  It just plain feels good to hook anything on a 5 wt. rod floating down a western river.   Folks are finally realizing the value of “Senor’ Blanco” thanks to some forward thinking guides and fly fishers.  Hopefully, more will follow.

Believe it or not, the Whitefish is closely related to Trout in the Salmanoid family. Though fun to catch, willing to take even the worst drift, and great to eat, they’re the least popular.  Sometimes it’s fun to root for an underdog.  Though considered bottom feeders, they’re more than willing to take a fly from the surface and even smack a stripped streamer, often hitting it face first, then coming back in again for the final kill.   Winter fly fishing for these silver bullets can make the long days spectacular.  Often Whitefish will stack up in the foam and only accept a carefully swung #22 Griffiths.  If the Whiteys are there, don’t be surprised to find some feisty Trout as well.

The Whitefish is a fish of mountain streams and lakes, favoring clear cold water and large deep pools of at least a meter depth, in other words, they can only survive in pure, pretty places, the same kind of places we seek for solitute and rejunization.  Places we have yet to taint.  Personally, I’m glad they’re here and hope we all can work together to keep them here.

I’ve personally witnessed even the snootiest of fly fishers smile when they hook up and very, very few who could tell the difference in the fight.  Perhaps there’s subtle differences in thier actions, yet why is it then that after catching three in a row a trout will often suddenly appear on the line.  Maybe Whitefish are a bit more aggressive feeders?  Would that then mean that Trout might be lazier?

“The Rocky Mountain Bonefish”…we could give it an “upper class name”, kind of like we did for Carp not too long ago.   Since then, you’d be surprised how many folks have felt 22 pounds of golden thunder with a face only a fly fisher could love!

They’re a tasty fish, but only few keep them and most prefer Trout, maybe because we just “think” Trout taste better.  If you’ve never had home-smoked whitefish around a wood stove in the dead of a hard Montana winter, you haven’t lived.  It’s best chased with some Buffalo Trace on ice.

As the summer wanes into Fall, do yourself a favor and give the next Whitefish you catch a kiss from all of us fish lovers.  Release them gently and if you get a toad, take some photos, note the brilliant combination of silvers, pinks, red and subtle blues of this fish’s character.  Pass it on if you can.  If you’re looking for great table fare, keep a few this coming winter when the water cools and cleans up from all the yard fertizing upstream.  Smoke a half-donzen and you may never eat Trout again.

We’ll be offering some fall specials.  This is certainly going to be the one.  With great water levels and diminishing fishers a float on the Yellowstone or a few days exploring the streams of Lamar Valley inside Yellowstone National Park can offer the most ideal hydrotherapy on the market!

Tight Lines & Smiles!

Jim “JB” Klyap, Outfitter #7843

Grey Owl to Mallards-Yellowstone River Fishing Report

It’s not unusual during this time of the year for a pounding thunderstorm to wash mud from old burns, avalanches and otherwise, areas upriver which have yet to green up.  This causes what most refer to as a “mud plug”.  This onslaught of clay-like mud turn the otherwise crystal clear Yellowstone into something you might find in a well-loaded diaper, making fishing tough. 

If one is able to get in front of the mud, which often has a clearly-defined line, the fishing can be outstanding.  On this day we raced downriver and chose the bird run. 

Grey Owl to Mallards is a very nice stretch of water and much slower than the upper stretches.  There’s no shortage of good fish on this stretch and rarely is this stretch crowded.  I had the pleasure of fishing with two brothers.  That’s some good fun.  Right from the take-out John B. missed a nice fish with a hopper.  After that, things got interesting.  We changed flies a lot, tried nymphing, then got bored and eventually returned to our original plan-entice big fish to come up and eat a hopper.  Of course, all worked out just fine. 

When our eyes weren’t on the water, they were in the sky behind us.  We watched the skies darken with heavy clouds, saw a bit of lightening, but all agreed that there’d be worse ways to go, so we kept on fishing.  We got a little rain, but not enough to dampen any spirits.  In the end, we had another extraordinary Montana adventure. 

Mcconnell to Joe Brown-by far my second favorite stretch on the Yellowstone, second only to the home-stretch through the ranch.  We had a great day with nearly ideal conditions.  Early morning was calm and cloudy until lunch, then we baked a bit, and I suspect a few folks got a little sun burnt.

While fish are still looking up and more than willing to take a hopper, size, color and presentation are all playing a role now.  In addition, the slow, methodical take of the Cut Throat will get the best of most of us.  Because the water is so clear it’s easy to see these fish rising to the fly.  Even easier to pull it right from their hungry mouths.  Anyone who’s fished for Cuts can relate.  It takes all of us a bit to wind down. 

I still felt like the water was moving pretty fast, so it continues to be tough to get a good drift.  This forces the guide to be on the oars constantly and the caster to mend, mend, mend.  When all these things come together a fish usually comes to the fly. We had some good luck with smaller flies after Corwin Bridge.  Here, the water slows a bit more which allowed us to see #14 Royal Trude’s.  These seemed to get the most attention.

Very little traffic, lots of smiling faces and another perfect day on the Yellowstone River!  Thanks for reading and I’d love to take you fishing!

“Tight Lines & Smiles”

JB Klyap, Outfitter #7843