While all of our area rivers are still swollen with Spring runoff, they continue to clear and have been fishing very well. Hebgen Lake is now nearly at full capacity making it necessary for Montana PPL to increase outflow at the Hebgen Dam. Expect flows in the coming week to excede 2500 c.f.s. Stable and warm sunny days have resulted in Caddis becoming the predominant insect hatch on several area rivers, but the Firehole is currently the best choice for the dry fly fisher.

While still full to it's banks the Firehole is the nearing it's peak fishing with increasing numbers of caddis hatching each week. Brachycentrus (the Mother's Day Caddis) and Nectopsyche (White Miller's) have been two of the more dominant species of caddis observed while PMD's are still hatching but their appearance has not been as consistent and fragmented at times. Soft Hackles are still deadly and provide the most consistent action.

Caddis: Arrick's Foam Tan Caddis 14-16, Sedgehammer 14-16, CDC Elk Hair Peacock 14-16

PMD's: Hackle Wing's, Extended Body's and Tilt-Wing's 14-16

Soft Hackles: Peacock and Partridge, Pheasant Tail's 12-16

Like the Firehole, the Madison is still full to it's banks but also continues to clear and has been fishing very well with nymphs and streamers. Some PMD's have been seen hatching but caddis are much more abundant. As the Madison continues to drop expect more dry fly action. While it never has really strong hatches of Salmonflies, they've have been hatching along with some Golden Stones but at this point are all but done.

Caddis: Tan X-Caddis 14-16, Tan Para-Slick Caddis 14-16

PMD's: Tilt-Wing 14-16, Hackle Wing 14-16

Nymphs: Black Sili-Stones 4, Lex's Stone 4-6, Prince Nymph 6

Droppers: San Juans, Serendipties, B.H. Pheasant Tails

Streamers: Flash Fry 6, Cross Eyed Zonker 4, Egg Sucking Sculpin 4

Those anglers looking for less pressure than the Firehole or Madison receives, the Gibbon is now a good choice as it continues to drop and clear. Nymphing will be your best choice but there are enough riffles and deeper pools where the river bends to swing weighted soft hackles and streamers. The Gibbon isn't known for the size of it's fish, but every year yields a few surprises.

Nymphs: Double B.H. Prince 8-10, Lex's Golden Stone 8

Droppers: San Juans, B.H. Pheasant Tail's, Crystal Dips

Streamers: Peacock Buggers 6-10, Ice Leeches 8-12

Soft Hackles: Peacock and Partridge, Pheasant Tails 10-14

As eager as many anglers are for Slough Creek they will have to wait a week to 10 days longer this year. Slough Creek is not expected to clear until the end of the first week of July. Soda Butte and the Lamar River may not be clear enough to fish until the end of the second week of July. Wear industrial strength bug dope, long sleeves and carry headnets when these rivers come into shape as the biting flies will be horrendous.

Not worth your time unless you're headed towards Big Sky or Bozeman. Rippin' fast, extremely cold and very high, the Gallatin won't fish well for at least 2 more weeks.

You're best shot for a giant Yellowstone Cutthroat is on this massive alpine lake. Sinking lines though will be absolutely necessary, either a clear intermediate or a Type II line. If using a float tube watch the wind, this lake can turn vicious quickly.

Streamers: Seal Buggers 6-10, Peacock Buggers 6-10, Halfback's 8-12, Rickard's Stillwater Nymph 10-12

Opens July 15th.

A float tube or boat is really the best method of fishing Hebgen as fish are moving into deeper water during the brightest hours of the day. Midges have been hatching quite heavily during the morning and evening hours. If you only have a floating a line using a sinking leader is only O.K. for streamers but just fine for dunking chironomids under an indicator. A clear intermediate should be your first choice to effectively keep your Seal Bugger or Peacock Bugger at the correct depth.

Streamers: Rickard's Seal Bugger 6-10, Peacock Bugger 6-10.

Chironomids: Ice Cream Cones 12-16, V-Rib Chironomid 12-16 in black, olive or red.

Montana PPL has been increasing the outflow at the dam for the last several days and will continue to do so for the next week. Water clarity had been improving as river levels dropped but has started to increase in color as the Madison rises once again. Nymphing and streamers have been the name of the game with limited options for dry flies, but that should change any day now. Working likely looking spots more slowly is more productive than the typical run and gun approach. Fish your streamers and nymphs tight to the banks. Adding split shot to your stonefly nymph will be necessary in the faster flows on the river.

Nymphs: Lex's Stone 4, Sili-Stones 4-6, Double B.H. Prince

Droppers: Hot Pink San Juans 8, Red Serendipities, Red Zebra Midge, Flashback B.H. Pheasant Tails 16-18

Streamers: Flash Fry 6, Crazy Crystal Buggers 8, Cross-Eyed Zonkers 6-8

We continue to hear good reports from our Henry's Lake regulars, though the fish have moved into deeper water -12 to 15 feet. Type II Wet Cel lines or clear intermediates are the best lines to use with Seal Buggers, Peacock Buggers and Halfbacks at this time. Fishing a chironomid (Ice Cream Cones in particular)under an indicator has also proven deadly during evening midge hatches and accounted for some big brook trout and cutbows.

Streamers: Halfbacks 8-12, Mity Mouse 10, Seal Buggers & Peacock Buggers 6-10

Chironomids: V-Rib Chironomid 14-18 in black, olive or red, Ice Cream Cones 12-16