Currently at peak runoff, the Gallatin won't fish well until mid to late June in the meadow stretches of Yellowstone Park and early July below the Taylor Fork.

With the current rainy/snowy conditions, Blue Winged Olives will be the dominant insect hatch. If the sun peeks out some caddis will emerge but expect their appearance to be sparse. PMD's will also start within the next week to 10 days on the Firehole. In the absence of any noticeable hatches, soft hackles will be your best bet but small woolly buggers or light nymph rigs will also work very well.

Essential dry fly patterns include Nyman's BWO D.O.A. Cripple #18, Extended Body BWO #18-20, Tilt-Wing BWO #18-20 and Almost Dun BWO #18.

The most productive soft hackle patterns are Pheasant Tails #18, Peacock & Partridge #18 and the BWO Soft Emerger #18-20. These are also extremely effective as a dropper to the dry patterns above.

Small black or olive woolly and peacock buggers will also work well for some of the larger browns and rainbows above Biscuit Basin. Olive or Black B.H. Mini Leeches #12, Olive B.H. RC Fly and #10 Peacock Buggers are shop favorites.

An exceptional winter snowpack has resulted in very heavy spring runoff - the highest water in a decade. But the upside will be Hebgen Lake receiving all of the water Montana PPL released last summer, reduced forest fires and great year for hatches in the Yellowstone region. Our current snowpack puts the Madison River Drainage at 120% of average. With the Yellowstone season opener now only a few days away, the Firehole will be a prime destination. Expect high but off color conditions. Nez Perce is one of the few major tributaries that is now adding most of the color to the Firehole, avoid fishing below it. The Madison in the Park will be very high and at or near flood stage as is the Gallatin and won't fish well until mid to late June. The Madison River fished well on the opener this past Saturday the 17th. It's now off color but is fishing very well above the West Fork using larger heavier stonefly nymphs and flashy beadhead droppers or big ugly streamers.