River Reports
Big Horn River 
With fantastic fishing year round, the blue ribbon Bighorn River is a tributary of the Yellowstone River and is rated one of the world's finest trout streams because of its abundant trout, dense insect hatches, and easy accessibility. With the completion of Yellowtail Dam at Fort Smith around 1965, the river was transformed from a slow warm body of water to the classic cold and clear tailwater river it is today.
Game Fish Opportunities:
Brown Trout, Channel Catfish, Mountain Whitefish, Rainbow Trout
Detailed Information
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Current Conditions - 08/2011The fishing conditions on the Horn are far from excellent, but it still continues to fish well. The flows are still high(8000 cfs), but fisherman have been doing very well. Periods of surface activity has been very impressive, featuring Yellow Sallies and spotty PMD action. Also, the usual suspects have been taking lots of trout: firebead sowbugs, pink and grey; san juan worms, red, wine and tan; midge larvae, root beer and zebra; and black quill nymphs.
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Recommended Fly Patterns
| Red, brown and wine are starting to work well. Fire beads, softhackle sowbugs and pink and grey ray charles are working well during high water.
Sowbugs trailed by midge larvae: red, olive black. zebra midges and rootbeer midges are working well in size 18. Glass bead Quill nymphs in size 18 are starting to work. |
Dry Flies Size #16 PMDS and #14 and#16 aYellow Sallies have been working good mid morning.
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StreamersStreamers are still working, Black woolly buggers JJ specials brown and yellow buggers and circus peanuts. |
Yellowstone River 
The Yellowstone has survived as one of the last, free flowing rivers in the continental United States. Originating in Wyoming, it flows through Yellowstone National Park before entering Montana at Gardiner. From the park boundary to Livingston, the river flows north through Paradise Valley, flanked by the Absarokee Mountains on the east and the Gallatin Range on the west. From the clear, coldwater cutthroat trout fishery in Yellowstone National Park to the warmer water habitat at its mouth, the river supports a variety of aquatic environments that remain relatively undisturbed. Excellent fly fishing can be found from Gardiner to Park City, and the Yellowstone is floatable all spring and summer.
Game Fish Opportunities:
Brown Trout, Burbot, Channel Catfish, Mountain Whitefish, Paddlefish, Rainbow Trout, Sauger, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout
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Current Conditions - 08/2011The word is out that the fishing is on in the Paradise Valley! Water levels have receded enough that good clarity has the River starting to fish. Hopper/dropper rigs are working well, along with large stonefly nymphs. Streamers are working well early in the day. The lower river is still high and off color. We all are expecting the lower river to start fishing anythime!
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Recommended Fly Patterns
| Nymphs Beadhead stoneflies, bitch creeks and yuk bugs. Beadhead prince nymphs, PTs, hares ears, and red copper johns. |
DRIES Inclued midges, baetis and some march browns. The Mothers Day Caddis are right around the corner. |
Streamers Brown and yellow , olive, and black woolly buggers
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Stillwater River
This tributary from the Yellowstone is another blue ribbon river. Although named the Stillwater, this scenic, sometimes rough river has very few truly still places. The river begins in the mountains of the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness Area where it flows for more than twenty miles through the wilderness area. It then flows for another 45 miles through a mix of canyons, prairie and forest until meeting up with the Yellowstone River near the town of Columbus, Montana. Once the Stillwater River leaves the wilderness, access for most of its length is good due to numerous road, bridge and designated fishing access sites.The Stillwater River is only 45 minutes from Billings, Montana. This excellent free flowing river is floatable in June and July.
Game Fish Opportunities:
Brook Trout, Brown Trout, Mountain Whitefish, Rainbow Trout, Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout
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Current Conditions - 08/2011The Stillwater has come way down and is really starting to fish well. However, it is important to remember that even though it has come down flow rates are still very high for this time of year (1750 cfs). Normal flow rates for this time are around 300-400 cfs. The floaters have been doing well with stimulators and hopper/droppers in the lower river. |
Recommended Fly Patterns
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Nymphs Beadhead Lightning bugs, March brown nymphs, princes, caddis pupa, shop vacs, and red copper Johns and Pts.
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DRIES: Midges and baetis on cloudy days and March Browns in the afternoons. Caddis (elk hair and caddis emergers). |
Streamers Black and brown woolly buggers are working
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Rock Creek
This red ribbon river is only 60 miles from Billings, Montana. A tributary to the Clark Fork River on the famous Lewis and Clark Trail, Rock Creek is a fisherman's paradise.This absolutely beautiful small free flowing river is very solitary.
Game Fish Opportunities:
Brook Trout, Brown Trout, Mountain Whitefish
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Current Conditions 08/2011It is slowly coming down, but is still quite high for August (405 cfs). It is starting to fish, but wading is very difficult, so be careful. |
Recommended Fly Patterns
| Nymphs Big Stonefly nymphs. Beadhead PTs, Caddis pupa, copper Johns, princes, and lightningbugs.
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Dries: Baetis on cloudy days and march browns in the afternoons. Caddis are coming. |
Streamers
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Boulder River
The Boulder River originates in the rugged, high elevations of the Beartooth Mountains in the Gallatin National Forest. It tumbles down 7,300 feet and 60 miles through mixed conifers, deciduous trees, shrubs, grassland, and agricultural land, to join the Yellowstone River. Most of its drainage lies within the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness. The main Boulder, East and West Boulder rivers and their many tributaries provide a wide diversity of fisheries habitats.This blue ribbon river is excellent fishing and is floatable in the months of June and July.
Game Fish Opportunities:
Brook Trout, Brown Trout, Mountain Whitefish, Rainbow Trout
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Current Conditions 08/11The Boulder has just now begun to recede, but still holding steady at aroung 750 cfs. The upper river is fishing the best above the Natural Bridge. Stimulators and grasshopper patterns working well. The lower river continues to clear and the floaters have been doing well with Hopper/droppers and streamers. Take care when floating the lower river, there are a lot of submerged trees, riprap, and big sweepers, caution is advised.
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Recommended Fly Patterns
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Nymphs: Bitch Creeks and stonefly nymphs have been working well. Beadheads; copper johns, princes, march browns, shop vacs, and caddis pupas are all hot patterns.
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Dries: Baetis and March Browns have really worked well up til now, but caddis should start anytime. |
Streamers Olive and black woolly buggers
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