Madison River (Yellowstone National Park)
The Madison has cleared up a good amount since the opener. Visibility is between 2 and 3 feet. The Gauging Station quit updating the streamflows so we really can only guess at how much water is moving through the system. Until we get a bunch of hot weather, it should be in fishable shape. The water is still really high, but clear enough to find fish willing to eat large nymphs, San Juan Worms and streamers. Look for soft water out of the main flows, undercut banks that aren’t being pounded by current, large eddies and drop off that give fish shelter from the current.
Firehole River
The Firehole though high, has had some good fishing. Swinging softies has spit out fish for those willing to go underneath. BWO Soft hackles, Bead Head PMD Emergers and Pheasant Tail Soft Hackles have all been working well. Dry fly purists have had to work a little harder in the big water, but hatches of Baetis and Caddis do have some fish looking up to feed. Afternoons have more surface feeding fish than in the morning. Look for slow water where fish don’t have to fight the current to rise.
The Gibbon, Gallatin, Slough, Soda Butte and Lamar are all dirty. These rivers will clear up in this order.