The Gallatin River stream flow today is 1,000 c.f.s. at Gallatin Gateway with poor visibility and is likely to go higher on Friday. The river should stabilize this weekend and into next week.

Flows will continue to be up and down over the coming week based upon day-to-day weather conditions. The river has been fishing very well on the drop, but has proven challenging when water levels are rising. Fish can certainly be coaxed from high, muddy waters, but knowing the river well is the key to success. As water clarity deteriorates anglers increasingly rely upon memory to locate deep holding water. Anglers will do best by focusing on water they’re familiar with, and by sticking to flies they’re confident in… runoff conditions are not a time to be exploring or experimenting.

The river is currently on the rise at 1,000 cfs and will likely approach 1,500 cfs on Friday, but water levels should stabilize as we go into the weekend. Visibility is down to inches below the Taylor Fork, and a bit better above. Stonefly nymphs dredged along soft banks and deep tailouts are your best bet. Which stonefly nymphs? A variety of patterns will produce, but there are a few that we’re particularly fond of:

• Pat’s Rubber Leg/Girdle Bug – these two patterns are virtually interchangeable and can be tied in a wide variety of color combinations. They’re simple to tie and look an awful lot like the real thing. Black is a top producer at this time of year, and the bigger the better since these are imitating the giant salmonfly… size 4 to 6 isn’t overkill.
• Mega Prince – An excellent pattern during high water, this prince nymph on steroids is heavy, buggy, and boasts a large profile… a great combination during runoff.
• Bitch Creek – A Montana classic that produces best during periods of low to moderate water clarity.
• Yuk Bug – Another tried and true stonefly/attractor pattern that has accounted for countless fish on Montana freestones, particularly during high water.

The weekend forecast is calling for a cooling trend extending into next week. It should be enough to slow snowmelt and stabilize flows for a few days – we have our fingers crossed. But if the weather system delivers rain at high elevations, we may see accelerated snowmelt and higher river levels next week.

Snow pack is looking good in the Gallatin drainage, with a basin wide average of 92% as of today. This should set us up for a good, healthy runoff that subsides in mid-June… hopefully just in time for the salmonfly hatch on the Gallatin.

The upper Madison is flowing at 1,200 c.f.s. at Kirby Ranch (just above the West Fork) and clarity remains good. The weekend forecast is looking good for mayflies and streamers.

The upper Madison is in fine shape and continues to fish very well. Flows have bumped up slightly to about 1,200 cfs near Cameron, while remaining steady at just over 900 cfs out of Hebgen Dam. Insect activity is ramping up, midges and baetis are providing consistent head hunting opportunities on overcast afternoons, March brown duns have been spotted on the river, and caddis will be hatching soon. Anglers who are proficient with double nymph rigs are finding excellent fishing from Ennis all the way up to Hebgen Dam. Stonefly nymphs are becoming increasingly important as are caddis pupa. It’s tough to beat a #8 Pat’s Rubber Legs trailed by a #16 Shop Vac or #18 Pheasant Tail. Of course worms and eggs remain top producers as well. The streamer bite has been good at times and should really turn on with the cloud cover that is in the forecast for this weekend.

The Yellowstone River is on the rise at 4,700 cfs near Livingston. The river is not the best option for anglers at this time.

All bets are off on the Yellowstone. It’s on the rise and muddy – at this point it might be done until June when runoff subsides. The Lamar and Gardner (upper tributaries of the Yellowstone) have spiked substantially and are contributing heavy sediment loads to the Yellowstone. The cool down in the forecast will help, but the Yellowstone is often slow to clear once it gets momentum on its side. If the river does shape up next week, anglers can expect opportunities to take fish on caddis dries, along with the possibility of an excellent streamer bite.