April 19, 2009 - Steve Hoovler

It's been an interesting week of spring weather and spring fishing in Yellowstone Country. Our week started with a strong, spring snowstorm that dumped up to 15" of wet, heavy snow in Bozeman, and twice that much in the surrounding mountains. Now, we're looking at blue skies and highs approaching 70 degrees!

All of the area rivers have seen a change in flows, clarity, and fishing.  From the Stillwater and other Yellowstone tributaries, to the Gallatin and Madison, we've put on some serious miles chasing clear water and rising trout this week.  Cool temps earlier in the week kept the snow-melt sustained to a moderate pace leaving rivers like the Gallatin, Yellowstone, and Stillwater relatively clear and very fishable. As the storm let up we were left with gray skies and temps in the upper 40's and low 50's - perfect conditions for spring baetis and march brown hatches.  By this weekend, warmer temps have accelerated the melt and clean water is getting tougher and tougher to find.

With the snow-pack well over 100% and water levels in Hebgen Lake at 72% officials have brought the flows of the Madison up to 1140cfs below Hebgen and 1680cfs below Ennis, roughly 200cfs above normal. The river above Ennis remains clear, but below the Beartrap Canyon it's picked up the usual spring-green color.

As we jump into the end of April with warm weather in the forecast, Mother's Day Caddis are imminent. Most of the low lying, valley snow from the last storm is gone, and night-time temps in the mountains continue to fall below freezing.  We just might see the run-off mellow out a bit before the next batch of stormy weather hits late in the week.

Stay Tuned.