The 2009 Yellowstone National Park Fishing Season is officially underway. Opening day brought with it the standard amount of fanfare, crowds, and fish. Weather was beautiful. Too beautiful, in fact to see much in the way of hatching bugs and rising fish.

Once again, I spent the opener with Fran "the man", the Daufels, John, and Jamie up on the Firehole. Water conditions are holding just above bank full, and the clarity is a very fishable "tea-color". Bright skies seemed to prevent any signs of baetis or pmd mayflies. I did see one pmd below biscuit basin, and some stray caddis. In the absence of bugs I tied on a small white streamer and worked deep runs and undercuts. I managed to move a good number of fish, and land a handful of ambitious, little browns.

This morning skies are cloudy in West Yellowstone, and the forecast calls for a 70% chance of thunderstorms by the afternoon. Sounds like much better weather to see some bugs and rising fish. Stay tuned.