June Days in YNP

I really like to fish Yellowstone Park in June. Season is early for both visiting anglers and tourists in general. Although it seems slightly changing every year (= slightly increasing numbers of visitors), yet it's not the peak. Planned right, one can get around.

As for fishing destinations, some lakes are available already. Streams that area ready to fish are limited. We can easily count and memorize = Firehole, Gibbon, and Madison River. These are geyser/ground spring oriented streams, so they don't really get discolored like the rest of freestone streams that run down from mountains as snow melt. These three streams offer supreme insect hatches and dry-fly opportunities, especially the Firehole does. This is because of warm water temperature, which is also due to geyser and ground springs. Flip side of this effect starts to show in July = now it's too warm for trout (they just remain lethargic and hang in there till cool weather arrives). So June, in my opinion, is the most constant fishing, in spite of unpredictable weather. Warm sunny days are good for caddis hatches and when it's cloudy and rainy, mayflies such as PMD will hatch in delights. Trout will rise. Fun and easy to catch? Once in a while - rest of the time, these streams are essentially spring creek look-alike. During the hatch periods, one has to have right flies. Seriously even the smallest trout wouldn't be fooled by unmatched flies and poor presentations. The added bonus, if one is lucky, is to encounter Giant Salmonfly hatches ahead of Madison River way downstream in Montana. June may sound short, even adding several days from Memorial Day weekend, and this short opportunity of big bugs is even shorter. But it's worth seeking for. In my case, it often coincides with PMD hatches at Livingston's spring creeks. It's hard for me to plan an annual visit.

Over the years, I have observed so many things and still observing and learning. I have schemes to get ahead of tourist traffic with wildlife. I have found several spots and stretches that no visiting anglers would ever care to fish. So I try not to use or say "crowded". As much as I enjoy for my own fun, I'd really like to introduce this early season in YNP to clients. Somehow for most anglers faraway, June may not sound attractive. Some would say the fall is better - well, come both and you will find out.

I have a client from Japan. We started from Firehole River. Trout were so eager to bite!

PMD has been reported but for us and this stretch, caddis was the main dish. 

It's very rare to find caddis emerger/pupa😲

 We only found PMD nymphs from stomachs.

As the wind blew harder, we decided to move on. We briefly fished for some rising trout on the Gibbon, then we moved to the Madison. I understand it's not just him but also for majority of anglers from other area, the nymphing method we employ could be intimidating = indicator + split shots + one big stonefly nymph + one small beadhead nymph. But my client was willing to learn. And his effort and our perseverance paid off😲
Congratulation for a fine brown trout👏🎉🎊👏

From July, fishers, including myself and my clients, move to and explore east side of YNP, mostly Yellowstone River systems. That is why I emphasize and promote to try west side of YNP while one can. The fall does not guarantee less crowds....matter of fact it could be busier........ well, these east side and the fall will be stories of later season😏
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Oh, happy belated Fathers Day😉👶👪