Late July Photo Essay

I had a busy yet very content streak of guide trips with great clients. Of course, fishing & catching (or taking pictures) are the most important part and we did well in variety of waters. To me, that's the whole purpose of being an outfitter - to discuss with clients and find what's out there and which water will be fishing well for our objectives. What a rewarding job I've got😁❗❗

I may insert some details here and there but mainly let pictures do the talking👉

First, before clients' arrivals, I went scouting "Below the Lake" of Yellowstone River right after the opening day. This is a rare catch.....💬

So many insects were hatching during Yellowstone River float😎 See how many kinds of insects in this stomach sample from one trout😲

Gallatin in YNP section was very interesting as well. Typically a nymphing river during the morning, however the stomach sample showed us PMD hatch had been very strong and trout had been gorging😲

Westslope😆

This client hauled in one after the other by his Euro Nymphing method😏

This was very hefty😎

Among PMD..............Green Drake😏

PMD were hatching in very good numbers😀

I headed to the other part of YNP with next group of clients.

Now we got our usual species😏

Back to float trip, in spite of winds during the first few hours of the float, we had actions on our dry-flies. We ended up fishing with ONLY dry-flies all day and got great actions all through😎😏

What trout were feeding.........so what will be hatching 😏

I've never taken photos of this bird - well still turning its back on me😓

Father & Son and then guide teamwork👏👍

We then challenged DePuy's Spring Creek.

The famous PMD hatches still offer us some reliable dry-fly fishing and then afternoon terrestrial fishing🐛🐜 is getting really HOT🔥

Immediately after I headed to the even more challenging piece of water - Below the Lake again😐

In the afternoon we hit Slough Creek below campground. He was holding a spot for us😃

Summer goes on😬
See you along the stream somewhere in Montana and Yellowstone Park👋

July Days on Spring Creeks

Long days of endless fishing and PMD hatches continue to July on Livingston's spring creeks. My annual repeating clients came back.
We kicked off at DePuy's Spring Creek.

Lots of cutthroat are in the creek.

In July, insects other than PMD start hatching and trout do take them. 

 Now anglers start to struggle more and more😏

 Evening spinner actions!

A bright Cut-bow!

 We then fished Armstrong's Spring Creek. PMD hatch was still going strong👌

Little animal was wondering what human beings are doing🦌

In the heat of afternoon of July, terrestrial dry-flies such as small hoppers, ants, and beetles become more important and enjoyable. When that doesn't entice trout - perhaps they can be stuffed from morning PMD feeding -, there's always a way to get their attention = nonchalant snack in human sense🍦🍫😏🠊Midge larvae. Sounds too general? Never underestimate the effectiveness of midge larvae on spring creeks and how technical it can be😬After one may hook trout, one has to keep them tight on such a small hook.
At one particular spot of the creek, we had a succession of lightning experience✨✨

 It's clearly a different fish, different feature and even larger😆

In the evening, while we were anticipating PMD spinner falls, there were more insect activities😎

These guys were literally hatching as they were all over on the water. 

Then PMD spinner falls started

 And it lasted a while😃

As always it has been intense and challenging fishing on spring creeks😎and then it's always rewarding as it has been another learning and observing opportunity for me😃

I'll keep guiding spring creeks through summer. And from now on I start to float Yellowstone River and more frequently visit Yellowstone Park waters.

Maybe see you somewhere👋

YNP July Hatch Bonanza

Over the years of guiding and fishing around here, I have learned the "gap & wave" of visiting fishers to Yellowstone Park. Early July in NE YNP is one of "gap" phases in my note. I guess most fishers would not want to take a risk, rather expect clear water, fair flows, and predictable hatches (good luck😏!). As the visitors and sightseers are going to increase through summer, this is another short period that I like to fish and guide along with June😁.

Of course, the condition can vary one season to the other and depend on each winter's snow accumulation. When it doesn't look good, I won't run a trip. When it looks like ready to go, most of the times I have good judgement calls as I have learned the character and behavior of Yellowstone Cutthroat and streams where they live.

It took us a while but we finally figured out where they are and

what they are after😲

As the weather warmed up, we started to see lots of insects in the air and on the water.
I admit I couldn't identify with scientific names but I should be close and at least and practically speaking I have flies to match them.
This may be one of Baetis species.

Just call it a Giant Drake of some sort😅❓It was very big❗❗

I really like this picture, with just one scoop and shoot, I captured 3 different mayflies😲❗❗
I'm sure the further left is PMD, the middle one is the smaller one above (baetis), and the further right is the Giant one right above.

Then the Goldenstone😀

And NEVER forget caddis❗❗

Above being said, on this day, winds were very very uncomfortable and totally uncooperative😟This angler worked hard and achieved the best available with a dry-fly👏😎👍

Season has just begun on this side of YNP.
Now I know next comes "wave" phases😶But then I learned and developed my systems to get away or get along with it😏
Maybe see you on the steam👋