Hayden Valley Meadowson Yellowstone River (NP Section)
River flow last 30 days
What's working on Yellowstone River
- 01Consistent daily hatches of Pale Morning Duns (PMDs) and white miller caddis on Firehole and Madison.
- 02Subsurface nymph and emerger patterns are highly effective for selective fish.
- 03Slough Creek is clearing fastest and is a good option for immediate fishing.
- 04Focus on slower seams, eddies, and pocket water along banks in the main Yellowstone River (NP Section) due to 3350 cfs flows.
- 05If dry fly refusals occur, switch to PMD emergers or caddis nymphs; swinging soft hackles is also productive.
What to tie on at Hayden Valley Meadows
Picked from recent reports for this stretch.
Soft Hackle Wet (Partridge & Orange)
Productive when swung through currents, imitating caddis pupae and emergers, as reported by anglers.
Buy at AmazonBeetle (Crowe)
Effective terrestrial imitation for summer, especially along shaded banks where beetles are active.
Buy at AmazonElk Hair Caddis
Mimics the abundant caddis adults, including white millers, which are actively hatching on the river.
Buy at AmazonZebra Midge
A winter staple for the Yellowstone. Small midges are the primary food source available to trout in February. Black or red colors in sizes 20-24 are essential.
Buy at AmazonTungsten Bead Pat's Rubber Legs
While stoneflies aren't hatching, their nymphs are always present. The tungsten bead provides necessary weight to sink midge droppers into deep winter holding lies without extra split shot.
Buy at AmazonZebra Midge
Midges are a primary active insect even in cold water, making this a staple year-round pattern. It's highly effective for enticing finicky Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout and Mountain Whitefish.
Buy at AmazonFlashback Pheasant Tail Nymph
An excellent general searching nymph for early spring, mimicking various mayfly nymphs (including BWOs) that are active year-round and particularly as BWOs begin to emerge. Targets Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout and Mountain Whitefish.
Blue-Winged Olive (BWO) Comparadun
Blue-Winged Olives are actively hatching in early spring, especially on overcast days, and this low-profile dry fly is excellent for selective trout feeding on emergers and adults. It is effective for Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout and Mountain Whitefish.
Buy at AmazonMother's Day Caddis
The prolific Mother's Day Caddis hatch is expected in late April through May, making this dry fly a perfect imitation for adult caddis. It's an excellent choice for opportunistic Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout and Mountain Whitefish.
Wyoming season by season
What changes on the water through the year, with the flies for each season.