yellowstone area lakes and rivers early June

[Capin' Dan]

looking for any info for lakes or rivers for early june. I'm seaarching the web as well and also know that some lakes and streams open at various times just thought I would drop a note and see who may have fished this area during the early june time frame and see what they had luck with.

ALso what is the best tackle to use.
Will also have my spinning reel so any lures that work better than other would be helpful as well.

[Stickswinger]

Erly June is tough becasuse it is during snowmelt and alot of the rivers are blown out. I would try tribs and also focus on areas close to shore for smaller makinaw. Watch for the makinaw to rise to a fly and cast immediately in that direction with a streamer and they will hit it. Look ath areas like the Lewis and Shoshone lake complex. The river between Lewis Lake and Shoshone will not be influenced as much by runoff. The Firehole is a good river early on as well. Good luck!

[mike edson]

On the west side of the park You have Henrys lake. Being a high altitude lake though if you run a boat with a propyou will not have much power unless you change to a high altitude prop.(I thnk they are called double cupped) The firehole river is good as not as much snow in the valley it runs through. Also if you can get to it Henrys fork by Cave creek north of Ashton. The railroad ranch area is good also very pretty scenery. Used to fish the Henrys fork by the pond lodge area. Buffalo river filled with Brookies. Be careful of the Moose in these area, They will have calves with them. Mainly enjoy the trip.

[Travman]

If you want to fish lakes, my vote is Henry's Lake. My family spends a week there early each June (It'll be the 3rd week in June this year). LOTS of fish in the lake. Most people use some kind of leech pattern, mostly wooly buggers and the like on an intermediate sink line. One book I read said if you can fish within a foot or two of the weeds, you'll be in fish, if you're higher in the water column than that you won't be. I'm the only fly fisher in my family so we mostly troll hardware when we're there, we've done well on various spinners (blue fox, roostertail and panther martin have all seemed to work equally well for us). Have fun, Henry's is an absolutely beautiful lake.

[Range Maggot]

You may be in luck this year with runoff. The snow pack was very light compared to previous years and it has been a cool spring so the snow is melting at a much slower rate than usual. If you are fishing the Yellowstone river, I would use a caddis presentation. Humpy's in a red or orange pattern are my go to fly. A small mayfly presentation will work as well. If you fish the firehole (of the Yellowstone River), I would use a larger pheasant tailed nymph as more of the larger trout will be keying on insects lower in the water column because of the temperature difference. If you fish the lakes bring an assortment of panther martins, spoons, and meps spinners. Other spinners such as blue fox may work, but have never tried it. In Yellowstone lake there are inlets with gravel bars; fish the inlets to target cutts and the maine lake to target macks. Make sure to pick up a aset of regs when you get there as many streams, rivers, and lakes will have different rules. If you make it down the Jackson area, try the Gros Ventre river, and the Snake. If you have any more questions about the area let me know. I grew up in the area and my folkes are still there.

[Herm]

thats the salmon fly hatch on various western and central Montana Rivers. I'd chase salmon flies if I were you. Just sayin.

Yellowstone river near Yankee Jim canyon fishes well during that time of year. But nothing like salmon flies on the Maddi or Big Hole...just sayin

enjoy!

Try the "money clip" if you fish Henry's Lake

[Capin' Dan]

Thanks guys one more week to go