Tim Wade's North Fork Anglers

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North Fork Anglers

Tim Wade's North Fork Anglers Yellowstone Area and Northern Wyoming outfitter for over 20 years | 307 527 7274

THE CODY/YELLOWSTONE REGION
FISHING REPORT

Weather Forecast | Weather Maps | Weather Radar

March 9, 2010

NEWS FLASH! BWO's are out en masse on the lower Shoshone tailwater!! HOORAY!

Fly fishing conditions on the lower Shoshone remain excellent, especially through town and in the canyon below Buffalo Bill.

There are outstanding hatches of midges (see our video on Facebook) and bwo's occurring mid-day on the lower Shoshone and these hatches are beginning to bring awesome dry fly fishing.

Freestone waters are also beginning to show signs of life after a long, cold winter. Midges are showing up with scattered activity winter stones and Baetis. Check the Fishing Report on individual waters for more info.

To help you plan your fishing days, check the Acu-Weather banner on the Reports link on our website for up-to-date weather conditions in Cody or around the country.

If you are new to Cody or visiting town for the first time, North Fork Anglers is located under our leaping Neon Trout in downtown Cody, 1107 Sheridan Ave. We have been here to assist your angling needs (flies, gear, instruction, or guided trips) since 1984.

Come on! Fish with North Fork Anglers!

RESERVATIONS 307-527-7274

SHOSHONE RIVER
The Shoshone River is an overlooked jewel offering lots of fine fishing opportunities. The North Fork, South Fork, and Lower Shoshone provide anglers with miles of river to wade or float for wild rainbow, brown and cutthroat trout.More Info on the Shoshone River

NORTH FORK of the SHOSHONE
River conditions are changing now with the advent of spring-like weather. The west end of Buffalo Bill Reservoir has some open water spots where trout have been seen rising to midges. Hmmm. It might be time to cast from shore with nymphs and streamers while waiting for the fish to push up the North Fork. We anticipate the North Fork will be open and fishing well by the 3rd week in March as in past years. Needless to say, all of us look forward to that date!

SOUTH FORK of the SHOSHONE Frozen for the most part. Some open water in the upper Valley school area, but water temps are not conducive for fish activity.
LOWER SHOSHONE RIVER Flows are 406 cfs through Cody, with additional flows coming in as the river runs towards Powell and Lovell. Water temps are in the upper 40's below the dam and through Cody.
NEWS FLASH!! BWO's are out en masse now. Peak time for BWO's is "2'ish" . Heavy hatches of midges are on the water too! All this makes for some excellent - and challenging - dry fly fishing.
Dries: size 18-24 olive snowshoe sparkle duns, olive CDC emergers, para-midges, hatching midges, Griffith's gnats and parachute Adams work well when the trout are feeding on top, usually 11 am thru 3:30 pm. Nymphs, size 12-22 - orange or pink scuds, soft-hackle sowbugs, copper Johns, zebra midges, ice cream cones, tan North Fork Spec'ls & pheasant tails; Streamers, size 2-10 - Zuddlers, marabou muddlers, Orange Blossoms, Bighorn bugger and woolly buggers -- are your best bet for a bent rod right now. Enjoy your day streamside!
BIGHORN RIVER, THERMOPOLIS AREA Winter flows are good. Water temps are in the high 30's- low 40's from the Wedding of the Waters downstream through town. Air temps are cold in the mornings, warming to high 40's or higher mid-day.
Hatches are mostly midges with sparce BWO activity mid-day. (this hatch should become heavier any time.) Fish San Juan worms, scuds, pheasant tails, black North Fork Specials and midge pupae patterns deep under an indicator. A drag free drift is critical this time of year.
The Wind River Canyon, on the Wind River Reservation (you'll need a Reservation fishing license!) is beginning to show some good rainbows, as well as browns and cutthroat. Size 4 or 6 streamers, especially black woolly buggers fished dead drift is the best recommendation.
Large streamers are also working off the Wind River Reservation (either below the dam to the tunnels or south of the Wedding of the Waters). Streamers with yellow in them are best, although black or olive woolly buggers (egg-sucking leeches) are still good patterns to search with. Fish these down and across with short strips or by working the rod tip and keeping a tight line.

CLARK'S FORK of the YELLOWSTONE RIVER
Fed by a hundred, or more, glacial lakes draining the Beartooth Plateau, the Clark's Fork of the Yellowstone is a fly fisherman's dream river. The Clark's Fork has three distinct sections, each fish differently and each section has its own personality, requiring fly fishermen to change tactics on each section in order to keep the rod bent and the reel singing.More Info on the Clark's Fork River

UPPER CLARKS FORK of the YELLOWSTONEThere is some open water above Crazy Creek Campground. Fishing will be slow. Bead head nymphs best.
CANYON SECTION OF CLARKS FORK
Done until runoff time.
LOWER CLARKS FORK The river is open now and is beginning show signs of life. Water temps have risen the past week and the fish in the river are responding. The best time to fish is midday thru late afternoon. Midges are the dominant hatch, but there has been some Baetis and winter stones on the water as of this past weekend. A few rising fish but most of the action will be sub-surface. Fish with emergers, smaller bead-heads (size 10-18) or streamers for best results.
SUNLIGHT, DEAD INDIAN and CRANDALL CREEKS Sunlight Creek is fishable above 7D Ranch in the unshaded areas. Brookies are eating small bead-head nymphs. Crandall Creek is open above Hurricane Mesa. Slow fishing. Dead Indian has been treated to kill non-native species and may or may not have some trout in the campground area.

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YELLOWSTONE PARK
Enjoy spectacular scenery and great fishing on the Lamar River, Soda Butte Creek, Slough Creek, the Yellowstone River, and Yellowstone Lake.More Info on Yellowstone Park

YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK - YELLOWSTONE RIVER-
CLOSED TO FISHING THE 2ND OF NOVEMBER UNTIL MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND 2010.
YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK - YELLOWSTONE LAKE- CLOSED
YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK - FIREHOLE/GIBBON/MADISON CLOSED
YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK - LAMAR/ SLOUGH CREEK/ SODA BUTTE -
CLOSED

LAKES and RESERVOIRS
Fishermen preferring all types of angling tactics have discovered the treasures found in local ponds and reservoirs created for irrigation and agrarian uses. The Wyoming Game and Fish Department has stocked many of these water storage impoundments with a variety of trout. Due to the mineral content of the mountainous soils, the water in these man-made lakes are rich with aquatic insects and crustaceans which translates into good to trophy sized trout in most of these impoundments. For the fly fisherman, this also translates into a rod-bending great time.More Info on Lakes and Reservoirs

EAST and WEST NEWTON LAKES The ice is about ready to break up on these lakes. The ice is not in good shape so don't try ice fishing right now.
LUCE RESERVOIR See Newton Lakes.
HOGAN RESERVOIR - See Newton Lakes.
SOUTH FORK ABATEMENT DIKE Open water in places. A good day of windy conditions should open more water. Fish streamers along the ice shelves for best results.