Yellowstone Fly Box

[Jason]

I'm heading up to Yellowstone next week for FF for Science and I'm putting together my flies for the trip. I think I have what flies I will need but I'm curious what flies some of you might suggest for my Yellowstone fly box. So, if you were going to Yellowstone next week and fishing mostly small streams and rivers, what flies would you not go without?

[nightfish]

Beetles, Wulffs, humpies & stimmy's. PMD's should be on too, and always have a few caddis!

Are you hooking up with Tim? Stef & I have a week in August and would love to paarticipate again, but don't know if there's still room. If you're with him, could you check & get us contact info?

[Jason B]

a Royal Trude is what was taking fish on the Lamar if i remember right

[stef]

Great memory Jason B!
I fished the Gibbon two weeks ago and couldn't keep the little ones off elk hair caddis.

[Tom]

I finally got some consistant action on a size 14 olive bead head hare's ear. BUT, it was all white fish. I fished the Firehole, Nex Perce, and Madison exclusively. There was a little action on PMD's but overall, it was pretty slow, or I can't fish which is a distinct possibility.
Also, the biggest Stonefly I have ever fished grabbed some hits. I found a ton of those size 4 on the banks of the Madison, at the waters edge.


Tom

[icthys]

I think FlyFishing & Tying Journal just had an article on Yellowstone fly boxes. Look it up.

[jim m.]

PMD Hackle stackers
Lawson's EZ caddis
Partridge and Green
Partridge and Yellow
lots of ants and beetles

[stout_trout]

What about sizes?

I haven't fished Yellostone, but I know when I fished the Henry's fork in ID a few years ago, Everything in my box was too small. It all needed to be a size or two bigger. Is that the case with Yellowstone too? Where we might have PMDs that are size 16 or 18 here, should you expect to find PMDs that are size 14 or 12 in Yellowstone?

[Trav]

Jason,

It really depends on where you are fishing.

Check http://blueribbonflies.com/journal/fishingreport.shtml

Trav

[Bmac]

I agree with Stef, when I fished the Gibbons when I participated in FF for science elk hair caddis was our main go to fly... Adams also worked well...

[Grizz]

did an article a few years back on the 10 hot Yellowstone flies. I was looking for it last night, but couldn't find it. It believe Matthews penned it & it listed the DOA dun, chaos hopper, slough crik cricket, pmd sparkle dun, shop vac, crystal serendipity, gray drake spinner, etc. (all blue ribbon flies)

I think a good assortment of caddis, pmd, drake (green, gray, & flav), terrestrials, some wet flies & attractors would set a guy up pretty good. Perhaps some beadhead droppers.

I spun up some micro silly leg crickets & a couple of small royal pmx's last night. But then again, I like to throw curve balls & I'm sure the fish in the remote waters aren't going to be too picky.

peace

[Fred]

Grizz, do you tie a Crystal Serndipity? Can you give me the info? Have you ever seen one tied with thread and a gold bead--blue or olive?

Jason, I hear the green and brown drakes are still happening on the slough. PMD and caddis. Also heard that the mosquitoes are ferocious right now. So, take some bug spray

[Norm]

Are you heading to the uintas this weekend? If you or anyone else wants to stop by we'll be setup somewhere below christmas meadows, probably 1/2 way up. There wil be a tent trailer and a 5th wheel.

Norm

[Grizz]

Grizz, do you tie a Crystal Serndipity? Can you give me the info? Have you ever seen one tied with thread and a gold bead--blue or olive?



I tied some with green crystal flash & olive z-lon (spun up into a rope) a coupler years ago, but never really fished 'em all that hard. I did real good one cool fall morning on the Logan with them. I'm going to tie some variations this evening. Blue? No. But I have tied some small blue discos that rule @ the green!

You been up north?

I'm not sure the exact recipe for the Crystal serendipity that Blueribbon sells / ties, but I'd bet UD2 would know....?

PS: I was surfin' High country flies sight yesterday & they had a variation that incoporates light brite dub behind the bead. Pretty tasty looking fly. Check it out. Good sight with some sweet flies.

peace

[Fred]

I was up north last weekend. Fishing mostly the Madison. I was fishing mostly big bugs, but there was a guy near the campground (West Fork) having a heyday with a gold beadhead serendipidy. Another guy said he does real well on the Madison with a crystal one.

When are you headed back up?

[Jason]

Are you heading to the uintas this weekend? If you or anyone else wants to stop by we'll be setup somewhere below christmas meadows, probably 1/2 way up. There wil be a tent trailer and a 5th wheel.

Norm
I'm going to try. It's our anniversary this weekend so the wife has me on a tight leash. I might convince her to take a 'scenic' drive up to the uintas and just happen to have my rod with me. I've got a secret spot in that area that I'd like to show you.

Thanks for all the suggestions everyone. I'm sure me, Stout, and Grizz will have plenty of flies to keep those trout interested.

[Utah DaveII]

It was Rowan Nyman and Steve Hoovler that penned the article. Both were part owners of Blue Ribbon with Craig, but Rowan has since left and last I heard was tying and guiding full time.

I have not become totally sold on the crystal dips yet, although I have three dozen in my box. The recipe is really simple 3-4 strands of crystal flash, wrapped up to head. Small gold or brass wire as ribbing, and clipped deer hair wing. I'm not sold on this pattern yet, but rod Hog likes it. I have not fished it much on a deep indicator rig yet, so that may be my problem.

Blue Ribbon's creations that I am sold and have used with much success are the shop vacs, Royal Wullf Cripples, DOA dun's, MR. T., Iris Caddis and the x-caddis and improved x-caddis. With the exception of the x-caddis, I have a quite a few in each of my boxes and would be happy get you a couple of samples for your trip.

Jason, you must go into blue ribbon and purchase their hydropsyche tan, brachycentrus olive and ryacophilia green zelon dubbings. You must also get the straight mayfly brown zelon, straight caddis tan zelon, crinkled white and crinkled caddis amber zelon.

If they have micro zelon dubbing in Stimulator orange and insect green please get some for me.

Thanks,

Dave

[Grizz]

It was Rowan Nyman and Steve Hoovler that penned the article. Both were part owners of Blue Ribbon with Craig, but Rowan has since left and last I heard was tying and guiding full time.

I have not become totally sold on the crystal dips yet, although I have three dozen in my box. The recipe is really simple 3-4 strands of crystal flash, wrapped up to head. Small gold or brass wire as ribbing, and clipped deer hair wing. I'm not sold on this pattern yet, but rod Hog likes it. I have not fished it much on a deep indicator rig yet, so that may be my problem.

Blue Ribbon's creations that I am sold and have used with much success are the shop vacs, Royal Wullf Cripples, DOA dun's, MR. T., Iris Caddis and the x-caddis and improved x-caddis. With the exception of the x-caddis, I have a quite a few in each of my boxes and would be happy get you a couple of samples for your trip.


Dave

Thanks for the info! Steve Hoovler contributes to the bluribbon flies angler journal regularly, I love reading his reports. When I was up 2 weeks ago, I pulled a Mr. T from a fishes mouth...... You haven't been up there fishing 8x, have ya? I've heard from many guides up there the benefits of the crystal serendipity. I've got recipes for all the flies you mentioned (except shop vac, pt, ribbed, white z-lon & a bead?), but thanks so much for the offer.

peace

[Juke]

I will second the article from Flyfishing and Tying Journal. Good stuff.

Also, the Summer 2004 of American Angler has an article by Hoovler called the "Madison Medley- the Perfect 10." Many of the patterns mentioned are shown in detail in this article, Iris Caddis, DOA Dun, Crystal Serindipity, Wulff cripple.

But of course the fish have probably seen these imitations a million times, I like Jim M.'s comments about swinging the Partridges.

[Jason]

I will second the article from Flyfishing and Tying Journal. Good stuff.

Also, the Summer 2004 of American Angler has an article by Hoovler called the "Madison Medley- the Perfect 10." Many of the patterns mentioned are shown in detail in this article, Iris Caddis, DOA Dun, Crystal Serindipity, Wulff cripple.

But of course the fish have probably seen these imitations a million times, I like Jim M.'s comments about swinging the Partridges.
Yah, I saw that article as well. Good stuff. Most likely my box will look pretty similar to the flies in that article. I'll have to tie up some crystal serendipties too.

[Fred]

Grizz, yes on the shop vac. Easy pattern to tie, but seems to work pretty well at times. Not sure what they take it for. Caddis maybe???

[LandGuppy]

I just got back from fishing the park, same type of water it sounds like you'll be hitting. I had quite a bit of success, especially on the smaller streams.

A lot of good flies have been covered, but I have to speak up because one must-have fly hasn't been mentioned (not that I could see, anyway): H&L Variant. Before last week, I was of the opinion that all attractor dries are made equal. Now I don't think that's the case, after seeing fish after fish refuse my Royal Wulff, then catch the same fish on an H&L. Must be something about the profile.

I'll second the partrige and olive suggestion. It was a consistent producer last week. Also, Blue Ribbon ties a BH Prince with a few wraps of soft hackle that I can suggest (or just tie your own). It's one of the more versatile flies I've used since you can dead drift it or swing it through the riffles. It works either way.

I didn't see many hoppers around last week, but I had lots of success with a #12 hopper. Good luck Jason, I'm jealous.

[Grizz]

Grizz, yes on the shop vac. Easy pattern to tie, but seems to work pretty well at times. Not sure what they take it for. Caddis maybe???

Thanks Fred, I'll be packin' a holster full of Rs-2's too. ;-)

oh, so much to tie & so little time.

peace

[Sedge]

Amen to the trudes and soft hackles. I like to have a few beadhead soft hackles too.

[JayMorr]

Are you heading to the uintas this weekend? If you or anyone else wants to stop by we'll be setup somewhere below christmas meadows, probably 1/2 way up. There wil be a tent trailer and a 5th wheel.

Norm
A few of us are planning to be up in that area as well this weekend. We will be staying until Sunday. Maybe we will see you guys.


JayMorr

[icthys]

A few of us are planning to be up in that area as well this weekend. We will be staying until Sunday. Maybe we will see you guys.


JayMorr

I may be headed up on Friday, if you guys know where you'll be let me know and I'll try to catch up for the day.

[JayMorr]

Sorry I dont want to hijack.

Be at the stillwater campground. Near mile marker 44.


JayMorr

[Trout4x]

I am glad Jason started this because I will be going in a month, this will at least point me in the right direction.


Keep the information coming.


Thanks,

Trout4x

[grouser]

the parachute ant has saved me a couple of times in Yellowstone on tough days.

[Bear Rivr Boomr]

Just came back from the FF for Science on Saturday. We fished the Gibbon for two days straight. The only fly that worked was a tan elk hair caddis, and I do mean the only fly. When we were finished Bill said that was last time this year of fishing the Gibbon...lucky you. I think you will be fishing the northwest area of the park. Bring some rusty spinners and every terrestrial you have and you should be fine.