Rainbow Trout: During the
summer, look for them in the
highly oxygenated water such
as plunges, riffles, below water
falls and cascades and swift
runs.
summer, look for them in the
highly oxygenated water such
as plunges, riffles, below water
falls and cascades and swift
runs.
Summer:
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| ........................... ... .Fly Fishing Yellowstone National Park |
Summertime is the main season in Yellowstone National Park. Fly fishing greatly
depends on water heights and temperature. Mid Summer usually means low and
warm water. Hopefully, melting snow and thunderstorms will provide enough water
to keep the streams reasonably full and that drought conditions are not experienced.
The lower elevation streams depend greatly on the amount of annual snowfall as
well as rain. This varies considerably from year to year.
depends on water heights and temperature. Mid Summer usually means low and
warm water. Hopefully, melting snow and thunderstorms will provide enough water
to keep the streams reasonably full and that drought conditions are not experienced.
The lower elevation streams depend greatly on the amount of annual snowfall as
well as rain. This varies considerably from year to year.
Weather:
The daytime temperatures during the summer can range from the high thirties in
the early mornings to the high nineties during the afternoons. The air temperature
can vary quite a bit from the lower elevations to the higher elevations. The cool
nights of the higher elevations of the park is what keeps the freestone streams
water temperature low enough to sustain very good trout fishing.
Water Levels:
Water levels can become extremely low during periods of drought.
Normally, the higher than normal amounts of rainfall keep the streams flowing well
enough that the trout can survive. If a certain area of the park happens to get a
heavy thunderstorm that drops a lot of water, then the streams within that drainage
area may rise for a day or two. They usually never stay very high for long however.
After they have been higher than normal for a day or two, the fish usually become
very active.
Water Temperatures:
When the temperature of water gets warm it brings on another problem for the cold
blooded trout. They must adjust to survive in water with less oxygen. The
temperature and the oxygen content of the water are inversely proportional. That
means that warmer water holds less oxygen than cold water but for every added
degree of temperature there becomes a decreasingly proportional amount of
oxygen. The difference in the dissolved oxygen content of the water with
temperatures of 70 degrees F., and 75 degrees F., just for example, is substantial.
The water temperatures in the lower elevations of the park on certain streams can
become too warm for the trout if there is a long period of extremely hot weather.
During this time the water temperatures may reach the low seventies. This makes
it tough on the trout and they can even become lethargic. They feed very little if any
during these times. Under these conditions the fish should not be caught anyway.
The added stress of the fight is not good for them. Anglers should fish the higher
elevations of park. It also helps to fish the more oxygenated areas of water or tiny
water falls, plunges and narrow runs. The rainbow trout will seek out these area
because of the extra dissolved oxygen the turbulent water adds.
During these periods of time, the tree limbs we complain about when they catch
our fly, saves the trout. Without the shade they provide the streams would become
too warm for the trout even at the higher elevations. Cool rain water and cool nights
in the higher elevations usually keeps the water cool enough for most of the trout to
survive during these harsh times.
Anglers should also fish much earlier and later than they normally do. The water is
a little cooler early in the mornings. Keep your thermometer handy during the
summer. If the water temperature is over 68 degrees F., we suggest you move to a
different area and look for cooler water.
Hatches:
Check the hatch charts for the Summer hatches. Mid Summer hatches are not quite
as plentiful as they are in the Spring and early Summertime but some of them
extend on into the mid-summer months. A few other species begin hatching during
the summer.
Golden Stoneflies:
The Golden Stonefly, Perlidae family species, hatch during the months of late
June, July and August. It is possible that you may find some of these stoneflies
depositing their eggs in the late afternoon but shouldn't be expected. Normally this
occurs during the evening. The nymph and adult can be important but the nymph is
the main stage to imitate. Like all stoneflies they crawl out of the water to hatch.
These larger stoneflies are usually a hook size 8 or 10 but that can vary depending
on the exact species.
PMDs:
The PMD or Pale Morning Duns will probably be the most common hatch during
the summer months. Be prepared to fish all stages of this hatch.
Flavs:
Small Western Green Drakes or Flavs will hatch for a short time on many streams
in the park.
Green Drakes:
The large Western Green Drakes bring trout to the surface in many of the park's
streams. The dun is the most important stage of this hatch.
Pale Evening Duns:
The Pale Evening Dun hatches may still be occurring in some streams the first part
of June.
Green Sedges:
Rhyacophila species known as Green Sedges will hatch during the early summer
months. The green rock worm is the most important stage to imitate.
Spotted Sedges:
You will find the net-spinning caddisflies that hatch throughout the Summer on all
of the streams in the park. These are the Hydropsyche species called Spotted
Sedges. They are by far the most plentiful species of caddisfly.
Little Sister Caddis (Little Olive Sedge):
Cheumatopsyche or Little Sister Sedges also hatch during the summer on most
streams in the park.
Salmonflies:
The Salmonflies or large stoneflies hatch on some streams in the park. These
hatches may continue into the summer depending on the stream.
Little Yellow Stonefleis:
The Little Yellow Stoneflies, or Perlodidae family species, hatch during the
summer. Most of them hatch during the late afternoons and evenings and deposit
their eggs starting just before dark and into the evening. These range in hook size
depending on the particular species. Look for them in the early part of Summer
and again in late Summer.
Flying Ants:
Flying ants may appear on some streams during the month of August. Don't hold
your breath waiting on them because your chances of seeing flying ants are slim.
Just be prepared just in case because the trout will definitely feed on them.
Ants:
There are plenty of ants around the streams and they sometimes get into the water,
especially after heavy rains. Be prepared with both brown and black patterns.
Aquatic Beetles:
Aquatic beetles are in all of the streams in the park. They are usually not prolific in
the fast pocket water. There are numerous species and all sizes and colors of
them.
Terrestrial Beetles:
Terrestrial beetles are also very prevalent in the park. Make sure you give them a try.
There is a tremendous variety of them.
Grasshoppers:
Grasshoppers can be numerous in areas that have a lot of grass along the banks
of the stream. Most of the meadow streams have huge numbers of grasshoppers.
It doesn't take grass for a grasshopper to survive but we have never seen any large
quantities of them where there was no grass. They come in all sizes and colors.
Copyright 2012 James Marsh
The daytime temperatures during the summer can range from the high thirties in
the early mornings to the high nineties during the afternoons. The air temperature
can vary quite a bit from the lower elevations to the higher elevations. The cool
nights of the higher elevations of the park is what keeps the freestone streams
water temperature low enough to sustain very good trout fishing.
Water Levels:
Water levels can become extremely low during periods of drought.
Normally, the higher than normal amounts of rainfall keep the streams flowing well
enough that the trout can survive. If a certain area of the park happens to get a
heavy thunderstorm that drops a lot of water, then the streams within that drainage
area may rise for a day or two. They usually never stay very high for long however.
After they have been higher than normal for a day or two, the fish usually become
very active.
Water Temperatures:
When the temperature of water gets warm it brings on another problem for the cold
blooded trout. They must adjust to survive in water with less oxygen. The
temperature and the oxygen content of the water are inversely proportional. That
means that warmer water holds less oxygen than cold water but for every added
degree of temperature there becomes a decreasingly proportional amount of
oxygen. The difference in the dissolved oxygen content of the water with
temperatures of 70 degrees F., and 75 degrees F., just for example, is substantial.
The water temperatures in the lower elevations of the park on certain streams can
become too warm for the trout if there is a long period of extremely hot weather.
During this time the water temperatures may reach the low seventies. This makes
it tough on the trout and they can even become lethargic. They feed very little if any
during these times. Under these conditions the fish should not be caught anyway.
The added stress of the fight is not good for them. Anglers should fish the higher
elevations of park. It also helps to fish the more oxygenated areas of water or tiny
water falls, plunges and narrow runs. The rainbow trout will seek out these area
because of the extra dissolved oxygen the turbulent water adds.
During these periods of time, the tree limbs we complain about when they catch
our fly, saves the trout. Without the shade they provide the streams would become
too warm for the trout even at the higher elevations. Cool rain water and cool nights
in the higher elevations usually keeps the water cool enough for most of the trout to
survive during these harsh times.
Anglers should also fish much earlier and later than they normally do. The water is
a little cooler early in the mornings. Keep your thermometer handy during the
summer. If the water temperature is over 68 degrees F., we suggest you move to a
different area and look for cooler water.
Hatches:
Check the hatch charts for the Summer hatches. Mid Summer hatches are not quite
as plentiful as they are in the Spring and early Summertime but some of them
extend on into the mid-summer months. A few other species begin hatching during
the summer.
Golden Stoneflies:
The Golden Stonefly, Perlidae family species, hatch during the months of late
June, July and August. It is possible that you may find some of these stoneflies
depositing their eggs in the late afternoon but shouldn't be expected. Normally this
occurs during the evening. The nymph and adult can be important but the nymph is
the main stage to imitate. Like all stoneflies they crawl out of the water to hatch.
These larger stoneflies are usually a hook size 8 or 10 but that can vary depending
on the exact species.
PMDs:
The PMD or Pale Morning Duns will probably be the most common hatch during
the summer months. Be prepared to fish all stages of this hatch.
Flavs:
Small Western Green Drakes or Flavs will hatch for a short time on many streams
in the park.
Green Drakes:
The large Western Green Drakes bring trout to the surface in many of the park's
streams. The dun is the most important stage of this hatch.
Pale Evening Duns:
The Pale Evening Dun hatches may still be occurring in some streams the first part
of June.
Green Sedges:
Rhyacophila species known as Green Sedges will hatch during the early summer
months. The green rock worm is the most important stage to imitate.
Spotted Sedges:
You will find the net-spinning caddisflies that hatch throughout the Summer on all
of the streams in the park. These are the Hydropsyche species called Spotted
Sedges. They are by far the most plentiful species of caddisfly.
Little Sister Caddis (Little Olive Sedge):
Cheumatopsyche or Little Sister Sedges also hatch during the summer on most
streams in the park.
Salmonflies:
The Salmonflies or large stoneflies hatch on some streams in the park. These
hatches may continue into the summer depending on the stream.
Little Yellow Stonefleis:
The Little Yellow Stoneflies, or Perlodidae family species, hatch during the
summer. Most of them hatch during the late afternoons and evenings and deposit
their eggs starting just before dark and into the evening. These range in hook size
depending on the particular species. Look for them in the early part of Summer
and again in late Summer.
Flying Ants:
Flying ants may appear on some streams during the month of August. Don't hold
your breath waiting on them because your chances of seeing flying ants are slim.
Just be prepared just in case because the trout will definitely feed on them.
Ants:
There are plenty of ants around the streams and they sometimes get into the water,
especially after heavy rains. Be prepared with both brown and black patterns.
Aquatic Beetles:
Aquatic beetles are in all of the streams in the park. They are usually not prolific in
the fast pocket water. There are numerous species and all sizes and colors of
them.
Terrestrial Beetles:
Terrestrial beetles are also very prevalent in the park. Make sure you give them a try.
There is a tremendous variety of them.
Grasshoppers:
Grasshoppers can be numerous in areas that have a lot of grass along the banks
of the stream. Most of the meadow streams have huge numbers of grasshoppers.
It doesn't take grass for a grasshopper to survive but we have never seen any large
quantities of them where there was no grass. They come in all sizes and colors.
Copyright 2012 James Marsh
Don't complain about the whitefish. Sometimes that is all you will catch fishing a
nymph in some of the streams during warmer weather. They are hard fighters and fun
to catch. Just not as lovely to look at or show off as the trout.
nymph in some of the streams during warmer weather. They are hard fighters and fun
to catch. Just not as lovely to look at or show off as the trout.
