Timing

Spring

The early season offers some of the best fishing of the year on most of the water we fish. The downside is the weather is very unpredictable, the boat ramps are snowed in, and most of our guides don’t start showing up until April. If you want to fish with us in March, we can accommodate you and we won’t penalize you by keeping your deposit if the weather is bad. Dry fly fishing ramps up later in the month with great hatches of midges and Blue Winged Olive mayflies on almost all of the water we fish. Nymph and streamer fish is a great back-up if the weather is not conducive for dry fly fishing.

Some of the best fishing of the year occurs in April. The fish are active and hungry, and the hatches are great. Moreover, there are less anglers on the water. The upper river is usually snowbound, and the Harriman Ranch water doesn’t open until June 15 but there is a lot happening on the lower stretches of the Henry’s Fork and Teton Rivers.

Our Blue Winged Olive and March Brown hatches continue through the month of May. Our first caddisfly hatch and the most prolific of the entire season is the Mother’s Day Caddis. The largest aquatic insect in the Henry’s Fork is a stonefly, commonly called the Salmonfly. If you’ve never fished a Salmonfly hatch, you missed something special. The fishing can be unpredictable. Cold, wet weather can knock down the hatch and the bugs are so big that the trout get filled up and can’t eat anything more.

Summer

The Salmonfly and caddis hatches continue through early June. The major attraction of June is the opening of Harriman Park on the 15th. Anglers travel from all directions for this occasion. It isn’t all about fishing. There are anglers who come just for the friendships and camaraderie in the parking lot. Mid to late June is when our largest mayflies, the Green Drake, Brown Drake, and Gray Drake occur. The Pale Morning Duns also emerge during this period. The Harriman Ranch is a bit unpredictable at the opening but the rest of the Henry’s Fork, especially the stretch below Ashton. The Firehole River in the Park and the upper Teton River are also great options for great dry fly fishing.

Our guides are almost always completely booked in June and July and for good reasons. If you are considering fishing with us during this period, you need to make your reservations as soon as you can. By the first of July other rivers, especially the Madison and South Fork, are on fire. The Salmonfly hatches attract anglers from all over the world. If you dream of catching a trophy trout on a large dry fly, this is the time. These two rivers also get some great caddis and mayfly hatches. You can also expect Green Drakes on the South Fork. The Yellowstone River in the park also produces the best dry fly fishing of the season. To be honest, we could write pages of fishing information for July because all of our great rivers and smaller streams produce excellent fishing. The only downside is the rivers can get a bit crowded, but our legendary guides know how to deal with competition.

By the time August rolls around, the aquatic insect hatches fade but fishing is still very good with nymphs and streamers. August is the prime month for terrestrial insects. Trout key in on ants, beetles, and hoppers on all of our rivers. Hopper fishing can bring explosive rises. Hebgen Lake is always a great option for dry fly fishing. Good hatches of Callibaetis and Trico mayflies bring trout to the surface where they cruise just under the surface, sipping mayflies. These trout are referred to as gulpers and fishing can be very challenging to get the fly into the trout’s feeding zone. Henry’ Lake also fishes well when trout move into the springs and tributaries.

Autumn

September has become a favorite month for many anglers. Early in the month the fishing conditions are similar to August, but there is usually a dramatic change after the Autumnal Equinox. Aquatic insect hatches increase surface activity. While September is a great fishing month, it isn’t always about the fish. You have a great chance to hear an elk bugle on a frosty morning. The waterfowl young of the year are old enough to fly as they congregate on the rivers and lakes. The maple and Aspen trees gain their bright, fall colors. Best of all, the angling pressure lessens even though more and more people are starting to realize that September is wonderful. Large trout start their spawning runs up rivers like the Madison River in the Park and the upper Henry’s Fork.

Early October produces terrific fishing, very similar to September. Hatches of Blue Winged Olive mayflies intensify to produce awesome dry fly fishing. The Henry’s Fork, upper Teton, South Fork, Madison, and the Firehole are great options for dry fly fishing. The upper Teton River gets a nice hatch of big Gray Drake mayflies. We can get snow anytime from September on. Late September and early October usually have Indian Summer conditions. The chance for snow and cool weather increase as the month wears on. However, there are more good weather days than bad. It’s wise to bring warm, water resistant clothing in September and October to be safe.

November is a great month for fishing, but you need a warm jacket, gloves, and a good rain jacket. Midges start showing in good numbers concentrating fish to the surface. Nymph fishing is also a great option. Streamer fishing can be deadly for large trout. November is for die-hards who aren’t afraid of getting their fingers cold. They love November because the fishing is great and there’s a good chance they'll have the water to themselves.

Winter

It’s not worth going through the winter month by month. Our elevation ranges from about 5,000 to 6,500. Many of the rivers and all of the lakes freeze over. There can still be very good fishing, especially dry fly fishing with midges on some of the tailwaters, including the Madison, lower Henry’s Fork, and South Fork. The locals take advantage if the weather conditions are right, but we don’t recommend planning a trip in December, January, or February. You’re better off staying home, tying flies, watching fly fishing videos, and if it’s in your budget, travel to where it’s warm. We’ll see you in the spring.