Similar to last report, weekend thunderstorms succeeded in churning up the rivers of the northeast corner. If you’re making plans to fish the Lamar Valley this week, I’d keep a keen eye on the flows, making sure visibility has improved before trekking that direction into the park. Soda Butte and the Lamar are both majorly prone to being easily thrown off color by weather events- so be proactive in checking the monitors. As soon as flows drop back down and clarity improves, some of the best fishing in the Cutthroat Corner develops the very first few days after clearing back up. We expect to see a little more warmer weather before September rolls in, so plan to be throwing ants, hoppers, and beetles a little longer before we transition into fall mode.

While the Gallatin has been one of our most recent go-to options, the Taylor’s Fork went off color and began pushing mud into the main river within the past couple days. Flows have dropped back down near normal, but the water may still be a little off color. Try some bushier attractor dries in the late morning, and bigger terrestrials mid to late afternoon once things heat up. 

Slough Creek should still be a good option to check out after the weekend rain. While a bit more technical than other nearby waterways in the northeast corner, remembering where big fish like to live can save you a headache in searching and wasting precious time. Worry less about fast, shallow water up there, and cast through any deep, slow pockets you lay eyes on. Big terrestrials in the afternoon sun can entice a hungry fish to leave the comfort of their hiding places for a hefty bite to eat. When the going gets tough, try smaller, trickier spinners or caddis. 

These cooler temps and more consistent rain may have some folks itching to jump back into the Firehole or Madison, but we’re still largely leaving those rivers untouched until there’s more consistent cool weather to keep the fish happy. Stay persistent out there and don’t be afraid to cover more water than you’re used to!