The first week of the 2024 fishing season has come and gone, and what a great opening week it’s been. Gray skies, cold temps and rain were welcomed conditions last weekend for the opener. We were thrilled to see some good old fashioned scuzzy weather, and even more excited about the hatches of pale morning duns and beatis that it produced. Good numbers of rising fish were found on opening weekend throughout the Firehole and Madison Rivers, as well as a few of the especially choice pieces of dry fly water on the Gibbon.

Looking ahead, forecasts indicate a warm up and sunnier skies. Though, the chance for unstable weather continues through the weekend, and you never know when storms can materialize with those conditions at this time of year. So, keep a close watch on the forecast and be ready to take advantage of any periods of afternoon inclement weather. Odds are good that it will produce good hatches, and a fun session of dry fly fishing.

As warmer weather returns so too does the chance at fishing some salmonflies in the few areas of stonefly habitat found along the Madison, Firehole, and Gibbon. White Miller (cream-colored) caddis in size 14 and Hydropsyche caddis (tan) in size 16 will also become more important on warm afternoons and evenings.

Snowpack in the high country has not changed much since last week due to cold conditions. In fact most areas saw an increase in snow depth and snow water equivalent over the weekend. The Black Bear Snotel Site  (a good reference for the snowpack in the high plateau above the the Firehole River) currently shows 61 inches of snow remaining on the ground with a Snow Water Equivalent of 28 inches. With that much snow (and water) still on the ground, any periods of warm, sunny weather, or rain on snow events, will likely bump the Firehole back up, making fishing, especially with dry flies, more difficult. So, keep a close watch on the weather, and follow the Firehole River flows HERE. (For reference, this time last week the black Bear site was reporting 62 inches of snow on the ground with 28 inches of snow water equivalent.)

There are a few exciting changes to the Yellowstone Fishing Regulations this year. Most notably is the opening of two waters to Year-Round fishing. Beginning this year (2024), the fishing season in two locations extends through Dec 31, 2024, with the 2025 season running from Jan 1–Dec 31, 2025. In the Northeast Region, the Gardner River from Osprey Falls downstream to the confluence with the Yellowstone River near the North Entrance in Gardiner, Montana, will remain open year-round. In the Northwest Region, the Madison River from the Wyoming/ Montana state line downstream to the park boundary near the West Entrance in West Yellowstone, Montana, will remain open year-round. Click HERE to read the full Yellowstone Fishing Regulations.