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Regional River Conditions

 

East Rosebud Fly & Tackle Fishing Report- October 21, 2024

 
 

Bighorn River
10/21/24

 Current flow at the St. Xavier bridge, 2,420 cfs.
After one of the most prolific Summer Dry Fly seasons, the Big Horn fishery from the After Bay down to the Mallards Landing access has begun to show signs of transition into Fall. There is grass in the fishery making fishing more difficult. The lake has also begun to turn over making the water clarity not as good as just a week ago. The Nymph and Streamer fishing is the best strategy. Due to the grass situation your grass free water isn’t everywhere but there are lanes that have less grass so focus on those areas of the stream bed.
The best fishing is the Nymph fishing. Suggested patterns include;

Though the current grass situation doesn’t help, there is an early Fall Streamer bite going on. There are a lot of nice Trout in the Big Horn so make sure you are running a short and heavy Leader like 7’ 6” OX. Dealing with grass in the river is just part of the game this time of year on the Big Horn. Stick with your Streamer and you could end up catching a “a legit “Peach”.

Suggested Streamer patterns include;
Thin Mint
The Grinch
Sparkle Minnow in Sculpin
Sparkle Minnow in Royal Oil
Minnie Sex Dungeon in Yellow
Minnie Sex Dungeon in Black
Rusty Trombone
The Goldie

Stillwater River
10/21/24

 Current flow at Absarokee, 382 cfs.
 
The Stillwater River is in prime shape for Fall. It is no secret that the Summer of 2022 flood in the Stillwater River drainage has diminished the Trout population in this blue ribbon fishery. However the Stillwater still has a decent number of Trout per mile just don’t expect it to fish like it has in the past.
Right now you can still fish the Stillwater anyway you want and that would include Dry Fly’s, Nymphs and Streamers.
The Dry Fly fishing diminishes as we progress into Fall, however there is still a little Hopper action on that Stillwater due to our continued warm temperatures. If anything your Hopper would serve as both a legit Dry Fly as well as an excellent indicator for a Hopper Dropper set up. At varying times BWO’s have been spotted so a singular BWO Dry on a warm and cloudy afternoon could be just the ticket.
Suggested Dry Fly patterns include;
Pink Pookie (Sizes #8-#10)
Chubby Chernobyl in Purple (Sizes #10-#14)
Chubby Chernobyl in Royal (Sizes #10-#14)
Jack Cabe (Sizes #10)
Parachute Adams (Sizes #14-#16)
Purple Haze (Sizes #14-#16)
Sparkle Flag BWO (Sizes #16-#18)
Sparkle Dun BWO (Sizes #16-#18)
The Nymph fishing is really the most productive way to fish the Stillwater right now. As water temperatures continue to drop, the Trout are much more likely to eat Nymphs while having to exert less effort. Stone Fly’s, BWO’s and attractor patterns are the best patterns to fish between now and when the fishery ices over.
Suggested Nymphs Patterns Include;
Pat’s Rubber Leg’s in Tan and Black (Sizes #8-#10)
Pat’s Rubber Leg’s in Coffee (Sizes #8-#10)
Copper John’s in red (Sizes #12-#14)
Varied Perdigon Patterns (Size #14)
Psycho Prince’s in Purple (Sizes #12-#14)
Bat Man (#12-#16)
Panty Dropper BWO (Sizes #16-#18)
Varied San Juan Worm Patterns (Sizes #8-#12)

The Streamer fishing is where it’s at if you want to catch a quality Brown. Lots of Brown Trout move up into the Stillwater drainage from the Yellowstone River and stage for their Fall spawn. Swinging a Streamer in front of a territorial spawning Brown Trout will no doubt invoke a defensive strike.
Suggested Streamer Patterns include;

Rock Creek
10/21/24

Current flow at Red Lodge, 53 cfs. Visibility is clear. 
Rock Creek (Red Lodge) is absolutely beautiful right now with its healthy flows and gorgeous tree and bush foliage. Much like the Stillwater River, Rock Creek has seen its Trout population decrease due to the flood of 2022. The good news is there are still quality Trout in Rock Creek, the bad news is there just isn’t as many.
The highest percentage way to fish Rock Creek in late October is Streamers, Streamers and more Streamers. You could still bring some Trout up on Dry’s but that window is closing by the day. The Nymph fishing continues to be solid especially the closer you fish to Red Lodge. If you want to stick a good one, we recommend you Streamer fish Rock Creek.
Though the Dry Fly fishing will be the least productive, our area’s continued warm weather has kept the Dry Fly fishing pertinent for the Angler that prefers to fish on top.
Suggested Dry Fly patterns;
Tan Elk Hair Caddis (Size #14)
Royal Wulff (Sizes #14-#16)
Stimulator in Yellow (Sizes #12-#14)
Purple Haze (Sizes #12-#14)
Parachute Ant (Sizes #12-#14)
More or Less Hopper in Pink (Sizes #10-#12)
Chubby Chernobyl in Purple (Sizes #12-#14)
Super Beetle (#12-#14)
Nymph fishing Rock Creek will continue to be one of your better options through the Fall. Remember to adjust your Indicator based on the depth you are fishing as Rock Creek has land mines in the form of branches and downed tree’s meaning you will lose a lot of Bugs if you don’t pay attention to the depth of your bugs.
Suggested Nymph Patterns;
Varied Perdigon patterns (Size #14)
Montana Prince in Blue (Sizes #12-#16)
Flashback Pheasant Tail (Sizes #12-#14)
Balanced Leech in Black (Sizes #8-#10)
BH Halfback Stone Fly (Sizes #8-#12)
North Fork Special in Black (#8-#10)
Lightning Bug in Silver (Sizes #12-#14)
BH Prince Nymph (Sizes #10-#14)
With the Fall comes the Brown Trout Spawn. Over the next 6-8 weeks, lots of Brown’s will move into Rock Creek and stage to Spawn. These Brown’s become very defensive of their chosen area and will defend very aggressively against a Streamer drifting/swinging in their area. If you haven’t picked up Streamer fishing, this is the time of year to do it.
Suggested Streamer Patterns;

Yellowstone River
10/21/24

 Current flow at Livingston, 1,620 cfs.
“Her” Grand Majesty, The Yellowstone River is in fine form as our area settles in for Fall. The Yellowstone River had a typical season meaning some Anglers had good days and others did not. Being the longest Freestone fishery in the United States, the Yellowstone is a tricky fishery that can test even the most skilled Anglers.
The Dry Fly fishing- For all intents and purposes the Dry Fly fishing is done on the Yellowstone. That doesn’t mean you couldn’t get some late afternoon Hopper eats or come across a pod of fish up eating BWO’s, but with each passing day the Yellowstone will get tougher to bring a Trout up to the surface.
Suggested Dry Fly patterns;
Pink Pookie (Sizes #8-#10)
Chubby Chernobyl in Gold (Sizes #8-#12)
Amy’s Ant in Red (Size #10)
Amy’s Ant in Olive (Size #10)
Film Critic BWO (Sizes #16-#18)
Hot Spot Para Wulff BWO (#16-#18)
For best results on the Yellowstone right now bring out your Bobbers. The Nymph fishing will yield the most opportunity on the Stone right now using tried and true classics that have continued to produce consistent eats even with the plethora of newer Fly patterns available. Don’t over think the Yellowstone. It is a tough fishery and not the best fishery to test a bunch of new Fly’s on.
Suggested Nymph Patterns;
Bitch Creek (Sizes #8-#10)
Girdle Bug (Sizes #8-#12)
Pat’s Rubber Leg in assorted colors (Sizes #8-#10)
BH Prince Nymph (Size #8-#12)
TFP Balanced Leech in Black (Size #8)
TB Retriever Jig in Black or Olive (Size #8)
Jig BH Girdle Bug in Black or Brown (Size #8)
BH Halfback Stone (Sizes #8-#10)
If you want to “Spin the Wheel” and move a nice Brown Trout on the Yellowstone, East Rosebud highly recommends fishing Streamers. Just like the other Freestone fishery’s in Montana, the Fall means spawning Brown Trout. Though the Yellowstone River can be tough to fish because of the river’s size and hydrolicks, if you put a Streamer in front of a Brown right now, it is probably going to eat it. It could be a great fish too.
Suggested Streamer Patterns;
Krystal Flash Bugger in Black (Size #4)
Orange Blossom Special (Size #4)
Muddled Minnow (Size #4)
Sparkle Minnow in Sculpin (Size #4)
The Grinch (Size #4)
Galloup’s Articulated Sex Dungeon in Black (Size #2)
Galloup’s Articulated Sex Dungeon in Olive (Size #2)
McKinight’s Home Invader in White, or Yellow (Size #2) 

Boulder River
10/21/24

Current flow at Big Timber, 196 cfs
Unlike the Stillwater River and some other smaller tributaries East of this fishery, the Boulder wasn’t quite as impacted by the flood of 2022. The Boulder River had a productive Summer season and the Fall won’t be any different except with a lot fewer people around. The lower River is your best bet.
The Dry Fly fishing this time of year is a lot tougher although our warm October has kept Hopper’s, October Caddis and BWO’s a daily possibility. It won’t fish like August on top but Dry Fly’s are still in play on the Boulder on a nice afternoon.
Suggested Dry Fly patterns;
Pink Pookie (Sizes #8-#10)
Spruce Moth (Size #14)
October Caddis (Size #10)
Purple Haze (Size #12-#16)
Orange Stimulator (Size #10-#12)
Varied BWO patterns (Sizes #16-#18)
Your best technique to do well is your Nymph set up. Flows are low which means the Trout are easy to get too. Indicator fishing with standard bread and butter Nymphs are all you need. A Dry Dropper set up can still be productive.
Suggested Nymph Patterns;
Varied Perdigon patterns (Size #14)
Copper Johns in Red (Sizes #12-#16)
Bat Man Nymph (Sizes #10-#16)
BH Hare’s Ear (Sizes #12-#16)
North Fork Special in Black (#8-#10)
Pat’s Rubber Legs in Tan/Black (#8-#10)
BH Flashback Pheasant Tail (Sizes #10-#18)
Varied San Juan Worm patterns (#8-#12)
This time of year if you want to catch the Brown Trout of your life you swing a Streamer. You may not be as productive as you will with a proper Nymph set up but you might enjoy the experience if you are a beginner and if you are savvy, you’re already fishing with a Streamer this time of year.
Suggested Streamer Patterns;
Sparkle Minnow Sculpin (Size #4)
Orange Blossom Special (Size #4)
The Grinch (Size #4)
Thin Mint (Size #6)
Kreelex Minnow Gold Silver (Size #4)
Kreelex Minnow Purple Silver (Size #4)
Galloup’s Barely Legal Brown Yellow (Size #6)
Galloup’s Mini Sex Dungeon in Black (Size #6)
Galloup’s Mini Sex Dungeon in Yellow (Size #6)
Galloup’s Mini Sex Dungeon in Olive (Size #6)

 

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