May 1, 2026

CFS: 1177

FLIES: Firebead sow bug, North fork Specials, Purple Prince, Jigged Prince, Walt’s Worm, Lucent prince, Prince, San Juan worm, Bloody Mary, Pheasant Tail, Midge pupa, Jigged Meathead, Drag Queen, Sculpzilla, Mini Dungeon, Slump Buster, Thin Mint, BWO’s, Caddis, and midges

CONDITIONS: The Bureau of Reclamation has begun raising the flows on the Lower Sho as they prepare for irrigation season. The river is currently high, but remarkably clear. Fishing has been great on jigged attractor nymphs and streamers, and we’ve seeing a great caddis hatch on overcast days,

May 1, 2026

CFS: 1022

FLIES: poxyback sow, yum-yum sow, Herford’s magic, Various worm patterns and colors, thin mints, Midges, BWO’s, Firebead sow, purple and pink lucent perdigon’s, black Spanish bullet, Ice cream cones, Sculpzilla, Rusty Tombone, Montana Mouthwash.

CONDITIONS: The flows on the Bighorn have doubled from the winter flow levels. Streamer fishing and nymphing are still the ticket, but keep an eye out for fish taking midges, BWOs, and caddis in the afternoon. Recommended patterns are worms, sows, perdigons, scuds, and midges fished under an indicator.

May 1, 2026

CFS: 628

FLIES: North Fork Specials, Rubber legs Drag queens, Pheasant Tail, Optic Nerve, Trout Pupa, Orange Lucent Prince, SJ worms, Trout Pupa, Halfbacks, Lucent Tag Perdigons, Chubby cousins, and streamers.

CONDITIONS: There are a good number of fish in the system right now and they are being caught all the way to Pahaska. Nymphing with stonefly imitations and jigged attractors will be your best bet.

Fishing should stay consistent until the warm weather moves back in and the flows go up.

Keep in mind that the river is closed to fishing from Gibbs Bridge to Newton Creek until July 1st.

May 1, 2026

CFS: Disabled (Valley School)

FLIES: North Fork Specials, Meat heads, Bloody Mary’s, Chubby cousins, Optic Nerves, Jigged prince, Lucent Prince, Walts Worm, golden stone nymphs, BWO’s and Streamers.

CONDITIONS: With the cold weather that has moved in, the river is clear and fishing great. Fishing should be really good until the warm weather moves back in. Nymphing with stonefly nymphs and jigged attractors has been the most consistent way to catch fish.

May 1, 2026

CFS: 641 (near Belfry Montana)

FLIES, North Fork Specials, Princes, Pheasant Tail, Optic Nerve, Orange Lucent Prince, Lucent Tag prince, Golden stones, Caddis, BWO’s, perrdigons, Walts worm, Sculpzilla,

CONDITIONS: With the cold weather moving in, we should see the river start to clear soon and fishing should be really good until the warm weather moves back in.

Some top-water action on Midges, BWOs, March Browns, and Skwallas on the warmer days.

May 1, 2026

FLIES: Midge Pupa, Hares Ear, Pheasant Tail, Scuds, Buggers

CONDITIONS: Some of the lower elevation lakes are starting to ice out. The water is still cold and the fish will be sluggish.

May 1, 2026

FLIES: North fork specials, pheasant tails, prince nymphs, optic nerves, perdigons, para adams, stimulators, micro chubby’s,

CONDITIONS: The water is too cold for the fish to be very active. Nymphing during the warmest part of the day is recommended for the best success.

May 1, 2026

FLIES: Pheasant tails, Prince Nymphs, Hares ear, Small jigged nymphs, North Fork Specials, Zebra midges, Small buggers.

CONDITIONS: The water is too cold for the fish to be very active. Nymphing during the warmest part of the day is recommended for the best success.

May 1, 2026

FLIES: Pheasant tails, Prince Nymphs, Hares ear, Small jigged nymphs, North Fork Specials, para adams, stimulators, micro chubby’s Small buggers.

CONDITIONS: The water is too cold for the fish to be very active. Nymphing during the warmest part of the day is recommended for the best success.

May 1, 2026

FLIES: Pheasant tails, Prince Nymphs, Hares ear, Small jigged nymphs, North Fork Specials, para adams, stimulators, micro chubby’s, and Small buggers.

CONDITIONS: The water is too cold for the fish to be very active. Nymphing during the warmest part of the day is recommended for the best success.

May 1, 2026

FLIES: Hares Ear, Pheasant Tails, Zebra midges, Ice cream cones, Balanced leeches, Thin mints, Slump busters, Callibaetis nymphs and dries, Scuds, Soft hackled jigged nymphs, streamers.

CONDITIONS: As water temperatures rise, the fishing just keeps getting better. Hitting the water during the heat of the day is still your best bet for steady action. Try running midge pupa or balanced leeches beneath an indicator, or kick things up by slowly stripping scuds and mayfly nymphs—both approaches have been producing solid results.

May 1, 2026

FLIES: midge pupa, scuds, hares ear, pheasant tails, red analids, backswimmers, callibaetis nymphs, Damsel dries, and streamers

CONDITIONS: As water temperatures rise, the fishing just keeps getting better. Hitting the water during the heat of the day is still your best bet for steady action. Try running midge pupa or balanced leeches beneath an indicator, or kick things up by slowly stripping scuds and mayfly nymphs—both approaches have been producing solid results.

May 1, 2026

FLIES: Wooley Buggers, ice cream cones, hares ears, pheasant tails, lightning bugs, scuds, trout pupa, jigged drag queens, optic nerves, Terrestrials, and streamers

CONDITIONS: Open water and the fishing has been decent. Fish the heat of the day for the most action. Try fishing midge pupa or balanced leeches below an indicator or slow stripping scuds and mayfly nymph imitations.

May 1, 2026

CFS: 748

FLIES:

CONDITIONS: Closed until Memorial Day weekend 2026

May 1, 2026

Yellowstone Lake

FLIES:

CONDITIONS: Closed until Memorial Day weekend 2026

CFS: (Lake outlet) 952

FLIES:

CONDITION: Closed until July 1st, 2026