Paradise Valley Fishing Report

Fishing in Paradise Valley has been solid this week. The spring creeks are experiencing good PMD hatches late in the morning into the early afternoon. Cool, cloudy mornings have kept things quiet early, but once the light comes up, fish are feeding steadily. I’ve been starting with small PMD nymphs or emergers and switching to dries once heads start showing. Sulfurs appear a bit later in the day, and when the hatch slows down, ants and beetles have been a reliable backup.

The Yellowstone River is in good shape right now — flows are stable and the water’s clear. I’ve had the best luck early in the day, fishing rubberlegs with tungsten droppers. As things warm up, yellow sallies and caddis get the fish looking up, and there’s been some promising hopper action along the banks too. A chubby and a dropper have been a go-to setup lately and are worth sticking with.

If you’re looking for a quieter option, Story Lake has been fishing pretty well in the mornings. Callibaetis nymphs are active early, and there’s some fun dry fly action later in the day near the reeds. It’s a nice change of pace from the river.

One thing to keep in mind: carry a stream thermometer. With warmer afternoons, water temps can creep up quickly. If the river hits 70 degrees, it’s a good idea to reel it up, enjoy the float, and give the trout a break until things cool down.

If you’re heading out and would like more details or help fine-tuning your approach, feel free to reach out. Always happy to share what I’m seeing on the water.