Spring seems to last forever in Yellowstone. In Yellowstone National Park, spring begins when the snow melts. As the days lengthen, spring comes to Yellowstone disguised as many weather patterns. Believe it or not, most of the annual snowpack and runoff comes from heavy snow storms from late March throughout May. Throughout this turbulent time, spring keeps on a’coming as they say. Grasses green, wildlife show off their newborn and the wildflowers bloom as the weather shows off its diversity.
In a national park where wondrous hot springs and mud flows captures attention, the weather in spring does the same. Spring fishing season does not open in Yellowstone until Memorial Day weekend. Anglers by the hundreds congeal in fly fishing towns like Cody, West Yellowstone and Jackson while awaiting the “Big Day.” All keeping an eye on the weather because to fish in Yellowstone, one has to get inside first. If roads are closed due to weather, then one misses an epochal experience.
Targeted waters are the famous and fabulous Firehole, Gibbon and Madison Rivers. What a way to kick off an opener than to be catching unwary trout (for the first few days anyway!) on just about anything that can be floated or drifted. Mayflies and caddis hatches fulfill all a dry fly enthusiast’s fantasies about ‘matching the hatch.’ One would think this statement outrageous if it weren’t for the fact the word has been out for a long time.
It seems the weather attracts as many anglers as does the trout. I can agree. Nothing turns trout on more than weather fronts. As mentioned, spring comes slowly to Yellowstone. Late May is when the snowmelt has swelled the streams and then warmed them by the sun. Even then, it is not unusual to be fishing in warm sunshine until noon, only to find after your lunch break that it is beginning to snow. The sudden darkness has triggered a feeding frenzy. Back to the river go the hordes, me included.
Blue-winged olives, caddis (several types and sizes), even a smattering of early pale morning duns are on the water. Holy smokes! Is that a golden stone? Despite having to switch to water repellent and warm outer clothing, there are five different hatches going on. At the same time! You had to be there to see the phenomenon. Maybe some of you were there and remember the scene too. Scripted, conducted and orchestrated purely by the weather. A picnicker’s curse and a fly fisherman’s dream. TIP: Before going into the Park for the opening weekend, ask the local fly shop guys what to use for the hatches you will see.
Opening day isn’t the only reason for traveling through Yellowstone, of course, but believe me when I say, “Pack for the weather.” Intense thunderstorms, heavy snowfalls, windy squalls as well as beatific days of warm sunshine occur even through early July. Last year, it kept this kind of weather up most of the summer!
The elevation is what brings such intensity to the storms, as moisture pumps in from the Pacific. These events (which they are if you’ve ever experienced one) usually blow in and out so quickly, it seems almost surreal. One minute it is 80 degrees. The next it is freezing and you are in a blinding blizzard. Ah, Yellowstone in the spring. Don’t forget to pack some 7X tippets if the weather is bright and warm this Memorial Day!
Tim Wade, owner of North Fork Anglers in Cody, Wyo., has been fishing and guiding Yellowstone area waters for almost 30 years.
