Brown trout are a major presence in the Lewis River Channel between Lewis and Shoshone lakes, the Gardner River near the north entrance, the Madison River and the Snake River at the south entrance. You need sink tip lines and streamer patterns to enjoy these big fish. Keep an eye on the weather and road conditions, and remember that the Park fishing season closes on Sunday, November 6th.
Except for the Firehole River, it is streamer time! In the Firehole BWO and midge activity is bringing seasonal action. This also goes on in the lower Gibbon River in National Park Meadows, but run-up Hebgen Lake fish make streamer fishing much more attractive there if one wants to encounter large browns and ‘bows. Same can be said for the Madison River in the Park. Browns migrating into the Lewis River Channel from Lewsi and Shoshone lakes are making for some of the best streamer fishing anywhere. It is best to be there early as possible, so consider packing and camping into the Shoshone Lake outlet campground to spend the night and be the first on the river. You will see the best action that way. Other than the Firehole dry fly action and the brown trout runs, Beula Lake offers great action on bluebird days. Small leech and nymph patterns work best. The best location on Bechler River for action is between the Boundary Creek confluence and Rocky Ford. Try big dry attractors. Try the same on Fall River in its meadow reaches.
It is now streamer fly season on most Park rivers and on Shoshone and Lewis lakes. Big browns are migrating on these, and in the case of the Madison River drainage they are accompanied by a fall rainbow run. So break out those six and seven weight rods and sink tip lines for rivers, or intermediate lines for the lakes. Have somber and bright patterns in the fly box, and a good camera to record the beautiful colors these fish put on to announce their migration. Also be prepared for stormy weather.
Until a general killing frost hits the Park, terrestrial patterns will be the best dry fly way to find action during daytime hours. Tricos continue to emerge during mornings on many streams and evening caddis flights complete the reasons to find day long activity. On the Firehole River BWOs are into their classic autumn appearance. But as we approach closer to October streamer fishing will take over on most streams as the best way to encounter the largest fish. This is particularly true on the Madison River drainage below barrier waterfalls, on the Lewis River between Shoshone and Lewis lakes, the lower Yellowstone River (in the Park), and the Snake River at the south entrance. Still water fishing can also be excellent. Nowhere is action faster than on Beula Lake with Riddle Lake likely second. Both host Yellowstone cutts always eager for a meal. On Lewis and Shoshone lakes fishing away from shore remains the best way to encounter migrating browns, but fish close to shore will become increasingly effective as we advance through October.
Trico activity on the such as the Madison River, Bechler River, and Boundary Creek is going good. Add that to the still abundant terrestrial insect population and plenty of dry fly fishing can be found on Park rivers and streams. Hebgen Lake browns and ‘bows are beginning their migration into the Madison River upstream and the same with browns going into Lewis River Channel from Shoshone and Lewis lakes. Beula Lake is still producing some of the best action in the Park with damselfly nymphs, small bead head nymphs, small leech patterns, and scud patterns around shorelines working well.
No big changes here. Daytime fishing is best with terrestrial patterns on all streams. Morning trico activity dictates how to fish on such as the Madison River, Gibbon River, Bechler River, Fall River, and Boundary Creek. Look for increasing numbers of ‘bows and browns to begin moving out of Hebgen Reservoir into the Madison River above. Same with browns going into Lewis River Channel between Lewis and Shoshone lakes. Streamers will be the name of the game on both rivers, same on Duck Creek for big browns moving through meadows.
We can’t help placing this link here because it relates a piece of success in turning Yellowstone Lake back to the cutthroat trout refuge it should be and the source of food for so much wildlife that depends on that presence. Take a look at Jeff’s Journal: “A Bright New Day for Cutthroat” on the front page of the Greater Yellowstone News for August 31st, 2011.
Tricos are showing up on the Madison River, so consider it along the West Entrance Road and around Baker’s Hole for early AM fishing. Tricos are also beginning to show up on Fall River Basin streams. But on all Park streams, terrestrial patterns will be best bets for mid day fishing.
It’s almost a blanket statement for all Park streams, but it is true: now is the time to fish terrestrial patterns. Be sure to have you favorite ant, beetle, and hopper patterns along. If you want action, especially on still waters, Beula Lake is the place. Gulpers (Yellowstone cutthroats, in this case) are going strong, and caddisflies coming down the inlet bring fish into shallow waters there in a mode similar to how PMD activity attracts fish to South Fork riffles. Trico activity is going on in many Park waters, so morning visits should include patterns for these. Then as mid day approaches, switch to those terrestrial patterns.
We received an announcement from Park fisheries personnel.
Attention Trout Anglers on Yellowstone Lake
“Beginning August 18th, 140 lake trout in Yellowstone Lake will be tagged with an internal transmitter. All lake trout in this study will have their adispose fin removed. The chemical used to anesthetize tagged trout requires a 21-day wthdrawal period prior to human consumption. Lake trout without an adipose fin caught in Yellowstone Lake prior to September 21, 2011 should not be consumed. Please report your catch and return tag to an NPS Ranger Station (Fisheries Program PO Box 168, Yellowstone NP, WY 82190).