Yellowstone Park

Yellowstone Park, August 10th, 2024

If ever there were a fly fishing haven on earth, Bechler River would be a leading candidate. The photo above shows the confluence with Boundary Creek at the lower end of the meadow. This particular location hosts one of the densest Trico emergences in the area. From around breakfast time until noon, every fish will be up taking spinners, duns and emergers. When the tricos wind down, switch to to terrestrial insect patterns presented with long drag free floats near the well vegetated banks and hang on for upcoming action!

Yellowstone Park, August 3rd, 2024

Beware!

It is berry season in much of the Park. Huckleberries and low bush blueberries are the major ones that mature. These are located in well forested areas, and their sweet aromas flow through the forests. Well forested sections of all Fall River Basin streams, stretches of Slough Creek, Gallatin, Gibbon, and Madison Rivers have these in abundance. The temptation to harvest some is hard to resist, but is illegal to do so. The aromas signal to bears, black and grizzly, that is time to forage, thus patches of these can be hazardous to approach or pass through because bears have been known to defend such.

Yellowstone National Park, July 31st, 2024

High summer temperatures are now impacting Yellowstone Park streams. Because water temperatures have been measured at 68 Deg. F. or greater in more park streams, further “hoot owl” type closures have been applied. Thus fishing is prohibited from 2 PM – midnight on the Snake River from the South Entrance upstream to Forest Creek, the Gardner River from Osprey Falls downstream to the north boundary, and the Yellowstone River from Tower  Junction downstream to the Park north boundary.  These restrictions do not apply to lakes open to fishing in the Park.

Yellowstone Park, July 27th, 2024

Hoot owl like restrictions will apply to northeast corner streams:(Lamar River, Pebble, Slough and Soda Butte Creeks) beginning Monday, July 29th. Closed to fishing after 2 PM each day.

Yellowstone National Park, July 24th, 2024

It is time to use terrestrial insect patterns on any meadow reach of park streams. The Yellowstone River below and above Hayden Valley is a real good choice for large Yellowstone Cutthroat trout. But consider that with this super warm summer, those above LeHardy Rapids may soon begin heading back to the lake.  Anywhere the river is open above the falls, green drake and PMD life cycle patterns still work. Terrestrial insect patterns, especially those for ants are becoming good for top water fishing.  Try these around Nez Perce Ford. Low light conditions, like evenings?  Try streamer patterns of choice

Flies to fish:

• Thunder Thighs Hopper-Yellow
• Chubby Cubby-Brown
• Brook’s Sprout-PMD
• Mena’s Slider Bugger-Olive/Ginger

Yellowstone Park, July 20th, 2024

Nez Perce Ford

Fishing restrictions apply on all the Madison River drainage streams, but others are in good conditions for fishing, Currently the Yellowstone River above the falls features green drake and PMD hatches with some wind blown giant stone flies. Water from deep, cool Yellowstone Lake keeps the river here in good shape for Yellowstone Cutthroat survival. It is similar to being a tail water fishery, but it is a natural phenomena. Northeast corner streams ( Lamar River, Slough, Soda Butte Creeks) feature PMD, sally and a few golden stone hatches with hoppers and other terrestrial insects coming on. All this makes for great top water conditions. However because these are roadside, they become somewhat crowded during daytime hours. Walking upstream on both the Lamar River and Slough Creek to fish can offer relief from other enthusiasts. Fall River Basin streams are approaching base level flows. Mayfly numbers are declining here, but terrestrial insect populations are building.

Yellowstone National Park, July 17th, 2024

Beginning Monday, The Park closes fishing on much of the Madison River drainage within. This includes the entire Madison and Firehole Rivers and the Gibbon River below Norris Campground. Also included are all tributaries such as Little Firehole River, Cougar, Duck, Grayling, Iron Spring, and Maple Creeks.  Park still waters are not included in this restriction. Now is a good time to fish Beula Lake if you have yet to!  We will have more on fishing it later this week.

Yellowstone Park, July 13th, 2024

Pelican Creek

Pelican Creek above its closure is opening to fishing on July 15^th. It hosts Yellowstone cutthroat trout up to trophy size with no suckers or whitefish present. The ravenous post spawning cutthroat moving back to the lake will take any small or medium size fly offered. For comfort, consider wading wet. From the trailhead on the East Entrance Highway and a few miles east of the Yellowstone River bridge, it is an easy two mile walk to the creek in its meadow reach.

Beginning Monday, The Park will close fishing on the Madison River Drainage including the river itself, Firehole River, and upstream parts of the Gibbon River.  This closure is mostly because of high water temperatures.

Yellowstone National Park, July 10th, 2024

Fall River Basin stream now offering best fishing conditions in the region. That includes fishing success, scenery, and solitude. Northeast corner streams rounding into shape, but upstream Thundershowers will discolor the Lamar River. Trout Lake is mossing up, so dry flies and nymphs below an indicator are best methods.  Beula and Riddle lakes offer fastest action of any park still water.

Run-off is gone from Fall River Basin streams, and their top water fishing is improving by the day. PMDs and yellow sallies are numerous. Even damsel flies are hatching and their life cycle patterns bring interest from foraging trout. 

Patterns to try are the Missing Link Yellow Sally, Sparkle Dun-PMD Cream/Yellow, and Chubby Damsel- Blue.

Yellowstone Park, July 5th, 2024

Beula Lake

Looking for almost certain still water fishing success? Beula Lake right now is a great location to try. Packing a flotation devise the 2.5 miles into Beula from the Ashton-Flagg Ranch road is the best way to achieve this, but so will fishing at the inlet do the same. Get to the inlet by walking a couple of hundred yards along to south shore to the southeast corner of the lake. There is plenty of room on the small inlet delta here for a few fly fishers to present damsel fly and speckled dun life cycle patterns or even traditional dry patterns (like parachute adams) to foraging Yellowstone cutthroat trout, the only salmonid or game fish in the lake.