Yellowstone Park

Yellowstone Park, June 29th, 2024

Well Fed Rainbow Trout

it is time to leave the Firehole River’s trout population alone because of its water being warmed to levels where dissolved oxygen is low enough to inhibit their to survive being caught and released.

There are plenty of alternatives for the fly fisher who prefers top water fishing.

The nearby Madison and Gibbon Rivers offer PMD and caddis hatches that are attracting trout to feed. PMD and yellow sally hatches are going on in Fall River Basin streams. Want a real challenge in Yellowstone Park top water fishing? Try slowly drifting your favorite green drake pattern through Duck Creek in its meadow. Green and brown drakes are present but very sparse.Trout being there 24/7, know when they appear. The utmost of skill, stealth and concentration are required to fool the hosted brown and rainbow trout which range well into trophy sizes.

Yellowstone National Park, June 26th, 2024

Run-off has dropped enough to make Fall River Basin streams worthy of a fishing trip. For a bit longer, any pattern that imitates an earthworm is the most effective. Next comes streamer patterns of choice.   Placing these at the top of holes and deep runs to drift to depth, then a slow retrieve is the best strategy. Make sure you have plenty of DEET for the walk through the timber.  Also be “bear aware.”  Wind still inhibits fishing on the big lakes.  Streams in the northeast corner of the Park (Lamar River, Slough, Soda Butte and Pebble Creeks) are still high with run-off but are receding.

Yellowstone National Park, June 14th 2024

No change here: the Firehole River is the place to fish. Swinging soft hackle types, offering BWO, PMD and caddis life cycle patterns but as we move into warmer weather the river will do the same meaning lower levels of dissolved oxygen. So we should soon treat this river as a sanctuary for resident trout, and fish elsewhere. Here are a few candidates that have opened up: the relatively sparse green drake hatch on the Lewis River above and below Lewis Lake. Lewis. Shoshone and Yellowstone Lakes are now ice-free. From West Yellowstone, Shoshone lake is the easiest to reach if the fly fisher does not mind packing a flotation device and relevant gear three miles down the Delacey Creek trail to the lake. Get out on the lake, look for submerged weed beds. Pitch any fly that simulates a leech or a streamer using a full sink line and stout leader. You will enjoy catching many juvenile lake trout ranging from 17 to just over twenty inches and perhaps a trophy sized brown trout.

Yellowstone National Park, June 12th, 2024

Fishing on the Firehole River is holding up with the usual aquatic insect activity providing action. . The Lewis River flowing in the meadows along the South Entrance Road and above the canyon offers streamer fishing during low light conditions for very large, but very wary brown trout. Later this month a green drake hatch will begin here. Ice is leaving Lewis and Shoshone lakes.

Yellowstone National Park, June 8th, 2024

No change here: the Firehole River is the place to fish. Swinging soft hackle types, offering BWO, PMD and caddis life cycle ( with and without a dropper for subsurface forms) patterns are best strategies. Afternoon thunder showers with rain fall can dampen fishing success.

Yellowstone National Park, June 5th, 2024

The giant stonefly hatch on the Firehole River between the Firehole Falls area and the Madison River confluence is ongoing. This hatch does not last long so better hurry to enjoy fish responding to it. Otherwise fishing is excellent ( BWO, PMD, white miller caddis life cycle patterns, swung soft hackle patterns) on the river above but becoming well visited by fly fishers from all over the world.

Yellowstone Park, June 1st, 2024

The Firehole River continues to produce the best early season fishing in the Park. Swinging a soft hackle pattern is one of the best techniques for action almost any time on this stream.. BWO life cycle and white miller caddis patterns produce. PMDs are becoming active. Weather can influence fishing, so check out current reports for the Park if there is a question on such.

Yellowstone National Park, May 24th, 2024

The Park fishing season opens Saturday, May 25th. Go to the Park web site to obtain a fishing license. The Firehole River will be the best and maybe only place to fish within, weather permitting. Fish will be keying on BWO, midge, and white mlller activity there. So bring life cycle patterns of each.