Yellowstone Park

Yellowstone Park, June 24th, 2023

The Firehole River is beginning to warm, so begin considering other waters to fish. Some of the best stream fishing currently in the park is on the Lewis River Channel between Lewis and Shoshone Lakes where resident brown trout will chase streamer patterns. The channel also has a minor giant stone fly emergence and some green drakes. Green drakes are also in the river below Lewis lake (where browns are wary beyond belief) at least to the top of the canyon. Fishing on Shoshone Lake using the strategies we described in our last report work big time.

If traveling a distance to enjoy some of the largest cutts and bows in the Park is OK with you, Trout Lake, a few miles west of the northeast entrance offers these. The lake is about half a mile uphill walk from the highway. It can be fished from shore, but packing a flotation device to get onto it is a best strategy. Damsel and dragon fly life cycle patterns, scud and leech patterns, sometimes suspended under an indicator, sometimes slow trolled (intermediate line) bring best results. The lake will begin weeding up big time soon making wet fly fishing difficult ,so the next few weeks is best time for a visit.

Yellowstone Park, June 17th, 2023

The Ashton Flagg Road remains closed east of Calf Creek Hill. This closes access to Fall River and Beula Lake from the west. It does the same for Lake of the Woods and Grassy Lake Reservoir from the west. The Cave Falls road is open, but Fall River Basins streams remain high and discolored with run-off. Shoshone and Lewis Lakes are open and in fishing condition. Boating is best way to encounter resident brown and Lake trout. Look for submerged weed beds and use full sink lines too present leech, scud and jig pattern to depth. You can also have good fishing on Shoshone Lake by packing a flotation device three miles down the DeLacy Creek trail to Shoshone Lake,

The Firehole River still offers the best stream fishing in the park. PMD, BWO life cycle patterns bring action. The same for white miller and yellow sally patterns. Swing soft hackle patterns for action.

Yellowstone Park, May 30th, 2023

True to usual, the Firehole River provides the best fishing. Running a bit high, but cool promotes the insect activity, so caddis, PMD, BWO life cycle patterns bring action. Do not overlook swinging soft hackle patterns such as partridge and olive, partridge and orange, Syl Nemes’s suggestions, etc. A few large post spawning rainbows are in the Madison River heading back to Hebgen Lake so streamers should bring some action in such places as the Barns Holes and Baker’s Hole Campground. Caddis and PMDs are making and appearance along the river.

Duck Creek is over its banks and flooding the meadow. The Gallatin River is flowing high and discolored.

It will be a while before the Fall River Basin area can be approached. The Cave Falls Road is closed beyond the Horseshoe Lake turn-off and the Ashton-Flagg Road is closed east of the Jackass Loop west of Calf Creek Hill.

Yellowstone Park, May 26th, 2023

The park fishing season begins tomorrow, and the Firehole River will be the best stream to give action with BWO, PMD and caddis emerging and fish responding. Soft hackled patterns representing emergers will be quite effective Top water activity will depend on inflow of snow melt. Best activity will begin in late morning as cooler weather will likely prevail limiting snow melt remaining at higher elevations in the drainage. Some Hebgen Lake rainbows remain in the Madison River and provide a chance for streamer action. Any stream draining higher country will not be in fishing condition. Nearly all lakes in the park remain iced over and some are yet to be approachable.

Yellowstone Park, May 23rd, 2023

The Park’s fishing season opens this coming Saturday. The Firehole River, although running somewhat high, will offer the best fishing with white miller and other caddis, BWO, and small stone flies being active. Life cycle and soft hackle patterns for these will be effective. You can obtain a Park fishing license by going on line to its web site or at any open ranger station.

Yellowstone National Park, October 29th, 2022

Closed to fishing after October 31st (Halloween) this year. So to enjoy Firehole River BWO and white miller hatches and Gardner, Lewis, Madison and Snake Rivers brown trout runs you had best hurry! Good, but cold weather is predicted for the remainder of the season.

Yellowstone Park, October 22nd, 2022

The Firehole River features its usual great dry fly fishing now, but watch the weather as snow could make getting there a problem. Otherwise migrating brown ( and rainbows in the Madison) is the major attraction. With the current stormy weather, any time of day is good for action whether on the Madison or on the Lewis-Snake river drainages. Walking in to fish the Lewis River channel between Lewis and Shoshone Lakes could be a bit difficult with snow any time, but fewer anglers will be present to put the fish down.

Yellowstone Park, October 15th, 2022

The brown and rainbow trout run up the Madison River is in full swing and so is the number of anglers chasing it. Attention to etiquette really applies here. Get in line at the top of holes and runs to take your turn to fish through them. Streamers on sink tip lines bring the best results, and if you have success with them, you might get crowded and at least will be questioned on what patterns you are using.

An alternative to fishing the Madison run is that the Firehole River now offers the best top water fishing in the Park with white mlller, other caddis, and BWOs hatching in enough number to keep fish busy feeding on or near the top.

firehole

Yellowstone Park, October 4th, 2022

With exception of the Firehole River’s BWO and white miller activity above its falls, the brown trout spawning runs in the Madison and Snake River River drainages are the big attractions for fly fishers this month. So popular have these runs become that only the boat use restriction on park waters keeps them from rivaling, in terms of angler attendance, the famed green drake and large stone fly emergences on such as the Henry’s Fork and the Madison Rivers (June flood road damage will decrease the number of fly fishers attending the Gardner River brown trout run). Thus whether you plan to try the runs on the Madison River or on the Lewis and the Snake Rivers, be ready to accept that tolerance and courtesy will be required to have an enjoyable visit.

Yellowstone Park, September 27th, 2022

Fly fishing on the Firehole River above the falls is turning on with the cooling weather. White Miller, other caddis and BWO activities are bring fish up to feed. So bring life cycle patterns, including soft hackle versions, for these insects

Killing frosts will soon nip terrestrial insect populations on Fall River Basin meadow streams and others such as Slough and Duck Creeks. So consider a visit to these before cold weather sets in.

Otherwise, the big attraction to fly fishers are the brown trout migrations in the Madison and Snake River drainages. Presenting streamer patterns is the name of the game on these waters, and enthusiasts seeking a “fish of the year” will become numerous. So be prepared to share choice locations