Yellowstone Park 6-15-13

We packed float tubes down DeLacey Creek trail to Shoshone Lake two days ago and were met by eager juvenile lake trout trout that would not quit hitting.  A few good sized (up to 15″) brookies joined in, but the browns did not.  If you are looking for back country fly-fishing that is sure to produce  a great experience, and this  big lake offers it, here is what you need: good enough physical shape to back-pack a float tube, fins, INSULATED waders, fly-fishing gear, raincoat, etc., six miles round trip.  Here’s what works: get out in the lake and present small leech (black in size 10 is best) or scud patterns (orange in size 14 is best) on top of weed beds through using a full sink line. The lake trout average 17-21″ and in the cold (47 Deg. F.) water put up a credible fight.   The Park Service encourages keeping these fish, but carrying out five fish this size makes the walk out  tougher.  So  take out the results of using that filet knife, and put the rest back in the lake.  Elsewhere in the Park, fishing on the Firehole River is holding up very well (see our last report on fishing Yellowstone Park waters).  PMDs are making great PM fishing on the Madison River, and a few golden stones are showing up there. Run-off is beginning to leave Fall River Basin streams.  Streams in the northeast corner of the Park are high but beginning to drop in flow.