Yellowstone Park, September 9th, 2023

Firehole River and Nez Perce Creek

With respect to fishing this time of the season, Park waters seem to offer something for every fly fisher. For example, the fall season has begun on the Firehole River where cooling weather has dropped water temps to levels where trout become active especially during AMs. BWO and caddis life cycle and terrestrial insect patterns are effective once again. For the still water enthusiast, Shoshone and Lewis Lakes have cooled enough where resident brown and lake trout will respond to streamer patterns presented around submerged weed beds and drop-offs. Killing frosts are yet to arrive on a widespread basis, so terrestrial insect patterns remain effective on streams having meadow reaches. Such include the Lamar River and its tributary Slough and Soda Butte Creeks, meadows on the Gibbon and Yellowstone Rivers, and all Fall River Basin streams. Brown and rainbow trout have begun migrating out of Hebgen Lake and into the Madison River drainage within the Park, and will respond to streamer patterns. Tourist traffic is diminishing, crowds are down or yet to come on many waters, and fall colors will soon peak throughout the Park. So September is a great time to visit Park waters for some good fishing and to enjoy its unique scenery.