Yellowstone Park

Yellowstone River within the park opened for fishing on July 1st. Yellowstone Lake tributaries open on July 15th to protect spawning cutthroat trout. Remember that felt sole wading boots/shoes are illegal for use in park waters. Thanks to recent cool weather, fishing on the Firehole River remains a good top water location with white miller, BWO and PMD life cycle, caddis patterns during the PM and soft hackled patterns providing action for fly fishers. When the river warms enough a “hoot owl” restriction or total fishing closure will be applied. Caddis and PMD activity is also good on the Gibbon River below the falls. Excepting Slough Creek, northeast corner streams are still a bit high and discolored. Trout Lake is open to fly fishing except for the portion close to its inlet for protecting spawning cutthroat trout. After the half-mile hike uphill, shoreline casting can result in some very large cuttbow trout responding. Try scud, damselfly nymph, and leech patterns suspended under indicators for best action. Other restrictions for fishing (fly fishing only) on the lake can be found on the park web site. The Gallatin River is clearing and aquatic insects including yellow sallies, PMDs and salmon flies are appearing.  Fall River Basin streams are offering their best top water fishing now. PMDs, yellow sallies, damselflies and wind-blown giant and golden stoneflies are the reason for this activity. Brown Drake activity will extend good top water fishing until around sunset. Because of the previous  “low snow winter”, the green drake emergence will be slim this year as water will be warming up significantly as we go through July. Mosquitoes can be fierce, so be sure to bring DEET. Park fishing licenses are available through the park web site, and visitor and ranger station offices within.