Yellowstone Park

Park fishing managers have applied a restriction that closes the entire Madison River drainage to fishing (excepting the Gibbon River above Norris Campground). This is because water temperatures have reached or surpassed 68 deg. F. in each. The Lamar River and Soda Butte Creeks are rounding in prime dry fly-fishing shape with PMDs, yellow sallies, and caddis bringing fish up.  Because much of these are roadside, they can become crowded with top water fishing enthusiasts. Each tends to become discolored after storms enter their upstream drainages. The Gallatin and Gardner Rivers offer some great PM caddis activity with terrestrial insect populations building. Pelican Creek opened to fishing on July 15th.  Carry bear spray and avoid being near the numerous bison. Yellowstone River below the lake is crowded with fly fishers but is producing large cutthroat trout taking soft hackled patterns and deeply swung nymph patterns. Best time to fish is early AM. Beula Lake is producing some of the fastest still water fishing in the park with cutthroat trout feeding on speckled dun and damselflies.