Fly Fishing Yellowstone for the First Time
Angling for Success in World's First National Park
Mar 28, 2009
No matter which entrance the anxious angler visits upon arriving to Yellowstone, seemingly gorgeous and productive waters are sure to entrance and entice. From the north, the Gardner and Yellowstone rivers flow within walking distance of the park's paved road.
From the east, Middle Creek, a prominent tributary to the Shoshone RIver, snakes along the park highway. From the West, the fabled Madison is visible from the pavement for much of the 14-mile drive to Madison Junction, where the river starts at the confluence of the Gibbon River and the renowned Firehole.
From the south, visiting anglers are lured by the Snake and the Lewis rivers, and from the northeast, fishers are often drawn to Soda Butte Creek and then the Lamar River.
Yellowstone's Many Fishing Choices
To the uninitiated, it might seem like there are too many fishing options.
Don't be discouraged. All the fabled waters listed above are quality trout fisheries, but you might be surprised at how difficult--and technical--these waters can be, particularly for the first-time visitor to Yellowstone.
It's been said the average tourist in Yellowstone could tie one end of a 100-foot tether to his belt and the other to the bumper of his car and, in the course of a day spent visiting the park's roadside attractions, never stretch it tight. It's safe to assume, then, that the bulk of the anglers visiting the park, like the sedentary tourist, don't wander too far from the road either.
The result? Heavily fished water, trout conditioned to flies and lures and, often, crowded fishing conditions on the park's famed water. The solution? Stretch your legs a little bit.
Use a Yellowstone Fishing Guidebook
Thankfully, help is available, and the first place to start is with a good guidebook specifically geared toward anglers. There are a few, but one of the best is written by Richard Parks, and simply titled, "Fishing Yellowstone National Park."
With the book in hand, the angler will be able to plan a day's fishing and get three or four destinations under his or belt in a single day, if that's appealing.
But the book has its limitations--it's just a book, after all. The best way to explore the park, from a fishing standpoint, is to travel its roads, map in hand, and experiment. The book is a good foundation, and it will give you useful details, like flies to try or the best time of year to visit certain waters, but taking matters into your own hands will result in a more satisfying experience.
"Bluelining" with a Yellowstone Map
Yellowstone is a great place to "blueline," or experiment with the park map, and visit a few of the lesser-known (but likely productive) waters. The map depicts several streams and rivers (blue lines) that don't generally register on the usual angling radar, including some that are just a short hike away from the pavement.
Not in the best shape? Not to worry. Remember, most of Yellowstone rests in a volcanic crater--the hikes to many of these off-the-beaten-path streams and rivers are fairly modest. Some have little or no elevation gain, so don't let a mile-long-hike (or even a two- or three-mile jaunt) discourage you. The fishing will be better, and you'll be one of just a handful of people to venture into the backcountry on any given day.
Yellowstone is an angler's paradise, but it's more fun for the adventurous fisher who isn't afraid to venture off the blacktop. A map, a fly rod, good pair of boots (and a can of bear spray--just in case) will get most anglers into productive fishing in a setting unmatched anywhere in the world.
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