Yellowstone's Slough Creek Cutthroat Trout
Hikes Get Fly Anglers into Big Fish Amid Alpine Meadows, Wildlife
Feb 11, 2009
Many of Yellowstone's world-class wild trout streams are right next - or near - the park's road network, but Slough Creek's solitude carries the modest price of an hour-long hike over a ridge and down into a lush, pristine alpine meadow.
Many Yellowstone Cutthroat trout - the signature fish of Yellowstone - fin in the smooth currents of upper Slough Creek - which is pronounced "Sloo." Slough Creek Campground is just off the road between Tower-Roosevelt and the Northeast Entrance.
Elk, bison, deer and even grizzly bears roam near the creek. Anglers must release all fish.
Slough Creek's First Meadow
First Meadow is a one-hour hike from the Slough Creek Campground. The start of the hike is a moderate uphill slog over a ridge, but the rest is easy. First Meadow holds many Yellowstone cutthroat up to 22 inches long - and average about 14 inches long. First Meadow has a ranger cabin.
Slough Creek's Second Meadow
Second Meadow is a hour's hike - mostly through a forest - beyond First Meadow. The trout are more plentiful and easier to fool in Second Meadow, as they get less angling pressure. Few anglers can stand walking past the rising fish in First Meadow! Second Meadow is easy to recognize, as Slough Creek unrolls before your eyes.
Slough Creek's Third Meadow
Third Meadow's fish are much easier to catch, as even fewer anglers hike the additional two hours beyond First Meadow. Many Third Meadow visitors get a backcountry permit and backpack in for a few days of camping. Third Meadow begins where a ranger cabin is located at a small creek that crosses the trail.
One warning: there are grizzly bears in the area, so campers and anglers should follow the park's bear rules to stay safe.
Don't Hike Up the Gorge
Every year, some anglers are tempted to follow lower Slough Creek upstream from the campground to First Meadow. That move is always a mistake, as the river flows through a steep gorge littered with fallen trees. it takes hours to get through this wild mess.
Fishing Slough Creek's Meadows
Slough Creek's meadow water fishes best from July through October.
Anglers can expect hatches of blue wing olive and pale morning dun mayflies. Sparkle duns in sizes 18 through 22 will fool fish sipping blue wing olives. Yellow Sparkle duns in size 18 work when Pale Morning duns hatch.
X-Caddis flies in sizes 14 through 18 work during caddis hatches.
Anglers also need midge patterns - Griffith Gnats and emergers in sizes 18 through 22.
From August through October, the meadows come alive with jumping grasshoppers, ants and beetles.
Anglers should bring Chaos Hoppers and Dave's Hoppers in sizes 12 through 6. Ant, beetle, and bee patterns in sizes 12 through 18 are a must.
Wary, Wild Trout
Trout in First Meadow see a lot of hopper flies, so anglers often watch the fish glide up to the surface and nudge the fly with their noses. Tying on a different kind of hopper - ones with legs work best - is a good idea.
Tying a small nymph, such as a pheasant tail, onto the dropper leader tied to the hook bend of a grasshopper fly often turns tough fish into silly fish.
Slough Creek Essentials
Slough Creek hikers carry rain jackets, plenty of water, food and bug spray. Slough Creek hosts plenty of mosquitoes and deer flies that will munch on unprotected skin. Smart visitors bring a camera to take photos of wildlife, big trout and the most beautiful landscapes in Yellowstone National Park.
No fly angler - or hiker - should miss the scenery or wild cutthroat trout of Slough Creek.
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