Early Summer Yellowstone Fishing Trips
Posted on January 31st, 2021
Introduction to Early Summer Yellowstone Fishing Trips
Early summer (basically the month of July) is prime time for hike-in walk-wade fishing on all larger streams as well as many small creeks suitable for beginners and experts alike. This is a particularly good period for those eager to chase cutthroat trout on the Yellowstone River and rugged portions of the Lamar River and Slough Creek. It’s also a good bet for those hoping to hit the fabled Salmonfly hatches without the crowds that accompany this major hatch on rivers large enough for float trips.
On the other hand, this is also prime time for crowds, so to find good fishing or at least uncrowded fishing, hiking is basically required, and the hikes can be hot since this is also the hottest time of year.
July is prime time for those who want to make aggressive hikes. This angler is fishing the Black Canyon of the Yellowstone during the Salmonfly Hatch.
Late Spring Yellowstone Park Fishing Trips
Posted on January 31st, 2021
Introduction to Late Spring Yellowstone Fishing Trips
Yellowstone Park opens to fishing at sunrise on the Saturday of Memorial Day Weekend. On the opener, usually only one to three rivers are low enough and clear enough to fish due to spring snowmelt. These rivers, the Firehole, Gibbon, and the headwaters of the Madison (created by the junction of the Firehole and Gibbon), are fed by lakes and geyser basins, so they never get as high and muddy as other rivers in the park. This makes them by far the best options for late spring Yellowstone fishing trips.
Angler fishing a pool on the Firehole in early spring.
Late Fall Float Trips
Posted on January 30th, 2021
Late Fall Float Trips: Introduction
Late autumn begins when nights begin falling below freezing most nights rather than just occasionally and the first snow that doesn’t all melt by midafternoon starts to fall now and again. Most years, the first week of October is when this occurs. After the switch flips there’s no reason to get out early in the morning save for hardcore anglers who want to try for one or two really big fish, even once the weather improves. The best fishing is typically from about 10:00AM through about 4:00PM.
Fishing is slow-paced at this time, with nymphs and streamers pounded in the deeper runs the most likely producers, but big numbers of rising trout also possible during good BWO hatches. This is the time of year when guides do most of their fishing. Little wonder. The big fish are eating, but there isn’t much work. Want to find out why the guides tend to like fishing during this period?
Late fall brown trout in spawning colors.
Late Fall Float Trips: Quick Facts
- Best Waters: All waters that remain high enough to float this late in the year can be excellent, but we generally stick close to home on the Yellowstone.
- Three Top Reasons to Come in Late Autumn: 1.) This is an excellent time to target big fish, 2.) Crowds are nonexistent, and 3.) the dry fly fishing can still be good for a couple hours each afternoon, and it’s generally much better than early spring.
- Three Top Reasons to Avoid Late Autumn: 1.) Weather and water conditions are wildly inconsistent and can be miserable: it can snow feet and remain below freezing for days at a time, or be too warm and bright. 2.) The numbers of fish caught on an average day are far lower than in summer, and 3.) Morning fishing is very slow most days.
- Perfect Clients: Experienced anglers who want to fish nymphs and streamers for larger fish, with a solid chance of some good dry fly fishing many afternoons.
- What Late Autumn Does Best: Produces big browns on their spawning runs and the rainbows that follow them looking for a meal of eggs.