Yellowstone Park Fishing Report
This Yellowstone Park fishing report is valid from July 22 through early August, 2024. We will update the page if/when more 2:00 or complete fishing closures develop.
The relentless heat has put a damper on what should be prime season in YNP. In particular our favorite hike-in waters such as many sections of the Black Canyon of the Yellowstone are seeing air temps that are really too hot for safe hiking. The morning hike in is fine, but hiking out at 2:30PM under blazing sun and with stifling air temps in the mid-90s (at low elevations) is downright dangerous.
We suggest quitting at 2:00 on all open waters with the exception of the Yellowstone River near Yellowstone Lake, which runs cold and is at such a high elevation evening fishing can be decent even with the hot temps.
Substantial 2:00 and some complete fishing closures are in place in Yellowstone Park:
- The Firehole, Madison, and Gibbon downstream of Norris Campground are all completely closed. Their tributaries in these sections are also closed.
- The Lamar downstream of Cache Creek, Soda Butte Creek (all), Slough Creek (all), Yellowstone downstream from Tower Junction (not Tower Falls), Gardner River below Osprey Falls, and portions of the Snake River at the southern end of the park all open at dawn and close at 2:00.
Additional fishing closures are possible. Check the Park News Releases page for the most up-to-date info on closures.
Park Waters are presented in roughly their distance from us, then by water type for generalities like “small streams” and “lakes.”
Gardner River: A good bet in the headwaters and from Osprey Falls to Boiling River. Above Osprey Falls, fish attractor dry/dropper combos for small fish. Get away from easy accesses. The fish get hammered near road crossings and the Sheepeater Cliffs Picnic Area and will have sore lips. From Osprey Falls to Boiling River, either tight-line nymph a pair of attractor nymphs or fish a Chubby Chernobyl or hopper with an attractor nymph dropper. Some caddis hatches are possible. Below Boiling River is too warm (peaking at well over 70 degrees and not dropping below about 66 even at night) and should be closed.
Yellowstone River – Black Canyon: The Salmonflies are about done now, but the fish will still eat big attractor patterns such as Chubby Chernobyls. You may also see Yellow Sallies and caddis, and the hoppers will be hopping most days once the sun gets on the water. The problem with this water is the hike in accessing it combined with the furnace-like heat. Carry a lot of water. Fish a Chubby Chernobyl with an attractor nymph dropper, or maybe double up on a big attractor or hopper with a caddis-style attractor dropper. Quit by 2:00PM and have some cold beer waiting in your cooler at the car…
Yellowstone River – Grand Canyon: Pretty similar to the Black Canyon, but will run slightly cooler. That said, it’s still worth quitting around 2:00PM if only due to the high air temps and the hike back to the car.
Yellowstone River – Headwaters and Lake to Falls: This might be the only fishery worth hitting after 2:00PM, since this is effectively a tailwater and will remain cold. The hatch smorgasbord will be in full swing: a couple caddis species, Green and Gray Drakes, PMD, Yellow Sallies, and this and that other mayfly or caddis. Absent a hatch, swing streamers or try to sight-nymph.
Lamar River, Slough Creek, and Soda Butte Creek: Near peak crowds and peak fishing, though the heat puts a damper on it. The canyon stretch of the Lamar is hitting 67–69 degrees already and should be avoided after 2:00. The Lower Canyon of Slough is probably similar. The meadows, Soda Butte Creek, and other tributary streams will be slightly cooler and are okay until 2:00 and often afterwards, particularly if it is cloudy or hazy. Hope for mixed Green (not Gray, even though that’s their color) Drake hatches. PMDs often mix in, so fishing a big Drake dun with a PMD emerger can be very effective. Note that most Drakes from now until Labor Day will be smaller, the D. coloradensis or D. flavilinea rather than the D. doddsi that dominates earlier in July. What this means is using a #14 Drake pattern instead of a #10–12. Carry the big ones anyway, as the full-size Drakes never quite disappear. Ants and hoppers are kicking into high gear. Note: It is never appropriate to join another angler or group of anglers in the pool they are fishing. Try to put at least one empty pool between you and them if possible. If you can’t at least find a pool to yourself, don’t fish here. Soda Butte is a combat fishery this time of year. The Lower and First Meadows of Slough Creek are almost as bad. Upper Meadows of Slough, the Lamar except near the SB confluence, and all rough or wooded sections of these streams are much less crowded, typically.
Madison River, Firehole River, and Gibbon River: The Madison and Firehole as well as all tributaries are closed to fishing due to the heat. The Gibbon downstream from the bridge at Norris Geyser Basin is likewise closed. The upper Gibbon is a small stream fishery and will fish okay in the mornings for hand-size cutthroat and grayling. Fish small attractor dry-dropper combos and douse yourself in DEET for the mosquitoes. Between Virginia Cascades and the campground, there are somewhat bigger and much spookier browns. Match hatches or fish ants and beetles on this beat.
Park Small Streams: Firehole, Madison, and Lower Gibbon tributaries are closed. A few of the smallest meadow streams feeding the Yellowstone are really getting too low to fish ethically. If it’s a trickle with all the trout in the few three-foot-deep pools, leave them be. The steeper, rougher, shadier streams will fish much better than the meadow streams. Attractor dry-dropper combos will work on all except maybe Lamar System tribs, where you might need to match spillover hatches from the bigger waters.
Park Lakes and Ponds: Open to fishing and unlikely to close, but will be difficult to fish due to the heat. The trout and grayling will just be down too deep after noon at the latest. Fish leeches and small wet flies unless there’s a damselfly or Callibaetis hatch. If there’s a hatch, match it.