Guided Fly Fishing in Yellowstone National Park
I love fly fishing in Yellowstone. The waters, trout, scenery and animals always amaze me. With over 2 million acres and 2,500 miles of flowing water, Yellowstone Park is a fly fisherman’s dream. I’ve been fortunate to fish and guide in the park for years and love taking guests into it searching for trout. Waters in the park hold Cutthroat, Brown, Rainbow, Brook and Lake trout as well as Mountain Whitefish and Grayling. Fishing in Yellowstone Park begins in May and continues through the end of October.
I focus my guided fly fishing trips in Yellowstone primarily in the southwestern part of the park. We leave early in the morning, driving up through Teton Park and on into Yellowstone. Drive time is usually 1-2.5 hours. It’s a great way to fish while also getting a bit of a park tour. Different fishing options cater to anglers looking for different experiences. I’m also happy to show you a few of the park sites if you want to combine some sightseeing with fishing. Check out the options below to see if any speak to you. I’m also happy to chat with you about what I think would be the best Yellowstone fly fishing experience for you. Overnight/ Multiday fishing excursions in other parts of the park are also available but need to be planned well in advance.
*Yellowstone requires guests to purchase a Yellowstone specific fishing license which is $40 and pay the park entry fee (or show your park pass). Days typically begin around 6:30 and we get back between 5-6:30.
Classic Yellowstone Waters: Great fishing options for all anglers
Angler fly fishes the Nez Perce
Firehole River- World famous for a reason, the Firehole is the first river in our area to fish well and is a great choice for early season (May, June) fishing. It is full of Brown and Rainbow trout in the 6-14″ range. The Firehole experiences great insect hatches and has miles of access along the road from Old Faithful- Madison Junction. It’s not uncommon to fish along side Buffalo while geysers go off in the distance. Season- May-June, September- October
Upper Snake River/ Lewis River confluence- A favorite of mine to guide guests on. The upper Snake in Yellowstone is much smaller than the lower river we float fish around Jackson, making it good for wade fishing. Here anglers primarily catch Cutthroat trout and Mountain Whitefish although Brown trout are not uncommon. Guest can choose for fishing fairly close to the where we park or, for anglers in shape, we can hike and fish our way up the river in true Yellowstone wilderness. Season- late June-October
Nez Perce- A tributary to, and “mini” Firehole river, The Nez Perce is a great stream to learn on. Often I’ll fish beginners here in the morning, helping them gain confidence (and some fish) before moving to the Firehole in the afternoon. It’s also a place where anglers can spend a day hiking and fishing, having an enjoyable small stream fishing experience. Season- May-June, September-October
Yellowstone River- Perhaps my favorite place for stalking big lake-run Yellowstone cutthroat trout with dry flies, the Yellowstone shouldn’t be missed. After nearly collapsing due to invasive lake trout, I’m happy to report that the fishery has come back! The Yellowstone flows north out of Yellowstone lake and fishes best from when it opens in July through late August. After that many of the large Yellowstone Cutthroat trout make their way back into Yellowstone lake, reducing the number of fish in the river. However it is still possible to headhunt for trophies in the fall with a mix of dry flies and streamers. Season- July-October
Madison River- Much like the Firehole, the Madison experiences some great bug hatches in the spring and fall. It resembles a giant spring creek, with subtle currents and underwater weed beds. The river flows west out of the park, offering anglers meadow stretches and large riffles and boulder areas to fish. In the fall, large brown (and following rainbows) trout swim up from Hebgan Lake on their annual spawning run. Season- May-June, September-October
Gibbon River- The Gibbon has both fast flowing pocket water stretches and slow meadows with undercut banks. Smaller than the Firehole, which it combines with to form Madison, it makes for western fly fishing. Season- June-October
Lewis Lake and River– Lewis Lake near the south boundary of Yellowstone is home to large Brown and Lake trout. Fishing begins here at ice out; casting streamers and nymphs to fish on the prowl. As waters warm, hatches occur, making for fun dry fly fishing. In October, large Brown trout move into the inlet and outlet river in preparation for spawning. This is the time folks swing streamers in hopes of hooking a beauty. Out of the lake for the first mile or so, the Lewis river can fish well for Brown trout that move in and out of the lake. Hatches, both mayflies and stoneflies, come off in the late spring and anglers can have success fishing to some nice Brown trout. The fast water below Lewis Falls fishes well for smaller Brown trout and the occasional bruiser Brown or Lake trout that has washed down out of the lake. The river than slows and flows through a large meadow. Sight fishing for big Browns is the name of the game. While you might not catch many fish, you might catch the fish of the year. season- June- October
Really cool adventures and smaller water
Nate guides an angler in Yellowstone National Park
Fall River- A hidden gem in the “cascade corner” of Yellowstone, the Fall river has it all- cutthroat, rainbows, cutbows, waterfalls and hike-in access. Most of this river is small and remote. The fish aren’t big but an occasional 16+ incher is certainly not uncommon. I also take guests fishing at Cave Falls, the widest waterfall in Yellowstone. This is an area of the park that not many people see since the only way to get there is by driving up through Idaho along the backside of the Tetons. Numerous waterfalls cut pockets into basalt lava river bottom creating holding water for Cutthroat and Rainbow trout. Again, most fish here aren’t large but the experience alone is unforgettable. Season- end of June-October
Beula Lake- Perhaps the best hike-in cutthroat lake to fly fish. Beula lake is the headwaters of the Fall river and is accessed by a 2.75 mile hike. The first quarter mile is uphill and then it flattens out and makes for smooth sailing to the lake. Beautiful native Yellowstone cutthroat in the 10-20″ range cruise the shallows and eat dry flies and streamers. Season- June-October
Upper Firehole, Little Firehole, Iron Spring and Fairy Creeks– tributaries of the Firehole, these small streams with downed timber offer anglers some really fun, adventurous, small stream fishing “off the beaten path”. Fish up to Mystic Falls for an unforgettable day. Season- May-October
Delacy Creek- A small stream that flows into Shoshone lake, Delacy Creek is the perfect small stream hike-in experience. This water holds primarily brook trout. Season- May-October
Crawfish Creek- Another small stream with small Brown and Cutthroat trout. Fishing below Moose Falls adds to this small stream fly fishing trip. Season May, early June, September, October
Lewis River Canyon– almost inaccessible… almost. If you’ve stared at it while driving the road high above and wondered, “are there fish down there?” I can help answer your question. Yes. The Canyon stretch is seldom fished and not easy to get down into. Not a long hike, but fitness and agility are a must. The river in the Canyon contains Brown, Brook and Cutthroat trout. Most are 6-12″ but there are a few larger ones. This is for fit anglers who want an adventure and to fish where few do.
Flies, gear and resources for fishing the Park
*A 9′ 5 or 6wt with floating line is a great do it all fly rod for fishing Yellowstone. Of course depending on the size of the water you’re going to fish, a 3 or 4 wt can be great for smaller waters.
*9′ 4x leaders are great for all around use. Not bad to have a 3x and 5x too depending on what flies you’re using
*Bear Spray should be carried and noise made. Don’t approach wildlife
*Felt bottom boots aren’t allowed in the park. Waders are good to have, but wet wading is nice in the summer
*Weather can vary greatly! Having layers and a good rain jacket are a must.
Hatches in order of appearance- BWOs, PMDs, Caddis, Yellow Sallies, Golden Stones, Green, Grey and Brown Drakes, Hoppers/Ants , Tricos, Mahogany Duns, BWOs. General flies like Pats Rubber Legs, Pheasant Tails, Prince, Hare’s Ears and Copper Johns are great to have. Chubby Chernobyls, Stimulators, Elk Hair Caddis, Beetles, Wooly Buggers and Leeches round things out.
Great Books/Resources:
The Yellowstone Fly Fishing Guide by Craig Mathews and Clayton Molinero
Fly Fishing Yellowstone National Park by Nate Schweber (i’m in it)