Yellowstone Trip

[KilgoreTrout]

Planning a trip to the Yellowstone area in early/mid July. Hoping to mostly go for cutthroat in some smaller water. Doable that time of year with runoff? Any recommendations for areas to focus on (regions of park or other areas close by) / places to stay?

[ken r]

For me the best fishing is found surrounding the park (Wyoming/Montana/Idaho). Although there is good fishing in the park, it is more difficult to find than outside. Of course, my opinion. Check out before the east entrance (Wapiti), the northeast entrance (Cooke City), the Beartooths from the north around Red Lodge to Bozeman, then down around to West Yellowstone. Less people and easier access.

[puppet]

I would find some local flyshops and ask those questions. I would suspect that water temps and runoff would be a big consideration.  

I have no idea about yellowstone but below are some notes that might help.  My appology if what I write is obvious.

 

When I fished cutthroats in Colorado, it was August and some rivers were still cranking with snow melt. On the edge of fishable. My buddy who lives out there notes that every year is slightly different in terms of timing and generally there is an ideal calendar window that may slide a couple weeks.  For that reason speaking to a local who knows the snow pack and the impact it may have in the spring is valuable. i would even suggest checking in a couple weeks prior to your trip so you dont waste time on unfishable water. We also fished a number of mountain lakes, so that may be a good thing to focus on if the rivers are not fishable. Snowmelt is pretty cold water so depending on the conditions you may consider packing up some wading gear to put on when you hike to you destination. Also, be careful at higher altitudes, in the seirras I had an incident one august.  Valley, was 90, trailhead was 70, we only went up 2000 feet from there and got caught in a storm that progressed from freezing rain, to hail, to snow and the temps remained at 32 overnight.  we had frost and frozen puddles in our campsite. It was so cold and we were not prepared..mountains have their own weather.

 

 

 

Edited January 22 by puppet

[Hook I]

google Blue Ribbon Flies , it can give you some excellent help tips 

[KilgoreTrout]

2 hours ago, puppet said:

I would find some local flyshops and ask those questions. I would suspect that water temps and runoff would be a big consideration.  

I have no idea about yellowstone but below are some notes that might help.  My appology if what I write is obvious.

 

When I fished cutthroats in Colorado, it was August and some rivers were still cranking with snow melt. On the edge of fishable. My buddy who lives out there notes that every year is slightly different in terms of timing and generally there is an ideal calendar window that may slide a couple weeks.  For that reason speaking to a local who knows the snow pack and the impact it may have in the spring is valuable. i would even suggest checking in a couple weeks prior to your trip so you dont waste time on unfishable water. We also fished a number of mountain lakes, so that may be a good thing to focus on if the rivers are not fishable. Snowmelt is pretty cold water so depending on the conditions you may consider packing up some wading gear to put on when you hike to you destination. Also, be careful at higher altitudes, in the seirras I had an incident one august.  Valley, was 90, trailhead was 70, we only went up 2000 feet from there and got caught in a storm that progressed from freezing rain, to hail, to snow and the temps remained at 32 overnight.  we had frost and frozen puddles in our campsite. It was so cold and we were not prepared..mountains have their own weather.

 

 

 

Would love to do later July into August, but I start med school at the beginning of the month

[ifsteve]

The later you can go the better. The Park itself should be ok runoff wise, especially some the upper stretches of the smaller waters.

 

Ditton on Blue Ribbon Flies. Great source to check with.

[John350]

We are heading to Driggs ID the 2nd week of July. Focusing on the henrys and south fork of the snake.  1st time out there but happy to share Intel if you make your way towards there

 

[Gilbey]

IMHO it would a VERY odd year for virtually all streams in and around Yellowstone country not to be clear and fishable in July. If you are based around West Yellowstone you have tons of options. Big rivers, small streams, mountain creeks are all there. Yellowstone Park does get crowded, but there is room to fish on even the most popular rivers. Montana has the Madison and Gallitan and all their tributaries. Idaho has the Henry's Fork. 

Feel free to shoot me a PM for some specifics if you like. Have a great trip!!

[Fly By Nite]

Middle to later in the month would be best if you're looking for cutts in the park. If i'm there first week of July i'd be on the Madison looking for the giant stone flies and fish right through dark. 

[KilgoreTrout]

21 hours ago, John350 said:

We are heading to Driggs ID the 2nd week of July. Focusing on the henrys and south fork of the snake.  1st time out there but happy to share Intel if you make your way towards there

 

I actually might find myself around there! I'm staying a bit south of Big Sky for a few days, then renting a camper to hit some of the nearby parks and forests

[FlyFinaticLou]

I’ve been living in Eastern Washington State for the past 15 years . . . As of Sept. I’ve been Relocating to Florida.   Being a Looong-Time avid Fly Fisher I’ve done that many times in Montana & Colorado, as well as in WA. State !   In my experience trying to “learn” of where, when, what and How (techniques) to fish, It is GOOD to Research the LOCAL Fly Shops . . . Give them a Call, give them an email, and be honest and sincere . . . B.S.’ers can be smelled a mile away !   I highly recommend Kelly Gallops place in SW Montana (close to Yellowstone).  There are a couple well know fly shops just outside West Yellowstone . . . The google Maps IS your Friend here. 

Once there, it is Always recommended to pay a visit to those you chatted with (phone or email) AND strike up a friendly conversation with the one(s) you had long distance.   It NEVER hurts to walk up to the counter with some items to buy that they recommended while fishing locally !   NO, I’m NOT in the business, just learned slowly that this is all good logic . . . IF possible to stay at lodging WITH a good Fly Shop (such as Kelly Gallop’s) . . . There are others just down the road . . . For RVers too, like me.   My photo pic is of me in front of my drifter, 2018 on the Missouri R.! 

I stayed at a Fly Shop/Lodge right in town ON the River.   Learned a LOT very Quickly . . . Once they felt I was “for reel,” they were more forth-giving of intel ! 

[FlyFinaticLou]

On 1/21/2023 at 10:33 PM, KilgoreTrout said:

Planning a trip to the Yellowstone area in early/mid July. Hoping to mostly go for cutthroat in some smaller water. Doable that time of year with runoff? Any recommendations for areas to focus on (regions of park or other areas close by) / places to stay?

Gave your “FLYventure” more thought, and based on MY experiences in the area, 

ENNIS, Mt. And further South all the way to West Yellowstone (< 90min.drive), there are places to stay.   I’ve stayed IN Ennis and I’ve stayed at Kelly’s (right ON the Madison River . . . See pic . . . 

**Give em all a call ASAP  . . . The further away from “the action” the less $$$ you will likely pay.   I found that the longer the stay (week+) the less it is vs the Nightly stay !   THIS would of best been done Before the Holidays for your July trip, but, oh well . . . 

**AT the Fork in the Road - East toward Kelly’s (and Other’s) or South into Island Park, Idaho - You can find TONS of Fishing Opportunities, both Lake, Reservoir, and Tailwaters.   Yellowstone Park, good luck even getting IN during that time, would have classic freestone rivers too.   I would only do a day trip or two into the PARK. Get there as soon as they open if you can . . . Just saying !  Yellowstone AIN’T what it was 40 yrs ago . . . And even then it seemed a rat-race to me !?.  Hint** the OFF Season is Much Nicer . . . Sept. Oct. for the cool crisp evenings and the Fall Colors. 

     The fish don’t seem to mind, ha ha !  

BEST OF LUCK . . . And keep us apprised of your Fishing-Tails while there.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[puppet]

1 hour ago, FlyFinaticLou said:

Get there as soon as they open if you can . . .

This is critical.  Early bird gets the worm.  In short, trails adjacent to fishing water are high pressure from amglers and non anglers... and getting there brutally early and hiking remote cuts down on the "hows the fishing?"  small talk.

 

We go to theses destinations to be emersed in nature.  The irony is that some of these locations are as busy as grand central in nyc.

[Skeeterbait]

Madison

Awesome - was there camping and went fishing right off the campground.  So many flies during the evening hatch that it was almost unfishable.

When we left we followed the Madison down to and through Enis.   There was a billboard that said Welcome to Enis.  Home to 350 people and 1,000,000 fish.

 

Head south of Madison toward the geyser basins and you will be along the Firehole river.  This heats up in summer (there are hot springs flowing into it)  but a tributary that comes in from the east is worth a look. I took a walk out into the meadow that the Nez Perce runs through.   Found a grasshopper bonanza and willing fish.  Moved further up - suddenly no fish.  Moved up some more and there was a stinky fumerol there.  Moved up and there were willing fish again.  Kept moving up and found this pattern several times.   Fish - no fish - fish - no fish.   That area is really an active volcano and those sulforous springs affected where I found fish.

[big country]

I did this exact trip 2 summers ago, same time. We stayed in jackson and then West Yellowstone and then Cody.. In Jackson, there are a ton of places to fish outide the park, any local tackle store will see you 5-6 flies and put you on fish pretty easy.. West Yellowstone was AWESOME.. great fly stores, great local advice, I was lucky to fish a Salmon Fly hatch on the Madison, best fly fishing experience of my life. GRizzly, Elk, and 23 inch Pristine Rainbow on a Salmon Fly, doesnt get any better. From Cody, NE of the Park, I fished the Shoshone, I fished the reservoir and the river heading out, it was opening day and it was literally like fishing in an aquarium.. so many fish.. brought my wife and daughters with me, we all got great pics, tons of Bows, a couple Cuttthroat, and a nice Brown too!!! its an incredible place to fish and be. best advice is when you roll into town, make mental note where the fly store is then when the family has its back turned, run into it by accident.. lol.. the local guys will always put you on fish.. there is enough access and fish that its very easy to do..