Yellowstone
Fishing report: Yellowstone
![Avatar photo](https://www.explorebigsky.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/megan-paulson-46x46.jpg)
![Avatar photo](https://www.explorebigsky.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/megan-paulson-46x46.jpg)
Published
13 years agoon
By Ennion Williams
Yellowstone National Park holds a wide variety of angling opportunities, from large rivers like the Madison and Yellowstone, to small creeks and lakes. The season for fishing in Yellowstone runs from Memorial Day weekend to the first Sunday in November.
Spring fishing in the park is found mostly near the west entrance on the Firehole, Gibbon and Madison rivers. In normal snowpack years, the Firehole will fish well on opening day with both mayflies and caddis. Hatches will occur from mid morning throughout the afternoon and provide excellent opportunities to catch both rainbows and browns in the 10 -15-inch range. Firehole Canyon sees the first Salmonflies of the year in the area, and this hatch will last a couple weeks and produce some larger fish from the Madison River.
As the summer progresses many smaller tributary creeks will offer excellent small stream fly fishing. Most waterways in the park have trout, and exploring smaller creeks by foot is a great way to see some of the most beautiful parts of the park.
In the northeast corner, the Lamar Valley offers some of the best cutthroat fly fishing in the world. The Lamar River, Soda Butte Creek and Slough Creek all hold good populations of Yellowstone cutthroat and feed into the Yellowstone River. Late summer fishing in the Lamar River is a treat to anyone seeking a beautiful landscape and consistent dry fly fishing.
The Yellowstone River in the park opens to anglers on July 15. There is an easily accessed section near LeHardy Rapids below Yellowstone Lake, and more challenging access points at Seven Mile Hole and Hellroaring Creek. The Yellowstone River’s incredible cutthroat are very willing to take a dry fly.
There are many lakes to fish as well in Yellowstone Park. A special permit is required for any type of floating on the lakes and can be acquired at any of the Park entrances. Yellowstone Lake is the largest of the lakes in the Park, and holds good populations of cutthroat trout. Nearby Lewis and Shoshone lakes hold populations of brown, rainbow and lake trout. In the fall these lakes tend to be very good fishing before the park closes.
There are so many spots in Yellowstone Park, I cannot comment on all of them. Buying a Yellowstone Park license helps to support the initiatives and preservation of the fishery. This summer the rivers are still running high and the hatches will be about a month behind normal conditions, so we should have good late season fishing.
Ennion Williams is a professional Fishing Guide and Outfitter in Big Sky. He can be reached at (406) 579-7094 or at ennion3@yahoo.com. He also runs Big Sky Local Foods. bigskylocalfood.com
—-
A Yellowstone National Park Fishing Permit is required to fish in the park. Anglers 16 years of age and older are required to purchase either a $15 three-day permit, a $20 seven-day permit or a $35 season permit.
Anglers 15 and younger have two options:
1) Children 15 and younger may fish without a permit if they are fishing under the direct supervision of an adult who has a valid park fishing permit, or
2) Children 15 and younger may obtain a free permit that must be signed by a responsible adult; with this permit, a child can fish without direct adult supervision.
Fishing permits are available at all ranger stations, visitor centers, and Yellowstone Park General Stores. Fishing permits are also available at many businesses in the Greater Yellowstone Area.
No state fishing license is required in Yellowstone National Park.
Megan Paulson is the Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer of Outlaw Partners.
![](https://www.explorebigsky.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/ebs_logo_white_220px.png)
![](https://www.explorebigsky.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/ebs_logo_white_220px.png)
Upcoming Events
july, 2024
Event Type :
All
All
Arts
Education
Music
Other
Sports
Event Details
CALL FOR ARTISTS: Paint anytime from June 1-28EXHIBITION & SALE: June 29 - July 31Calling all artists and nature enthusiasts! Get
more
Event Details
CALL FOR ARTISTS: Paint anytime from June 1-28
EXHIBITION & SALE: June 29 – July 31
Calling all artists and nature
enthusiasts! Get your paintbrushes ready for an unforgettable experience at
Paint Under the Big Sky, a thrilling plein air event set against the stunning
backdrop of Big Sky, MT, Chet Huntley’s “The Last Best Place”. Don’t
miss this chance to unleash your creativity and be part of a vibrant artistic community.
What is Paint Under the Big Sky? PUBS is a plein air event for all painters of any ability (over the age of 16). Sponsored by the Big Sky Artist’s Studio & Gallery and the Big Sky Artists Collective, a non-profit organization whose mission is to foster a strong community of artists in the Big Sky area, the paint-out hopes to introduce painters to our extraordinary landscape for an opportunity to create, meet and have fun. Plein air painters record our landscape for generations to come.
Artists are invited to travel to Big
Sky, MT to paint anytime between Jun 1 – 28, and participate in the exhibition
and sale of paintings from June 29 – July 31.
Come join us! We have a great
place to paint and are welcoming and fun!
Don’t miss out!
Time
June 1 (Saturday) 1:00 am - July 31 (Wednesday) 11:55 pm
Event Details
Embrace the freedom and serenity of movement in nature with our rejuvenating morning yoga class on the Mountain Lawn. Allow the fresh mountain air and gentle guided yoga practice
Event Details
Embrace the freedom and
serenity of movement in nature with our rejuvenating morning yoga class on the
Mountain Lawn. Allow the fresh mountain air and gentle guided yoga practice to
invigorate your day of adventure ahead. Complimentary. Weather
permitting.
Time
June 1 (Saturday) 7:00 am - August 31 (Saturday) 7:00 am
Location
Montage Big Sky
995 Settlement Trail
Event Details
Bike Big Sky is a FREE community mountain biking group with BSCO and Gallatin Alpine Sports. Meet at posted locations at 6 p.m. Monday evenings. Visit BSCO.org or swing by
Event Details
Bike Big Sky is a FREE community mountain biking group with BSCO and Gallatin Alpine Sports. Meet at posted locations at 6 p.m. Monday evenings. Visit BSCO.org or swing by GAS for ride information.
Time
June 10 (Monday) 6:00 pm - August 19 (Monday) 6:00 pm
Event Details
Bike Big Sky is a FREE community mountain biking group with BSCO and Gallatin Alpine Sports. Meet at posted locations at 6 p.m. Monday evenings. Visit BSCO.org or swing by
Event Details
Bike Big Sky is a FREE community mountain biking group with BSCO and Gallatin Alpine Sports. Meet at posted locations at 6 p.m. Monday evenings. Visit BSCO.org or swing by GAS for ride information.
Time
June 17 (Monday) 6:00 pm - August 26 (Monday) 6:00 pm