Yellowstone
The Eddy Line: Fall in Yellowstone National Park
![Avatar photo](https://www.explorebigsky.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/outlaw-partners-46x46.jpg)
![Avatar photo](https://www.explorebigsky.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/outlaw-partners-46x46.jpg)
Published
9 years agoon
Posted By
Outlaw Partners![](https://www.explorebigsky.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/SD.jpg)
It’s worth the hype
By Patrick Straub EBS Fishing Columnist
For a short time in my early 20s, mid-September was my least favorite time of year. I was in a Midwest college, and homesick for the great fishing in Yellowstone National Park. Despite short-term amnesia brought on by Old Style and Leinenkugels, my heart remained with my boyhood angling wonders.
Yellowstone is a special place. For anglers from both near and far, the hype of fishing the park in fall rings true. Here’s why:
Accessibility. Every mile of every stream in Yellowstone is public. While fishing them all might take considerable effort, no other place in the world exists with this many miles of easily accessible, trout-filled water. It wasn’t created to be a fly-fishing wonderland, but it might as well be. Despite the park’s relative ruggedness, roads parallel many of its rivers making it easier for anglers to enjoy. That means those rivers get more pressure, which brings me to my next point.
![The native Yellowstone cutthroat is the crown jewel of trout in the nation’s first national park. PHOTO COURTESY OF DL SMITH ROD COMPANY](https://www.explorebigsky.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/IMG958445-300x225.jpg)
![The native Yellowstone cutthroat is the crown jewel of trout in the nation’s first national park. PHOTO COURTESY OF DL SMITH ROD COMPANY](https://www.explorebigsky.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/IMG958445-300x225.jpg)
The native Yellowstone cutthroat is the crown jewel of trout in the nation’s first national park. PHOTO COURTESY OF DL SMITH ROD COMPANY
Hatches come first here. Because of the park’s high elevation, water temperatures cool early and hatches abound. Look for gray and green Drakes on Slough and Soda Butte creeks, as well as the Lamar River. Autumn Blue Winged Olives will hatch on the Madison, Gibbon, and Firehole rivers.
Large trout from Hebgen Lake. The trout of a lifetime lurks somewhere in Hebgen Lake. During the fall, these large, lake-dwelling fish travel out of Hebgen into the Madison and some smaller tributaries. Brown trout travel to spawn and rainbow trout follow to feed on their eggs. These fish movements are no secret – you’ll see other anglers if you choose to fish the Hebgen tributaries. However, knowing the waters and where these fish hold is crucial to getting your fly in front of feeding trout.
Target the tail-outs of deeper holes and runs. Be prepared to fish near to, or on the bottom, with weighted flies and weight on your leader. Egg patterns, streamers, fire-beads, and other large morsels will entice these trout. If you’re new to these tactics and targeting pre-spawn fish, consider hiring a local guide.
Streamer-fishing addicts delight. Since waters are low and clear, anglers willing to fish streamers will be successful. Unlike the large salmonflies and stoneflies of summer, fall bug hatches are smaller. But trout are still hungry in the cooler water temps, so prospect with small Woolly Buggers and streamers. Even the smaller creeks and headwater streams can be fished with streamers. Shorten your leader so you can put the fly where it needs to be, and can pop it off the bank when you overshoot a cast.
Slim down your fly selection. To mimic Drakes in the northeast region of the park, fish purple or copper Hazes in sizes 14 and 16. For fall BWOs on the west-side rivers and creeks, fish a size 16 Parachute Adams with a size 18 CDC RS2 emerger as the trailer fly. For streamers on smaller creeks, fish a size 8 or 10 black Sculpzilla on a stout leader like 1X, so you can turn it over easily and won’t break it on snags.
Sundays in college were always the worst, and it wasn’t entirely due to starting the day with a hangover – I should have been fly fishing in Yellowstone. I can now chase trout in the park anytime I want, though I wouldn’t mind one more night of college shenanigans.
Pat Straub is the author of six books, including “The Frugal Fly Fisher,” “Montana On The Fly,” and “Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Fly Fishing.” He and his wife own Gallatin River Guides in Big Sky and Pat operates the Montana Fishing Guide School and the Montana Women’s Fly Fishing School.
The Outlaw Partners is a creative marketing, media and events company based in Big Sky, Montana.
![](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