Yellowstone National Park in Late Summer
It’s not too late to plan a fishing trip to our nation’s oldest National Park. Readers have been wanting me to describe the fishing opportunities in Yellowstone after the kids are back in school and tourism in the park settles down a bit from a frenzied summer.
First, you must understand that officials in Yellowstone don’t necessarily assist you in the areas of where to fish, when to fish, or how to fish. In the past several years I have only met a small handful of rangers that fish at all, let alone take the current pulse of fishing conditions in all areas of the park. This means, you will need to prepare to fish in Yellowstone BEFORE you get there.
Where to Fish in Yellowstone and What to Take
My approach to Yellowstone in the late summer begins and ends with rivers, and streams. I won’t even mention Yellowstone, Lewis, or Shoshone Lakes (although privately I may be able to suggest some ideas for the brown trout or lake trout spawn).
If I were to visit the park from Labor Day weekend throughout September I would take a fly rod, floating line, light leader, and dry flies suggested by the folks at Sportsman’s Warehouse (locally) or any of the fly shops in the towns near the entrances to the park. If I were forced to choose, an elk hair caddis would be number one choice for this time or year.
Added to that would be a light spinning rod and reel, some small safety pin swivels, and tiny Panther Martin or Blue Fox spinners in trout colors.
Become a tourist in Yellowstone, go through the park, see it all, and just be prepared to stop and fish rivers and small streams you encounter in the process.
My Favorite Rivers and Streams
Here is a list of my favorite rivers and streams this time of year: Gibbon River, Lava Creek, Antelope Creek, Gardiner River, and Soda Butte Creek. There are many more that you will discover on your way.
Smaller streams are well suited for late summer fishing because the stream flows are down and the fish congregate in deep holes easily discovered. For example, when we visit the Mammoth area, we stop at Lava Creek (just a few minutes away) and catch very nice brook trout right next to the road. Or, we go below Mammoth towards Gardiner, Montana (still inside the park) and fish the Gardiner River while walking up to go swimming at “Boiling River”. In both of these streams we locate “holes” that hold fish in slack water or behind boulders.
Each day in the park, we plan our sightseeing to include some time to fish the small streams we encounter along the way. Virginia Cascades is a wonderful part of the upper Gibbon River that is home to thousands of small brook and cutthroat trout. We usually have lunch in a sprawling meadow next to the river and enjoy the wildlife while we catch trout after hungry trout. This area has been a family favorite for close to 40 years.
Just enjoy the park. No, you won’t catch many fish over 15 inches in length. No, you won’t be able to spend all the time you would want on a specific stream, but I can assure you that you will catch fish, enjoy some incredible scenery and wildlife, and get to see more of Yellowstone Park that you’ve ever imagined.
To figure out how to fish small streams, just look up some of my past columns or you can email me at don@donallphin.com and I will send you some information.
Don’t let the hectic nature of visiting Yellowstone National Park in the height of the tourist season discourage you from fishing. By waiting until now, the crowds will be smaller, the park animals more visible, and the fishing should be even better. Be sure you purchase a license (at a ranger station), be prepared for hot and cold weather, and by all means, take some binoculars. Yellowstone National Park is a gem of place to visit in the late summer.
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