I am planning a trip for late July to Yellowsone, but I would like to focus on some more outlying areas of the park or surrounding areas outside of the park, as I’ve already fished most of the big name roadside water of the park. As of now, my eye was on fishing opportunties near the beartooth hwy, or maybe on the south side of the park in Cascade Corner near the Idaho Border. I am looking for day trips or short overnight trips less than 5 miles in. Does anyone have advice for me? I was also looking into some of the offroad areas in the NE area of the park, like Upper Lamar and it’s tribs, or the SW corner also called cascade corner. Any advice would be greatly appreciated, even if its for areas I did not mention in this post. Emails are welcome. (roffy02@uga.edu)
In the upper Lamar River area, forgetting your fly rod is only HALF as bad as forgeting your BEAR SPRAY. Be prepared for that matter, anywhere in Y’stone. Advice based on first hand experience. And of course, tight lines on your trip.
My nephew is an outfitter in that area, and packs into the Bechler area in the SE corner of the Park. Here’s his website, and if you’ll click on the photo gallery section, and then on the Yellowstone/Bechler
area you can see some pictures of the area. Just ignore the people and horseys, and look at the area behind them. The area is accessed from the Bechler Ranger station east of Ashton, Idaho. You might e-mail him for details. I got too old, before I could go in there myself. I’ve heard the stories of great fishing, scenery, and mosquitos, for years. http://www.dryridge.com/hosts.htm
Hope this helps.
Depending on the weather, the Bechler area may not be a great option even in late July. The area is quite marshy, and if you’re hiking in, you’ll want to wait for most of the marshes to dry up. Late July may or may not be OK. Even if the marshes are dried up, be prepared for some killer mosquitoes, beautiful waterfalls and good fishing in a great part of the Park (a few years ago this part of the park could have been said to be relatively unpopulated with folks. its not that way anymore).
There is a program called the Yellowstone volunteer fly fishing program that is a great opportunity. You can spend a day or several days fishing with a biologist doing studies on various waters within the park. I have several friends that have participated and all have really enjoyed the opportunity. If you are interested send me an email and I will give you his name and email address.
Might want to check out the fishing around Red Lodge, MT (Stillwater, Rock Creek, the Beartooths). Fish are smaller, but no park type crowds. The fishing around Cody, Wyo aint bad either. Cheers.
This is different than Montana’s famous Rock Creek isn’t it? I fished the famous one last year and it was great. Seems like areas around Red Lodge would be good, but it’s harder to find info on them so far. Thanks.
Same for the higher elevation campgrounds and lakes along the Beartooth Highway. First place I ever saw a mosquito make love to a sandhill crane…[/quote]
ROFL…mosquitoes???..what mosquitoes??? oh wait the ones that think it is the Daytona 500 or Indy 500 and love to swarm around your tent? I spend most of summer in the Beartooths and get to listen to that lovely racetrack sound all night :D.
If you’re planning a trip to Yellowstone, a great resource would be The Yellowstone Fly Fishing Guide by Craig Mathews of Blue Ribbon Flies in West Yellowstone. Check it out here: http://www.blueribbonflies.com/merchandise/booksdvds.shtml
This book lists EVERY body of fishable water in the park, with details of the fishing there. BRF is a terrific local shop, and the staff there share knowledge without hesitation. Craig and Jackie Mathews are tireless conservationists as well.
I have fished in the NE corner of YNP each of the last 3 years. It is fantastic. I have fished the second and third meadows of Slough as well as Cache Creek and the Lamar River. Where to go depends on your interests in wildlife, quality of fishing, how far you can hike-in and if you want to camp in the backcountry. It’s all great. There are some very good books on fishing in YNP. My favorite is written by Richard Parks, you can actually speak with him at his Park’s Fly Shop near the North Entrance. There are very good fly shops along the way at all the entrances. Since I’m an average at best fly fisherman, I buy most of my flies at a local shop so I can be sure to get what is working in that area at that time and also get good advice. Feel free to ask me any specifics.