P.O. Box 310/105 Yellowstone Ave, West Yellowstone, MT    59758  (406)646-7336

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Yellowstone Waters

Yellowstone National Park is literally loaded with fishable, trout-holding water. YNP has everything from blue ribbon trout streams to lakes and small streams, offering something for the angler of any skill level. The Firehole River is one of the first rivers to come into shape and fishes best early and late in the season. Fishing the Firehole is an experience for which many people return year after year, it is one of the most beloved trout streams in the park. Known for its tricky, flat water fishing in a surreal, geyser-studded environment, the Firehole offers even the most experienced anglers a place to come test their skills. Much of the water north of Old Faithful is flat, but there are riffle stretches throughout for fishing during a period of little hatch. Just before the Firehole reaches its confluence with the Gibbon River, it drops into Firehole Canyon, which is a totally different piece of river, complete with pocket water, a waterfall, and even a small salmonfly hatch.

The Gibbon River is a small stream loaded with pocket water, riffles, runs, and three great meandering meadow stretches. It is an intimate stream with great access from Madison Junction to Norris Geyser Basin. The Gibbon has mostly smaller trout, but frequently anglers return with a surprising big fish story. The meadows offer flat water fishing with nice brown trout-holding undercut banks. The canyon stretches tend to hold smaller fish, though we are constantly surprised by what it has to offer. The Gibbon fishes well from late June on through the fall when the big browns are running up from Hebgen Lake, MT.