Trout Fishing Destination

[sparetime]

I am trying to plan a fly fishing trip for next year. The area around Yellowstone is the easiest, because it allows for recreational opportunities for my family while I fish. Plus, there is no end to the trout water.

My question is where to start? I have read a lot about the area, and really don't know where to begin. West Yellowstone, Livingston, Gallitan, Ennis..... The options are endless.

If you were taking a family of 4 out to the Yellowstone area (NW Wyoming, SW Montana, Idaho), wanted to fish for 3-4 days, at least one day with a guide, probably 2, what would you do?

[fsh4trout]

You could do a float on the madison. Blue Ribbon Flies offers trips, google them. They are based in West Yellowstone.

During prime time the park can get crowded, it ain't exactly a secret anymore. The farther you walk the fewer people you will encounter. Maybe hiking up overnight to the higher meadow of slough creek in the park. Have fun.

[Scudly]

West Yellowstone is the most popular entrance for whatever reason. More of a tourist trap but your family would love it. Big Sky is popular and a busy. HWY 191 dangerous yet has a ton of public access. Yet there is a lot to do. I'd also recommend a float down the Madison. Big chunky rainbows and browns. Boulders the size of cars that hold fish.

I liked the NE entrance on our last trip. We stayed in Silver Gate and it was remote. A buffalo slept right outside our cabin one night. Much more laid back but I'd say more of a fishing destination. HWY 212 Beartooth HWY is something incredible too if you have never been.

As Shane mentioned, most fishermen in the park congregated to areas where the rivers are closest to the stream (like anywhere really). Hike a bit and you will find wild YNP cutties eager to smack anything big and bushy. I fished a stimulator most of the time with wild success. They smack silver spinners too :-)

Other basic - I'd advise going no earlier than mid to late June. Even 4th of July trips the rivers can be whipping. In our 05 trip I stuck to the headwaters of the Gallatin just because it was tough wading anything below Big Sky including the canyon.

[macgruber]

kind of a random spot, but if you are in the park and want a nice little hike, camp and fish excursion, look into the black canyon of the yellowstone...... from the trailhead, it's about three miles to the confluence of hellroaring creek, very easy terrain and a well-defined trail...... nice campsites right there and to say the cutthroats are abundant would be an understatement...... there's like 5 fish behind every rock and they slam any high floaty fly we threw at em, plus spinners and giant stoneflies and woolly buggers...... there are bigger fishies where it dumps into the yellowstone and further up hellroaring the fish get smaller (prolly 6-10 in.), but feistier...... plus the scenery is really cool as the river is set in a gorge and is raging through this area..... hellroaring is not as crazy as the name sounds- a small to medium sized freestone river, wadable throughout.....

plus we didn't see another person the whole two days we were there..... and the drive there passes the prime buffalo areas-- along that drive we saw huge elk, moose, grizzlies, hundreds of bison, and a coyote takin a dump in the road, squattin directly in front of a giant rv, blocking the road and staring down the driver as he did his business.....

outside the park, the whole region is full of fantastic streams-- if you want a guided float i'd say the madison (above ennnis-- don't bother with the beartrap canyon area), yellowstone by livingston, or if the big hole has good flow that's another very nice one..... if you are fly fishing, all are very easy to fish as they are great dry fly streams......

for wading access, you can't beat the gallatin-- the highway follows it for miles and every bend in the road has a turnout and a path down to the river-- just avoid the crazy whitewater spots, obviously..... unbelievable evening caddis hatches there and beautiful pocketwater.....

[sparetime]

Thanks for the input. Sounds like there are a few great destinations.

Can anyone provide more information about the Yellowstone River? I am considering this as a starting point from Livingston, MT. Who should I contact about a drift trip? What time of year is better (I avoided the term best on purpose)?