Yellowstone Park

Park fishing managers have applied a hoot owl restriction that closes the Firehole, Gibbon (below Norris campground) and Madison Rivers each day from 2 PM to sunrise. This is because water temperatures have reached 68 deg. F. in each. The Lamar River, Slough and Soda Butte Creeks are in prime dry fly-fishing shape with PMDs, yellow sallies, and caddis bringing fish up.  Because much of  these are roadside, they can become crowded with top water fishing enthusiasts. Trout Lake is mossing up enough to make fishing challenging. The Gallatin and Gardner Rivers offer some great PM caddis activity with terrestrial insect populations building. Pelican Creek opens to fishing on July 15th.  Carry bear spray and avoid being near the numerous bison. Yellowstone River below the lake is crowded with fly fishers but is producing large cutthroat trout taking soft hackled patterns and deeply swung nymph patterns. Best time to fish is early AM. Beula, Hering and Riddle Lakes are worth the walks for encountering cutthroat trout ranging to trophy sizes.