No Entrance Gate
plenty of fish
no people
"SECRET FISHING SPOT"
-- Have you ever wondered how it happens that good trout streams get dammed, drained, canalized, dried, diverted & killed? The answer is simple - they had not enough friends to fight for them. Bureau of reclamation project #1: The Truckee had no friends. Hell's Canyon Creek had no friends. The San Joaquin steelhead had no friends. Etc., not to belabor the point.
-- Why don't good trout streams have friends? Because they are "SECRET;" and well kept secrets kill trout streams. Hardly politically correct among today's secretive trout hunters -- but true.
--We fished the busiest weekend in the "Yellowstone Year" and didn't wait in line breathing diesel smoke at an entrance station. We fished and saw no other fisherfolk. We caught Brook Trout, Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout, Whitefish, and a couple of Cutthroat Trout less than 15 minutes from 'downtown' West Yellowstone.-- We didn't have to fight for a parking spot, nor did we have to hike three miles, (more like 300 yards.) We did this on cloudy days, sunny days, and rainy days. The fishing never slacked. We wore no vest, no waders, and carried all fly patterns in a single box that fit in our shirt pocket.
-- A couple of rolls of tippet material in the jeans pocket, and a bottle of water on our belt were all the provisions we needed. We left lunch in the car, to which we returned twice a day to rest our arms from the fast and frantic action. This is not a fish story, it is true, and might be considered the revelation of a "secret" place.
-- About 250 yards south of "The Duck Creek Y," (ask a local,) is the entrance to the Montana Highway Department yards and shops, (home of the plow truck drivers that gave you the Jaguar commercials and the school bus driver commercials.)
-- The photo at the top of this post shows what it looks like. Just turn in off of Highway 191, and keep on the gravel road to the right, (south side.) Follow the road past the multimillion dollar ranchettes, (smile smugly when you wave,) and keep bearing right for about 3/4 mile, (plus or minus.)
-- Park when the road quits at the white stakes that mark the boundary of Yellowstone National Park. If you don't see the stakes, don't worry there is a giant sign too.
-- Follow the trail to DUCK CREEK and start fishing. You should be hooked up within a matter of 3 -5 casts, (a couple more if you've never cast a fly before.) What flies to take? Your choice will work here. Sizes are more important than patterns.
Try This Assortment:
*12 -16 Hare's Ear Nymphs,
*8 - 18 Elk Hair Caddis,
*10 - 14 Montana Duster,
*10 - 14 Yellowstone Morning Glory,
*12 - 18 Your Favorite Mayfly,
* a couple of ants and beetles.
-- Spread the word; this place needs friends. All Yellowstone Park Regulations apply, and a few of the rangers know about this place ---- they fish it regularly.
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