Fly Fishing In Yellowstone National Park: Two Favorites

Saturday, October 25, 2014

Two Favorites

FISH THEM BOTH

Time Is Getting Short

november 3 is the key

WALLPAPER: THE FIREHOLE WE KNOW AND LOVE

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.. Over this last week Fall has finally kicked the Madison River and the Firehole River into their famous behavior for catching. The fish are abundant, the fishers are nestled in like sardines, the days are crisp, weather ranges from snow to sun and all is right with the world.

TRAIL TO OTHER HIDES

.. These are the days to pick your poison and launch yourself into the fray. Big bugs, little bugs, floating bugs, sunken bugs, and streamers of all stripes are viable offerings to the eager trout of Yellowstone National Park.
.. The confluence pool at the foot of National Park Mountain has been inhabited by quite a few large fish and the accompanying hoards of fisher folk. Every fly in the box is a potential winner. The neighbors like to swing streamers of the olive variety in this water.
.. Up the Gibbon River they use the same flies but strip them rather than swing them. It's a difference lost on most fishers this time of year and accounts for much disappointment where it shouldn't be.
.. In the Firehole Canyon, a short "Herky Jerky" strip, close on the heels of short precise casts is the ticket. A prodigious amount of river debris is concentrated in the narrow confines of this canyon water and much of the lifeless flotsam does a grand job of imitating the simple drift of a streamer.
.. Although the fishers are concentrated in the traditional runs of the Barns Holes on the Madison River, it's good to remember that the fish are parked in these places for a rest. There are good resting places not being fished by the elbow aficionados.
.. Recently scoured depressions, newly undercut banks, old "Pump Wells" left over from bygone days are all deep and dark - the runners like these places - even if they are not where the counter help has directed you to go. Of course if social fishing and a conga line is your main interest just join the crowd.

REAPPEARING IN NUMBERS

.. The sinuous river meanders along the park line in the vicinity of Baker's Hole. This water has been exceptionally productive this year. The neighbors have even conceded that it's O.K. to fish with several friends along this bit of water - there's fish for all and they are 22" and better - if you're into sizes.
.. Out of the park, and near the highway bridge over the Madison River some fine fish are resting in mid river, These fish have found the perfect place for the worm fishers and gear gals to catch them.
.. Fly folks don't have much of a chance to stick these fish. Wading, precision casting, and deep presentations are necessary. Some of the neighbors rig with a sinking line and a short length of lead core in front of a short stout leader to bonk the fish. Nothing succeeds like success. Otherwise get some gear and worms and join that fraternity.
.. A couple of the neighbors have taken to tying some really fluffy Casual Dress flies. These have been spread among the neighborhood like rice at a wedding. Of course courtesy demands that they be fished. Lo and behold, they've been taking some nice fish this Fall season. We have one or two and will do our neighborly duty this evening.

THE MASHED CADDIS

.. Should the fair Brook Trout tickle your fancy, there are many willing and eager specimens above the cascades on the Firehole River. They are in colors to make a peacock envious and are far more willing to dance with fishers presenting either floating or sinking flies. A Mashed Caddis will float or sink at your behest and can be the only fly necessary in these congenial waters.
.. There are trout in the Firehole River to rival the size of the submarines currently cruising the Madison River. Most Firehole fishers are not much interested in size. A fish per cast in a twinkly riffle will satisfy them and their wiggly soft hackles.

GET IT WET AND SUCCEED

.. It does take some energy, good legs, and patience to hook into a prize of the larger variety on the Firehole River. Should you care to shun the giggling fishers on the popular parts of the river it would behoove you to trundle down the steep slopes of the canyon between Old Faithful and the deep pools at the foot of Keppler Cascades. There are spawning gravels in this reach of the river - and some fish too.
.. These fish are piscivorous and appreciate the opportunity to eat a small fish rapidly stripped downstream in front of their nose. Try it, you'll like it.
.. The little canyon beneath the bridge is an easy 400 feet down and a real grunt of two miles back up - or so it seems. It's well worth it for some.

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