I recently spent six days fly fishing in Yellowstone National Park. Craig Langer who runs the FlyBook from Portland, Oregon joined me. It was a great week of camping, fishing, and hiking in our first national park.
An elk skull along the banks of the Yellowstone River
We started our trip by hiking into a relatively unfished section of the Yellowstone River. Cutthroat trout were the primary species and fish in the 14″ range were abundant with a few larger than that.
A typical cutthroat trout from the Yellowstone River
We spent our second day exploring a canyon stretch of the Lamar River. We caught a few rainbow trout in there, but Cutthroats were the primary fish we found. Most were in the same size range as what we found in the Yellowstone.
One of the few times a cutthroat refused Craig's #8 Pink Foam Hopper
A Northern Harrier scans the Lamar Valley for prey
We moved camp to Lewis Lake and explored remote sections of the Lewis River. The Lewis is among the most difficult rivers to fish because there are few trails or access points along most of the river.
Scenery in the canyon is stunning
Brown trout are the main species in the Lewis River system. There are a few cutthroats and whitefish near the confluence with the Snake River and lake trout in Lewis and Shoshone Lakes, but it was the browns we came for.
Craig scored a few nice Lewis River browns too.
The Lewis River meadows run right along the road to the park’s South Entrance. This is flat water with exceptionally wary trout, but the fall colors made for spectacular scenery.
From the Lewis River we moved over to the west side of the park and camped along the Madison River. I’ve spent so much time here it almost seems like home to me. Craig and I fished the Madison in the mornings and evenings and the Gibbon River in the afternoon.
That's what we came for!
A Gibbon River brown trout
Craig scans the Madison from a high point in the Beaver Meadows
Craig lands a nice Madison River rainbow trout
Collin Hays says
Hey wait Ian, I recall you saying once that you were “One and done”? Hehehe.
Famous last words.
God bless you and your family from the Hays family in Texas.
Joanna Payne says
Congrats on your new baby boy. Hope you are doing well. Barry and Joanna
Buckeye United Flyfishers says
Ian and Charity
A hearty congrats from all of us at BUFF on the birth of your new son, Boone Roper. Enjoy your new gift.
…from all the “BUFFERS”
Janice Britt says
Hi Charity and Ian,
Congrats on the new addition. What a cutie! I remember what a trooper Willow was on our trip to Montana, and I am sure she will show her new brother the ropes, or maybe I should say lines.
Janice
Carolyn J. Wilder says
Ian and Charity,
Congratulations on the new addition to the family, he sure is a good looking young man. Loved the photo’s from the Yellowstone trip. As always, a great newsletter.
Michael M. Kennedy says
Congratulations Ian and Charity,
He is a handsome young man and you have got him out already. He will be ready to start tying his own flys shortly.
Ian, that western trip looks like a lot of fun,great fishing.
All the Best
Michael
John Switow says
Man Ian that looks like a great trip! Those are spots (upper Yellowstone and Lewis) I have not managed to fish.
And the little fella in the net; definitely a keeper! Thanks again for the call, hope you all have a great trip!