Summer is when Yellowstone National Park comes alive, and Yellowstone fly fishing hits its stride. Runoff fades, the rivers clear, and the big bugs show up: salmonflies and golden stones in early July, green drakes and PMDs on the meadow streams, then hoppers and ants by August. Add wild cutthroat trout rising in front of bison herds, and it’s hard to find a more memorable place to fish anywhere in the country.
The park also matters to us. Five percent of every Wind River Flyworks order goes to Yellowstone Forever, which helps protect the very waters in this guide.
We love this place as we have so many memories fishing the Firehole River before it gets to warm. When they bison safety they mean it! It’s not just Bear Aware!
Know the Rules First
Yellowstone has its own fishing rules, and your Montana or Wyoming state license does not count inside the park. Always check the regulations before you head out – the rangers are great but will write you a ticket.
- Permit: Anglers 16 and older need a Yellowstone fishing permit. Buy it on Recreation.gov and download or print it before you go, since cell service in the park is spotty. Kids 15 and under can fish free with a permitted adult.
- Season: Most waters open the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend and close October 31. The Firehole, Madison and lower Gibbon now open May 1. The Yellowstone River above the Lower Falls opens July 1, and streams flowing into Yellowstone Lake open July 15.
- Hours: Sunrise to sunset only.
- Flies and lures only: No bait. Hooks must be barbless or have the barbs pinched down. Up to two flies per leader.
- Lead-free: All tackle must be lead-free, including split shot. Felt-soled wading boots are not allowed.
- Native fish go back: Cutthroat trout, Arctic grayling and mountain whitefish must all be released unharmed.
- Some non-native fish must be kept: All lake trout caught in Yellowstone Lake must be killed. In the Lamar River drainage and parts of the Yellowstone River, rainbows, brookies and cutthroat-rainbow hybrids must be killed too, to protect the native cutthroat.
- Fly fishing only: The Firehole, Madison and lower Gibbon rivers.
Watch for summer heat closures. In warm, low-water years, the park closes rivers in the afternoons or shuts them completely. In 2026, the Firehole, Madison and Gibbon were closed for much of July and August, and all park rivers were closed after 2 p.m. for two weeks. Check the park’s news releases before you head out, and plan to fish early.
The official Yellowstone fishing regulations have the full details and maps. Read them before every trip.
Trout Species to Target
- Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout The park’s signature fish. Look for them in the Lamar Valley streams, Slough Creek, and the Yellowstone River. They’re famous for rising to dry flies, often slowly and deliberately. Catch and release only.
- Westslope Cutthroat Trout Native to the park’s northwest corner and being restored to several streams. Catch and release only.
- Brown Trout Found in the Firehole, Madison and Gibbon. Smart, wary fish that are worth the effort, especially early in the morning.
- Rainbow Trout Common in the Firehole, Madison, Gibbon and Gardner. In the Lamar drainage and parts of the Yellowstone River they must be kept to protect the cutthroat.
- Brook Trout Plentiful in small streams and the Gardner River headwaters. A great fish for kids and beginners.
- Arctic Grayling A rare treat in a few backcountry lakes, like Grebe Lake. Catch and release only.
Yellowstone Fly Fishing: Top Patterns & Tactics
- Salmonflies and Golden Stones: When: Early to mid-July, once the rivers clear What Works: Big foam stonefly dries in sizes 4–8, and the Chubby Chernobyl. On the Yellowstone River the hatch starts near Gardiner and moves upstream toward Tower. On the Gardner River it starts below the old Boiling River area around the second week of July. When the fish aren’t looking up, fish a stonefly nymph under an indicator in the deeper holes.
- Green Drakes and PMDs: When: July, on the Lamar River, Slough Creek and Soda Butte Creek What Works: Green Drake dries and emergers in sizes 10–12, and Pale Morning Duns in sizes 14–18. Cutthroat rise slowly, so wait until the fish has fully taken the fly before you set the hook.
- Caddis and Yellow Sallies: When: July through August, best in the evening What Works: Elk Hair Caddis in sizes 14–16, with a small emerger as a dropper. Strong evening hatches happen where willows line the banks.
- Hoppers, Ants and Beetles: When: Late July through September What Works: Hoppers in sizes 8–12 along grassy banks, especially on breezy afternoons. If a fish refuses the hopper, drop down to a small ant or beetle. These are often the most productive flies of late summer.
- Attractor Dries: When: All summer, in small streams and pocket water What Works: Parachute Adams, Royal Wulff and Stimulators in sizes 10–14. Small-stream cutthroat and brookies aren’t picky.
- Streamers: When: Early mornings and cloudy days What Works: Olive or black Woolly Buggers, stripped deep through runs and pools on the Yellowstone River when dry fishing slows.
Techniques & Strategy
- Leader Setup: For dry flies on the meadow streams, use a 10–12 ft leader with 4X–5X tippet. For big stonefly dries and hoppers, a 9 ft leader with 2X–3X is fine.
- Approach & Presentation: Meadow-stream cutthroat see a lot of anglers by late summer. Stay back from the bank, cast upstream, and get a drag-free drift. On a slow rise, count to two before you set the hook.
- Timing:
- Early July: big stoneflies on the Yellowstone and Gardner
- Mid-July: Green Drakes and PMDs on the Lamar, Slough and Soda Butte
- Late July through August: hoppers and ants, fished early and late in the day
- Hot afternoons: rest the fish and take a break yourself
- Water to Explore:
- Slough Creek: A classic Lamar Valley meadow stream with big, picky cutthroat. Often fishes best in early July and gets more technical as summer goes on.
- Lamar River: Usually the last park river to clear, around mid-July. Great dry fly fishing for cutthroat, but it muddies quickly after rain.
- Soda Butte Creek: Smaller and more forgiving than the Lamar, with easy roadside access along the Northeast Entrance Road.
- Yellowstone River (Grand Canyon and Black Canyon): Big water, big bugs and big effort. The hike down is worth it during the stonefly hatch.
- Gardner River: Easy roadside access near Mammoth, with stoneflies in July and good evening caddis.
- Firehole River: Fish among geysers and steam. Best in May, June and fall, since it usually gets too warm to fish in mid-summer
Gear Checklist
- 4–6 wt rod, 9 ft, for most rivers. A 3–4 wt is perfect for small streams.
- Floating line, plus a sink-tip for streamers on the Yellowstone River
- 9–12 ft leaders, 2X–5X tippet
- Lead-free split shot (required in the park)
- Barbless hooks, or forceps to pinch your barbs
- Stonefly dries and nymphs, Green Drakes, PMDs, Elk Hair Caddis, hoppers, ants, beetles, attractor dries and Woolly Buggers
- Rubber-soled wading boots (felt is not allowed) or wet-wading shoes
- Sun protection for long days at high elevation: hat, polarized sunglasses, sunscreen, fingerless sun gloves and a neck gaiter. Check out ours: Trout Series Gloves & Gaiter Set
- Rain jacket. Afternoon thunderstorms are common.
- Bear spray, carried on your hip, not in your pack
- Plenty of water and snacks
- A printed or downloaded copy of your park fishing permit
Top Fly Shops & Outfitters
Parks’ Fly Shop (Gardiner, North Entrance)
- Website: parksflyshop.com
- Phone: (406) 848-7314
- Email: info@parksflyshop.com
- Address: 202 2nd St S, Gardiner, MT 59030
- Good to know: Closest shop to the Lamar Valley, Slough Creek and the Gardner River.
Blue Ribbon Flies (West Yellowstone, West Entrance)
- Website: blueribbonflies.com
- Phone: (406) 646-7642
- Address: 305 N Canyon St, West Yellowstone, MT 59758
- Good to know: A great stop for the Firehole, Madison and Gibbon.
Madison River Outfitters (West Yellowstone, West Entrance)
- Website: madisonriveroutfitters.com
- Phone: (406) 646-9644
- Address: 125 N Canyon St, West Yellowstone, MT 59758
Stop in for flies and up-to-date reports on which waters are fishing well that week.
Pro Tips for Summer Success
- Fish early. Mornings bring cooler water, active trout and fewer people.
- Check for closures before every trip. Heat closures can start with little warning in July and August.
- Land fish quickly and keep them in the water. Warm water is hard on trout.
- Watch the weather. A thunderstorm can muddy the Lamar for days, so have a backup stream in mind.
- Hike a little. A 20-minute walk away from the road usually means far fewer anglers.
- Stop by a local fly shop for current hatches. Conditions in the park change fast.
Stay Safe Around Wildlife
- Give animals room: Stay at least 100 yards from bears and wolves, and at least 25 yards from bison, elk and other wildlife. Bison in the Lamar Valley often walk right along the streams.
- Carry bear spray: Keep it on your hip and know how to use it. Make noise in willows and tall grass, where you can’t see far.
- Stay off thermal ground: Near the Firehole and other thermal areas, stay on trails and boardwalks. The ground can be thin crust over boiling water.
- Respect the water: Rivers like the Yellowstone are cold and powerful. Wade carefully, and use a wading staff in fast water.
Sample Summer Day in the Lamar Valley
Time | Fly / Technique | Target |
7 AM | PMD or Green Drake emerger on Slough Creek | Rising cutthroat |
10 AM | Hopper with a small beetle dropper along grassy banks | Cutthroat |
1 PM | Break for lunch and wildlife watching while the water warms | — |
6 PM | Elk Hair Caddis or attractor dry on Soda Butte Creek | Cutthroat |
Final Thoughts
Summer in Yellowstone is fly fishing at its best: big bugs, wild native cutthroat, and some of the most beautiful water in the world, often with bison grazing nearby. Know the rules, fish the cool hours, and handle every fish with care, especially in a hot year.
Stop in at Parks’ Fly Shop in Gardiner or Blue Ribbon Flies in West Yellowstone for flies and local intel. Every Wind River Flyworks order helps protect these waters, with 5% going to Yellowstone Forever.
Tight lines, and see you in the park!
Flies in This Guide
Stimulator
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Bionic Ant
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Jake's Beetle
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Flies tied by Jacobs Fork Fly Tying, photos used with permission. We don’t earn anything from these links.
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