James Marsh

Most of the streams in Yellowstone National Park are closed for the season. As of Nov. 1, 2024, Yellowstone National Park expanded fishing access by allowing for year-round fishing opportunities. The Gardner River from Osprey Falls downstream to the confluence with the Yellowstone River near the North Entrance in Gardiner, Montana is open. The Madison River from the Wyoming/Montana state line downstream to the park boundary near… Read More »12/01/24 Fly Fishing Report for Yellowstone National Park

Beginning Nov. 1, 2024, Yellowstone National Park will expand fishing access by allowing for year-round fishing opportunities at two locations in the park. The Gardner River from Osprey Falls downstream to the confluence with the Yellowstone River near the North Entrance in Gardiner, Montana. The Madison River from the Wyoming/Montana state line downstream to the park boundary near the West Entrance in West Yellowstone, Montana. Call 800… Read More »10/23/24 Fly Fishing Report for Yellowstone National Park

Yellowstone National Park is fishing well this Fall. Those willing to put up with a little inclement weather should be catching a lot of trout. Look Blue-winged olives, October caddis, Mahogany duns, and Spotted sedge caddis. should arrive soon. Our terrestrial patterns are still a savvy way to fish. Sculpin Streamers have been working as well. Call 800 594 4726 or email us at sales@perfectflystore.com… Read More »09/26 Fly Fishing Report for Yellowstone National Park – Update on Conditions & Hatches

Yellowstone Park opened for the fishing season on the 25th of May. Spring runoff is over in most sections and streams. Yellowstone River is usually the last one to drop and clear and it is getting into good shape fast. Your best options now and over the next week or two will be most any of the streams in the park other than The lower… Read More »07/01/24 Fly Fishing Report for Yellowstone National Park – Update on Conditions & Hatches

Yellowstone Park opened for the fishing season on the 25th of May. Spring runoff is currently a limiting factor. Your best options over the next two weeks will be the Firehole, Lower Gibbon, and the Madison Rivers. The Yellowstone River system is currently in a full blown runoff. Both the Grand and Black Canyons are bad off color. The Canyon of the Yellowstone and the… Read More »06/13/24 Fly Fishing Report for Yellowstone National Park – Update on Conditions & Hatches

Packing for your Yellowstone National Park fly fishing trip. Layering your clothing is the best way to deal with fluctuating temperatures. Light weight moisture-wicking clothes are best. Bring thermal underwear, jackets and sweaters should cover the colder weather days. Warm days require the same thing except it should be light for warm weather. Always have a waterproof, windproof outer layer along with you. The weather… Read More »05/16/24 Fly Fishing Report for Yellowstone National Park – Update on Conditions & Custom Fly Selections

The Perfect Fly Store can provide a custom fly selection with flies that will match the insects and other foods the trout are feeding on at the time you are fly fishing the streams and lakes of the park. In order to match the hatches with the right flies, one would need to email or call us with the approximate date of arrival, number of… Read More »04/28/24 Fly Fishing Report for Yellowstone National Park – Custom Fly Selections

Lighting Conditions: Bright skies and/or cloudy Skies affect your fishing as much as anything. Low lighting conditions and bright lighting conditions affect the way trout can see your fly. In bright light conditions, trout, especially the brown trout, tend to stay deeper and/or under the cover of vegetation, undercut banks. Low light conditions exist either at dawn or dusk or hen there’s heavy cloud cover.… Read More »04/17/24 Fly Fishing Report for Yellowstone National Park – Knowing How These Variables Affect Your Fishing

When the fishing season first opens, there are many anglers already at the park anxious to start fishing. It is very common knowledge that the Firehole River is a very good stream to fish when the season first opens. Other areas are the lowest part of the Madison River and the lowest part of the Gibbons River, however, these sections are often overlooked. The “catching”… Read More »03/15/24 Fly Fishing Report for Yellowstone National Park – Notes on the opening week of the season

The tackle and gear you need for fly fishing in Yellowstone National Park is really not much different that what you would use fishing many other small to medium trout streams across the nation. A nine foot, 5 weight fly rod would work for any of the streams. A four weight is okay but would be a light side. A 6 weight would work but… Read More »02/20 Fly Fishing Report for Yellowstone National Park – Recommended Tackle and Gear