large brook trout from the Middle
River. This river has some very
large size brook trout.
cast will bring a strike from an
eagar trout.
anglers fish the Middle River. In
four trips to the stream, we have
yet to see another angler on this
stream.
The Middle River, also called Middle Creek, starts on the Absaroka Range and flows northeast for about five miles inside the park before joining the North Fork of the Shoshone a couple of miles outside the park.
The Middle River is mostly a high gradient stream in its headwater areas. It flows through some meadows and timber sections in its lower sections where the stream’s gradient is much less.
Species:
The trout are mostly cutthroats that average 9 to 12 inches. Brook trout are present in the headwaters of the Middle River. The further you travel up the stream, the steeper it gets.
The Middle River usually clears up from the runoff in late June but this depends greatly on the snow pack. Although it may be fishable in late June, normally the best opportunities start in July.
Access:
The stream can be accessed from the East Entrance Road. Starting just inside the park, the road follows the stream closely for a few miles. There are some designated pull off areas and in some areas you can find places to park off the highway that are not marked for parking. The stream is normally near the highway but just out of sight. In most places it only requires a short hike to reach the stream from the highway. The road leads away from the stream at the point it heads up the mountain.
Comments:
This is one of the most overlooked small streams in the park even although it’s located along a major entrance road. Maybe it’s the fact that this area is known for its grizzly bears that scares anglers aware.
If catching lots of trout from a secluded section of a beautiful Yellowstone Park stream (up to 18 inches but most likely 6 to 12) that’s easily accessed is your thing, then this would be an excellent choice anytime during the month of July. It isn’t a prime Yellowstone destination but it’s certainly worth a day of your time.
We do recommend you take along a can of bear spray. Although we doubt the population of bears is any greater than many other areas of the park, the Middle River area is usually rather void of tourists.
Copyright 2012 James Marsh
