OT: Looking for input on trout fishing in greater Yellowstone/Grand Teton area

[Ranger Dan]

My wife and I are planning a week long vacation with a couple of days spent in various spots around Yellowstone NP and the Grand Tetons. The potential areas are Bozeman/Livingston and Red Lodge Montana, Jackson/West Tetons and Cody/East Yellowstone Wyoming. I would like to spend a half day fly fishing somewhere, but I would like to have a guide (casting coach LOL) to help increase my chance of success.

My priorities would be wow type experience first, followed by success of landing a fish. It would be great if this could happen near a town where my wife could spend the time shopping. Right now the dates and locations are pretty open. Do any of you have any recommendations for a specific guide/river/town that I could check into?

 

[anon_1eeb2b426hv3y]

My wife and I are planning a week long vacation with a couple of days spent in various spots around Yellowstone NP and the Grand Tetons. The potential areas are Bozeman/Livingston and Red Lodge Montana, Jackson/West Tetons and Cody/East Yellowstone Wyoming. I would like to spend a half day fly fishing somewhere, but I would like to have a guide (casting coach LOL) to help increase my chance of success.

My priorities would be wow type experience first, followed by success of landing a fish. It would be great if this could happen near a town where my wife could spend the time shopping. Right now the dates and locations are pretty open. Do any of you have any recommendations for a specific guide/river/town that I could check into?

Call Keith Miller at Montana whitetails in Bozeman/Livingston.
Montanawhitetails.com

 

[Ranger Dan]

Call Keith Miller at Montana whitetails in Bozeman/Livingston.
Montanawhitetails.com

Have you personally hunted or fished with them? Their website includes one photo of a guy holding a trout on the home page, but no additional information. Do they guide for trout, or are you suggesting that they might know someone?

 

[BBG65]

I fished the area for a couple days several years ago, caught some small ones in the Firehole, a couple 20" plus rainbows in the Henry's Fork south of Yellowstone in Idaho and struck out in the Madison. They say the Yellowstone River is great, but didn't fish it.

 

[83wuzme]

Been a while since I was out there but the River's Edge Fly and guide shop in Bozeman was always very good for me.
A float trip can be a lot of fun and you don't have to be somebody ready for a casting competition if it's hopper season.

 

[fairgambit]

I'm not into fishing but I do all I can to save the Grand Tetons.
Oh wait. I meant save the Grand TaTas.

 

[Thorndike2012]

Check out Lewistown and Big Spring Creek. Central Montana...very nice places to stay and shop...and fish.

 

[anon_1eeb2b426hv3y]

Have you personally hunted or fished with them? Their website includes one photo of a guy holding a trout on the home page, but no additional information. Do they guide for trout, or are you suggesting that they might know someone?

A little of both--they guide but the fishing is not through Montana whitetails and it wouldn't be Keith, or might not. It'd be through an affiliate called Greater Yellowstone outfitters but calling Keith at the number listed was my easiest reference to get you to the same place. Hope you have a great trip whatever you decide.

 

[tgar]

My wife and I are planning a week long vacation with a couple of days spent in various spots around Yellowstone NP and the Grand Tetons. The potential areas are Bozeman/Livingston and Red Lodge Montana, Jackson/West Tetons and Cody/East Yellowstone Wyoming. I would like to spend a half day fly fishing somewhere, but I would like to have a guide (casting coach LOL) to help increase my chance of success.

My priorities would be wow type experience first, followed by success of landing a fish. It would be great if this could happen near a town where my wife could spend the time shopping. Right now the dates and locations are pretty open. Do any of you have any recommendations for a specific guide/river/town that I could check into?

Several shops in the area. Google them. Discuss your situation. You want to learn, you also want to be out on fish, large or small.

Great idea securing a guide for both reasons, always a great choice.

Have fun and let us know how it went.

I have fished big and small water in that area and both are amazing. Enjoy.

 

[doublehaul]

You didnt mention West Yellowstone in your radar of stops, but if you can, try Blue Ribbon Flies. They guide on the Madison River, in the Park, and both Quake and Hebegan Lakes. Good guides, most have been with the shop a long time. They have a website and weekly newsletter which gives local info on the area.

 

[Ranger Dan]

Several shops in the area. Google them. Discuss your situation. You want to learn, you also want to be out on fish, large or small.

Great idea securing a guide for both reasons, always a great choice.

Have fun and let us know how it went.

I have fished big and small water in that area and both are amazing. Enjoy.

Do you have any specific recommendations?

 

[Ranger Dan]

You didnt mention West Yellowstone in your radar of stops, but if you can, try Blue Ribbon Flies. They guide on the Madison River, in the Park, and both Quake and Hebegan Lakes. Good guides, most have been with the shop a long time. They have a website and weekly newsletter which gives local info on the area.

Nothing is set in stone... the one limitation is being too far out of this general area. Also, we will likely not be staying within Yellowstone, Jackson hole proper, or anywhere else that is expensive. I'd like my money to be spent on experiences, not luxury or status, and we will have a vehicle to drive to wherever we want to go.

 

[PSU Mike]

Dan, just curious - have you done much fly fishing already? Is iit something you want to explore/develop beyond this experience?

 

[Bela84]

Can't go wrong with Blue Ribbon Fly Shop guides. They're in West Yellowstone. Email me at kbcsonka@comcast.net if you would like more information.

 

[Cold Smoke]

My wife and I are planning a week long vacation with a couple of days spent in various spots around Yellowstone NP and the Grand Tetons. The potential areas are Bozeman/Livingston and Red Lodge Montana, Jackson/West Tetons and Cody/East Yellowstone Wyoming. I would like to spend a half day fly fishing somewhere, but I would like to have a guide (casting coach LOL) to help increase my chance of success.

My priorities would be wow type experience first, followed by success of landing a fish. It would be great if this could happen near a town where my wife could spend the time shopping. Right now the dates and locations are pretty open. Do any of you have any recommendations for a specific guide/river/town that I could check into?

Dozens of excellent fly shops in the area. I would call Rivers Edge West (406 284 2401) in Bozeman. Half mile from my house of 36 years. Ask for Jack Weiss and tell him Dan (yes), that tarpon addict guy, sent you. Jack is a longtime friend and expert angler in this area.

In all honesty, a half day is too short to do much guided river fishing. I can help you with some DIY suggestions and the casting if you want. Contact me (Jack has my number) when you get your timing settled. Timing dictates much of the fishing success out here. Fall is a great time and avoids some of the crowding. I can also help with the Cody, WY area if you might like some guided lake flyfishing for really big trout. Half day should work there. Fairly easy fishing and almost certain success. Good luck Dan.

edit: Just noticed REW is closed today. Snowy/windy day here. Tomorrow.

 

[Ranger Dan]

Dan, just curious - have you done much fly fishing already? Is iit something you want to explore/develop beyond this experience?

I have equipment (some from my day and some my own), but I'm not very good at it. I couldn't remotely begin to tell you what fly to use when and where, and my casts look like I am having an epileptic seizure (my apologies to those with epilepsy who have seen me case and may be offended).

My dad was an avid fly fisherman and I was a punk kid who wanted to just catch fish as opposed to really learn how to fly fish. Having said that, not learning how to fly fish is one regret that maybe I can still erase. I have a couple of neighbors now who fly fish and I think they would give me some pointers. I'd very much like to experience catching a trout on a fly, with the rocky mountains looming and my father watching from above.

 

[Ranger Dan]

Dozens of excellent fly shops in the area. I would call Rivers Edge West (406 284 2401) in Bozeman. Half mile from my house of 36 years. Ask for Jack Weiss and tell him Dan (yes), that tarpon addict guy, sent you. Jack is a longtime friend and expert angler in this area.

In all honesty, a half day is too short to do much guided river fishing. I can help you with some DIY suggestions and the casting if you want. Contact me (Jack has my number) when you get your timing settled. Timing dictates much of the fishing success out here. Fall is a great time and avoids some of the crowding. I can also help with the Cody, WY area if you might like some guided lake flyfishing for really big trout. Half day should work there. Fairly easy fishing and almost certain success. Good luck Dan.

edit: Just noticed REW is closed today. Snowy/windy day here. Tomorrow.

Yeah, I'm thinking a full day is appropriate. Looking at some of the fly shops that offer guide service, some don't offer half days and the others charge almost as much for a half day as they do as a full day. I'll have to convince my wife that it's a win for her, and I'm not abandoning her... LOL maybe there is a day spa in the area.

 

[royboy]

Yeah, I'm thinking a full day is appropriate. Looking at some of the fly shops that offer guide service, some don't offer half days and the others charge almost as much for a half day as they do as a full day. I'll have to convince my wife that it's a win for her, and I'm not abandoning her... LOL maybe there is a day spa in the area.

Hard to improve on Cold Smoke as your guide, but plenty to do or see in Bozeman area outside of the fishing. It's a combo college (Montana State) and western resort town with plenty of shops, and also a really interesting museum, the Museum of the Rockies.
https://www.museumoftherockies.org/

 

[Cold Smoke]

Yeah, I'm thinking a full day is appropriate. Looking at some of the fly shops that offer guide service, some don't offer half days and the others charge almost as much for a half day as they do as a full day. I'll have to convince my wife that it's a win for her, and I'm not abandoning her... LOL maybe there is a day spa in the area.

Ck out Chico Hot Springs. You could float the Y-stone in Paradise Valley while she soaks in the hot water at Chico. Great combo with those towering Rockies above. Yellowstone Angler just south of Livingston is a very good shop and you could stay and eat dinner at Chico (recommended) or in Livingston. Dinner at Chico gives your wife a shot at seeing some local(?) Hollywood stars. They're the ones with imported French cowshit on their boots. Book this one early as Chico is an "in" place. An oldtime Montana hotel and hot springs spa worth experiencing once.

 

[Ranger Dan]

Ck out Chico Hot Springs. You could float the Y-stone in Paradise Valley while she soaks in the hot water at Chico. Great combo with those towering Rockies above. Yellowstone Angler just south of Livingston is a very good shop and you could stay and eat dinner at Chico (recommended) or in Livingston. Dinner at Chico gives your wife a shot at seeing some local(?) Hollywood stars. They're the ones with imported French cowshit on their boots. Book this one early as Chico is an "in" place. An oldtime Montana hotel and hot springs spa worth experiencing once.

It sounds like Chico may be outside of our budget.

 

[doublehaul]

Depending on the time of year West Yellowstone motels are pricey. One place to check out is West Yellowstone B&B. Its half the price you could pay in town, ive stayed there and the place is top notch. The owner is a guide for Blue Ribbon Flies and he and his wife run the show. They also have a website.

 

[tgar]

Dan, just throwing this there as something to consider doing as well, the guys above are providing plenty of solid advice.

When we travel and I get a day to cast, I like to take a drift boat with a guide and my wife comes along. She takes in all of the scenery, has a nice conversation, gets some sun, shore lunch, maybe a little hike, even a glass or two of wine. If you do opt for this experience, explain ahead of time what the two of you are looking for and I am sure you will get matched up with a great guide.

 

[tgar]

Hard to improve on Cold Smoke as your guide, but plenty to do or see in Bozeman area outside of the fishing. It's a combo college (Montana State) and western resort town with plenty of shops, and also a really interesting museum, the Museum of the Rockies.
https://www.museumoftherockies.org/

Damn Roy, you are a fly fisherman as well, awesome!

 

[83wuzme]

I have equipment (some from my day and some my own), but I'm not very good at it. I couldn't remotely begin to tell you what fly to use when and where, and my casts look like I am having an epileptic seizure (my apologies to those with epilepsy who have seen me case and may be offended).

My dad was an avid fly fisherman and I was a punk kid who wanted to just catch fish as opposed to really learn how to fly fish. Having said that, not learning how to fly fish is one regret that maybe I can still erase. I have a couple of neighbors now who fly fish and I think they would give me some pointers. I'd very much like to experience catching a trout on a fly, with the rocky mountains looming and my father watching from above.

Don't be intimidated. Fly fishing isn't thst hard. If you have any coordination at all, you can get the basics of casting down in an hour. Practice in your yard after watching some decent instructional videos.
Start with dry flies. I would advise if you go to YNP area to go from August to late September. The grasshoppers are dynamite then. You can fish a big fly that floats so you can see it and is not that hard to cast.
I used to stay at Super 8's in Bozeman and W Yellostone. If you are going to spend all day fishing, there's no reason to stay at an expemsive place.

 

[royboy]

Damn Roy, you are a fly fisherman as well, awesome!

No, just have relatives in Montana, including an uncle in Bozeman who is a fly fisherman, and get out there occasionally. Great area to visit for many reasons. Have been to Chico hot springs and checked out Livingston as well as Bozeman.

 

[bkmtnittany1]

Dan...it isn't that complicated. I have killed the trout on flies I use in PA. fishing in July on the Little Firehole, Lewis River I killed them with wooly buggers and streamers and some caddis flies. They are voracious feeders....have fun. And if you are staying in JH you gotta have dinner and a few pops at the MangyMoose Saloon. A greta place...

 

[Ranger Dan]

Dan...it isn't that complicated. I have killed the trout on flies I use in PA. fishing in July on the Little Firehole, Lewis River I killed them with wooly buggers and streamers and some caddis flies. They are voracious feeders....have fun. And if you are staying in JH you gotta have dinner and a few pops at the MangyMoose Saloon. A greta place...

Where is JH? As I said in a follow up post, I'm really a novice fly fisherman. I need someone to tell me what fly to use... and where these rivers/streams are located.

 

[83wuzme]

Where is JH? As I said in a follow up post, I'm really a novice fly fisherman. I need someone to tell me what fly to use... and where these rivers/streams are located.

Guide shops can help a lot when it comes to getting tackle, flies and locations figured out. They want your business and want you to have a great time because it's good for their business. You could probably even rent most of the equipment if you wanted to. There are a number of guidebooks on fishing the area and plenty of internet sites and videos.
Yellowstone Nat'l Park has tremendous amount of fishing in a concentrated area. As I mentioned, the best time to go there if you are a beginner might be late summer / early fall for the grasshoppers.
For tackle, you want a 9 to 9.5 foot rod with a 5 weight, weight - forward line. You don't need anything over $500.

 

[royboy]

Where is JH? As I said in a follow up post, I'm really a novice fly fisherman. I need someone to tell me what fly to use... and where these rivers/streams are located.

JH is a reference to Jackson Hole, Wyoming.

 

[bkmtnittany1]

Just get that Yellowstone map when you get there and buy your license. Dirt cheap to fish in the park but out of state for other streams is $14 a day per person. Yellowstone might be $20 for a week total. If you are willing to walk a 1/4 mile off the road you will have all the fishing you want. And that 9 ft rod info above is dead on. Keep it simple. I never worried about "matching the hatch" when I was there...i killed trout on caddis flies and deer hair stuff as well as wooly buggers...Yellowstone is truly amazing....i probably will be going in August, if not there Colorado....

 

[Ranger Dan]

You and your wife will LOVE JH. Trust me.

The only thing I can add is that you should get your guide to take you "off the beaten path". It's well worth the extra effort and any extra cost. The solitude and scenery will leave you with lasting memories and hook you for life.

Enjoy it!

Thanks for the recommendations. My wife actually has me at quite an advantage. I've never been to Yellowstone/Grand Tetons area, but she worked at a coffee shop in Yellowstone for a summer while in college.

 

[Jim Schitilimzim]

Depending on when you are going, Jackson may be tough to fish this year with the massive snowpack (about 600 inches), so you may be better off fishing Montana near Bozeman if you are headed out early in the summer. If you do decide to go fish in Jackson, I highly recommend a float trip down the snake, your wife can come with you for the scenery and wildlife viewing while you go for a amazing trip fishing for trophy cutthroat. If you want a really memorable experience, you can actually try to book John Simms to guide you down the river and he will show you all of his secret spots, not to mention all his stories. Not sure if he is still guiding, but he is a legend/inventor not just in fishing, but also in skiing. There is also a great fly shop near Jackson called West Bank Anglers who will get you outfitted for your trip.

Yellowstone is nice, but full of tourists, the absolute best spot to go fishing would be Pinedale and the New Fork River where you will find deep holes filled with 20" Browns and Rainbows. That would be a 90 minute drive and hit up The Great Outdoor shop.

Definitely go to the mangy moose for drinks, and hit the deck of the Handle Bar if you are looking for a great spot to drink on a sunny afternoon.

 

[Hotshoe]

If you want a great breakfast in JH, you can't beat Bubba's BBQ.

 

[BRETTPSU]

Jackson in September is the best time to go. Weather is perfect, crowds are gone, last month most guides float the snake, and hotel rooms are half price. The wife could either float with you or hang around Jackson. We stayed in Teton Village for $100 per night through hotwire. The Mangy Moose is a nice bar with pretty good food.

Gardiner Montana was a cool little town. It's on the north entrance to Yellowstone. We stopped to have a couple beers on the old side of Gardiner, after some bs'ing, ended up paying $50 to stay in an awesome little apartment underneath the bar. I would think you could find some fishing guides in Gardiner being it's right on the Yellowstone.

 

[garw]

Gardiner is the gateway to the Yellowstone River. Hired a guide from the main shop 2 summers ago. August. Drove in to the park with the guide then hiked downriver 4 miles (me and my 16 year old son) and worked our way back upstream. Big Water. All of the action was on hoppers fishing the bank and casting upstream. We caught several cutties. Saw one other person all day. The isolation, vistas, and birds were magnificent. Hire a guide, take a hike and enjoy some water.

 

[bkmtnittany1]

Thanks for the recommendations. My wife actually has me at quite an advantage. I've never been to Yellowstone/Grand Tetons area, but she worked at a coffee shop in Yellowstone for a summer while in college.

1990....fishing the Snake in Yellowstone on July 4th. The park was actually sold out of campsites, supposedly it was that packed. Didn't see a fisherman!!!! Could not fish the Yellowstone because it was closed due to the cutthroat spawn. it was the year after the fire and we got some amazing photos. If you stay in Teton Village the Best Western is awesome, construction wise, an the Alpenhoff is really nice. You got room for one more???