YFFVP Fly Fishing Information

EQUIPMENT

Be responsible for your equipment and mindful of where you leave it.

Anglers sometimes leave items they’ve brought streamside, which they

aren’t currently using, on the bank behind them. Often, the anglers get

engrossed in the fishing, moving further and further from their belongings.

Sometimes, a herd of bison (or other animals) move beside the anglers’

abandoned stuff. Now they have wait to retrieve their belongings. How

long? Until the animals decide to move on. It’s much better to keep your

things as close to you as possible. Or leave them with a friend who is taking

a break.

Fishing Permit: We advise buying your permit at home, before you arrive to

fish, just so you don’t have to search for one after you get here. You

can buy your permit from Recreation.gov - Camping, Cabins, RVs, Permits, Passes & More (type “Yellowstone fishing permit” into the home page search box) after you create an account: Yellowstone National Park Fishing Permit Pass in Wyoming - Recreation.gov

Rods and Reels: 9’ or 10’ 5 and 6 weight rods are standard for fishing the

park. A 7’ or 7.5’ 4wt is also viable for fishing smaller waters. Some anglers prefer 6 or 7 weight rods for fishing streamers.

Lines, Leaders/Tippets: The vast majority of our fishing will require weight forward floating fly lines, though double taper lines are acceptable if you prefer to use them. You could also consider bringing an intermediate, sink-tip, or full sinking line for lake fishing. These lines usually pair best with 6 or 7 weight rods, though accomplished casters could use a five weight. Sink-tip and full sinking lines should be designed to descend as quickly as possible. Those rated as “type 6”, which means they sink 6 to 7 inches per second, work well. 9’ 4x leaders are the most commonly used for dry flies and nymphs, but 7.5’ 4x leaders work well for fishing smaller waters. 7.5’ 1x to 3x leaders are a good idea for fishing streamers with a floating fly line. Fluorocarbon tippets, due to their reduced visibility and higher abrasion resistance are ideal, but many of the park’s trout are caught each year with standard nylon tippets.

Weights (split shot): It’s a violation of park rules to use lead either as split

shot or incorporated into a fly’s underbody. Tungsten weights, non-toxic

wire, and brass/tungsten beads are allowed in the park.

Flies: All flies must be barbless. You are allowed to have barbed flies with

you in the park. But a fly’s barb must be mashed down completely before

you can fish it. Articulated streamers, those tied with two hooks, are not

allowed in the park. If you choose to fish one, one of the hooks must be cut

off at its hook bend.

Polarized Sun Glasses: Good sunglasses are a must. They help you spot fish

and see through the water while you’re wading. They also protect your eyes

from intense sunlight and artificial flies. Additionally, well-fitting

sunglasses will help keep horse flies from getting into your eyes.

Wet Wading vs. Waders: In July and August, wet wading with light weight, quick-dry pants, wet wading socks, and gravel guard booties can be very pleasant. When fishing a lake, where the water could be colder and you may decide to wade more deeply, many anglers prefer to wear waders. But everyone has a different tolerance for temperature. If you feel more comfortable fishing with waders in rivers and creeks, do that. It’s always a balance. Air and water temperatures may be cooler than you like in the morning, but that usually changes by afternoon.

Rain Jackets: It’s advisable to bring a light weight rain jacket in case of an

afternoon thunderstorm, even if you’re wet wading. Anglers generally feel

much colder when their torso is wet than when their legs are wet. If you

choose to forgo a rain jacket, make sure to wear a quick drying fishing

shirts--no cotton—so you can get warm and dry as quickly as possible.

Boots: Felt soled boots are banned in the park. Make sure you bring well-

fitting rubber-bottomed wading boots in which you are comfortable hiking.

Or pack in your wading boots and wear hiking shoes for longer treks to the

water. Make sure you inspect your wading boots (and shoe laces)

thoroughly to remove plant material, mud, and other items to help insure that

you’re not transporting potentially harmful things from one waterway to

another.

Other Important Items: Nippers, dry fly floatant/desiccant, hemostats to

crush barbs and remove flies from fish, rubber mesh nets for landing fish,

and strike indicators are all items you should have with you.

FLIES

You do not need to have every fly and size suggested in the

paragraphs below. But the more flies you have, the greater your options if

the fish are particularly picky. Various fly sizes and colors will be more effective than others on a day to day basis. Again, your fly selection is up to

you. But the more options you have, the better your chances of finding what

the fish really want to eat. The biggest difference between a July

and August dry fly selection is the importance of aquatic insect hatch

imitations versus terrestrial (land born) imitations. Though there is a great

deal of overlap. In general, aquatic insect hatches will be more important to

imitate in July while terrestrial insects will be more important in August.

The fly selections listed below are just a starting point. If you have fly

patterns that work well for you at home, bring them. You never know.

Flies for July

Dries: Salmonflies (#8-12), Golden Stones (#10-12), Chubbies (various

colors #8-14), Elk Hair Caddis (tan, brown, olive, #12-16), Rubberleg

Stimulators (orange, yellow, #8-12), PMD’s (#14-18), Western Green

Drakes (#10-12), Yellow Sallies (#14-16), Parachute and Standard Adams

(#10-14), Purple and Yellow Haze (#12-16), Attractors (Royal Wulff,

Patriots, Hippy Stompers, Trudes, etc in various colors #10-14)

Nymphs/Wets: Perdigon (various colors #12-16), Pat’s Rubberlegs (black,

yellow #8-12), Prince Nymph (#10-16), Psycho Prince (#12-16), Flash Back

Pheasant Tail (#12-16), Starling and Herl (#12), Beadhead Caddis Larva

(green, tan, brown #12-16), Partridge and Yellow (#12-16), Partridge and

Orange (#12-16), Worms (red #12), Zebra Midge (red, black #16-18)

Streamers: Wooly Bugger (black, yellow, white #12), Sparkle Minnow

(various colors #10), Zonker (white, black, yellow, olive #10), Leech (white,

black, brown #12)

Flies for August

Dries: Grasshoppers (various styles and colors #10-14), Crickets (#12),

Ants (black, red, two-toned #14-18), Beetles (black, orange #12-16),

Chubbies (various colors #10-14), Elk Hair Caddis (tan, brown, olive, #12-

16), Rubberleg Stimulators (orange, yellow, #10-12), Parachute and

Standard Adams (#10-14), Purple and/or Yellow Haze (#12-16), Attractors

(Royal Wulff, Patriots, Hippy Stompers, Trudes, etc in various colors #10-

14)

Nymphs/Wets: Perdigon (various colors #12-16), Pat’s Rubberlegs (black,

yellow #12), Prince Nymph (#10-16), Psycho Prince (#12-16), Flash Back

Pheasant Tail (#12-16), Starling and Herl (#12), Beadhead Caddis Larva

(green, tan, brown #12-16), Sunken Ants (#12-16), Worms (red #12),

Partridge and Yellow (#12-16), Partridge and Orange (#12-16), Zebra Midge

(red, black #16-18)

Streamers: Wooly Bugger (black, yellow, white #12), Sparkle Minnow

(various colors #10), Zonker (white, black, yellow, olive #10), Leech (white,

black, brown #12)