Yellowstone National Park Fishing Travel Guide

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Yellowstone National Park Fishing Travel Tips

By Brian Kevin

The Upper Gibbon River is a favorite section of stream for seven- to 17-inch rainbows, plus the occasional but rapidly dwindling grayling. Access the river from along the Norris-Canyon Road, or catch up with it along the Wolf Lake Trail above Virginia Falls.
Though you are bound to share the area with other anglers, good-sized cutthroats are known to populate the upper reaches of Slough Creek in the park's northeast. Follow the Slough Creek Trail as far up as you care to, even out of the park. Go later in the season to avoid insects and crowds.
Escape flocks of anglers, and get a bit of a workout hiking into the Black Canyon of the Yellowstone, where wide stretches of river and prolific hatches support a healthy cutthroat and rainbow population. The best stretches are pretty remote, so plan on making a multi-day trip.
Between Biscuit Basin and the Midway Geyser Basin, it's easy to access the Firehole River from the road. This is a heavily fished area, so the resident rainbows and browns are rather wily. Catch more in the early fall when the water temperature drops.
It's a truism that most veteran rangers are anglers, and furthermore that most love to talk about the park to anyone who is not wearing a Hawaiian shirt and demanding to know where the bears are. Chat up the folks in the backcountry office for tips on where they're biting and obscure places to cast.

Fishing Overview: Yellowstone National Park

You won't hear many arguments against the belief that Yellowstone National Park offers the finest public trout fishing in the world. Within the park's 3,400 square miles are over 800 miles of broad rivers, smaller backcountry streams, and 175 lakes! So it's safe to say there's enough great fishing for anglers at any level. Experienced anglers often seek the calm waters of Firehole River or the Gibbon River where advanced fishing skills are necessary. Less experienced anglers can fulfill their trout goal at Yellowstone Lake or the Buffalo Ford stretch of the Yellowstone River. Read More

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16 Questions | 13 Answers

My husband and I with our 3 kids (8,6, 4-ages they will be then ) will be traveling to Yellowstone in August of 2010 on our way to Oregon. We want to fly in perhaps to cody on a saturday then travel to Yellowstone the next day- We would like to stay in yellowstone until wed AM--1. Is cody worth flying into and staying the night? Or should we try to fly into another airport? 2. Where should we stay once we are in Yellowstone- I thought perhaps we would loop around and stay in a different spot each night?! 3. What would be the best places to see with the ages of my children? Thank you for any help you can give- I want to make this a memorible trip for the family and I am planning early.
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We are planning a visit to Yellow Stone National Park during January 2010. Our flight arrives at Cody-Yellow Stone Regional Airport at 11 o' clock in the evening. We are staying at Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel. Can you please tell me if there are transport available from the airport to the Hotel and how far is the Hotel from the Airport. This is our first visit to the Park and I am not keen to rent a car and drive ourselves to the park at that time of night and on roads that I do not know.
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I'm planning a solo road trip from Tennessee to Grand Teton and Yellowstone. Does anyone know of cheap hostels and good/safe camping?
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Photos

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Yellowstone National Park: Wolves of the Park

Screensavers

U.S. National Parks: Wildlife

Hotels

Big EZ Lodge

7000 Beaver Creek Rd.
Big Sky, MT 59716 Map

Distance: 32.5 mi.
(from destination center)

Hotel Class:

Good For Fishing

Expert Rated & Recommended

Elk Lake Resort

5200 Elk Lake Rd.
Lima, MT 59739 Map

Distance: 51.8 mi.
(from destination center)

Hotel Class: Not Yet Rated

Good For Fishing

Expert Rated & Recommended

Lake Yellowstone Hotel and Cabins

Best Resorts & Lodges

Lake Village
Yellowstone National Park, WY 82190 Map

Distance: 36.5 mi.
(from destination center)

Hotel Class: Not Yet Rated

Good For Fishing

Expert Rated & Recommended

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Attractions

Yellowstone Institute

Good For Fishing

PO Box 117
Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming 82190

Distance: 25.9 mi. (from destination center)

Description: The nonprofit Yellowstone Institute offers year-round field courses in natural history, cultural... Read More

Expert Rated & Recommended

Museum of the National Park Ranger

Norris Campground, north of Norris Junction
Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming 82190

Distance: 25.9 mi. (from destination center)

Description: The Museum of the National Park Ranger is housed in historic Norris Soldier Station. Exhibits... Read More

Expert Rated & Recommended

Quake Lake

Off U.S. 287, 27 miles northwest of West Yellowstone and 43 miles south of Ennis
Ennis, Montana

Distance: 35.9 mi. (from destination center)

Description:

Just before midnight on August 17, 1959, a massive earthquake measuring 7.5 on the Richter scale... Read More

Expert Rated & Recommended

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Airports

Major Airports near Yellowstone National Park

	Distance (mi.)
Boise Air Terminal Gowen Field	291.0 map

Other Smaller Airports near Yellowstone National Park

	Distance (mi.)
West Yellowstone Yellowstone Airport	31.5 map
Bozeman Gallatin Field	56.3 map
Cody/Yellowstone Yellowstone Regional Airport	89.5 map

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Glacier to Yellowstone Ranch Vacation Package
Bar W Guest Ranch
from $2200, 7 days
Which is the best Glacier or Yellowstone? Well, why not get the very best of both worlds. The Bar W Guest Ranch - Whitefish, Montana has teamed up with the Covered Wagon Ranch - Big Sky, Montana to offer you a very special vacation package. ......

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