Like most waters in the area, the summer doldrums are starting to creep up on the Yellowstone in the park. There is still great fishing to be had, don’t get me wrong, but you are going to have to work a little harder for it. Flows out of the lake continue to slowly decline. All the rain in the past few days might have pushed some mud into the river, so be ready for lower visibility.
Below the lake is getting tough. There are a lot of insects of all kinds on the water, but the fish are becoming smart. Work the rising fish, don’t just blindly ply the waters.
The canyons on the Yellowstone are still the best spots on the river. You do have to hike in a ways, but it is worth it. Lots of mayflies, caddis, yellow sallies and scattered Salmonflies make the hike seem like nothing at all.
There are a fair number of folks in the canyon stretch; be respectful of other people’s space.
