-Flathead River
-Glacier National Park Hike & Fish
-Lake Murray
-Lower Stillwater Lake
-McDonald Creek (GNP)
-Middle Fork Flathead River
-River Raft Flyfishing
-Yellowstone River
-West Yellowstone, MT
Flathead River
Glacier National Park Hike & Fish
Lake Murray
Lower Stillwater Lake
McDonald Creek (GNP)
Middle Fork Flathead River
River Raft Flyfishing
Yellowstone River
One must be specific when announcing that they are fishing the Yellowstone River. Or, they can remain anonymous along the 671 miles, most of it very fishable depending on whether the angler is on public or private land. The Yellowstone River portion we fished was in Montana, just north of the Yellowstone National Park. While most of YNP is in the state of Wyoming, the border of the park actually starts in Montana on the north and west boundaries. As shown in the map below, one can find many public access points to fish the Yellowstone River in southern Montana.
In October of 2021, we fished a few public access points to include the Loch Haven, Dan Bailey, and Crystal Cross areas. Each has its own beauty and attributes that provide excellent opportunities to enjoy the Montana landscape whether its hiking, fishing or just quietly taking it all in. It snowed that day, which made fishing a small challenge, but the fish didn’t care much. They were still willing to give our lines a tug a couple of times as we passed some nymphs their way. We stopped at the Sweetwater Fly Shop in Livingston for some flies and information, which helped immensely.
From the NPS website: The Yellowstone River is the last major undammed river in the lower 48 states, flowing 671 miles (1080 km) from its source southeast of Yellowstone into the Missouri River and then, eventually, into the Atlantic Ocean. It begins in the Absaroka Mountain Range on Yount Peak. The river enters the park and meanders through the Thorofare region into Yellowstone Lake. It leaves the lake at Fishing Bridge and flows north over LeHardys Rapids and through Hayden Valley.
After this peaceful stretch, it crashes over the Upper and Lower falls of the Grand Canyon. It then flows generally northwest, meeting its largest tributary, the Lamar River, at Tower Junction. It continues through the Black Canyon and leaves the park near Gardiner, Montana. The Yellowstone River continues north and east through the state of Montana and joins the Missouri River near the eastern boundary line of the state. The Missouri River eventually joins the Mississippi River, which flows into the Atlantic Ocean at the Gulf of Mexico.
