Fly Fishing For All Levels Close To Yellowstone

When Mike Tubbs sent me this image, I had to know the story of this day….”I was fishing in front of Staley Springs on Henry’s Lake early in the morning. It was dead calm as the sun was coming up. A friend was behind me fishing and and I took a picture of him. Two top mountain is behind him. I lived on Staley’s so I have many pictures of the sunrise here. This friend is passed on and is on the memorial at Staley’s Springs now.” Thank you Mike.

Of the many breathtaking attractions that draw visitors to the Island Park area, the myriad of angling opportunities have been a part of the culture for generations —and while there’s a place for every type of sport fishing, above all else, this is fly country. From dredging big Showgirls along the cliffs at Henry’s Lake, to presenting a delicate Emerger pattern on the Upper Snake's famed Henry's Fork, to swinging a stonefly nymph through the Warm river, there are no shortage of locations to wet a fly—regardless of your preferred style and skill level.

Sami Chadaz

If you’re a new hand at throwing a fly line, three places immediately come to mind. First, Teardrop Lake, located off of the old Fish creek road is slightly off the beaten path yet is convenient for families and those who want an easy and productive day of fly fishing. Here, there are numerous sites to set up for the day, facilitating a family friendly environment for those that want to fish as well as swim, kayak, or simply hang out. The lake is relatively small and has plenty of shore access and the fish, although generally small, are numerous and willing to take nearly any pattern. Still, I recommend a mobile approach, strolling along the shore and throwing a small bugger or leech pattern at promising points. Next, Warm River, a relatively small stream, runs from Island Park to Ashton and provides ample opportunity to practice both dry fly and nymphing presentations. Finally, the Upper Snake meanders through Island Park, passing through several different population centers as it goes.  Here, you’ll be able to find plenty of other anglers who will likely give you some pointers…especially if you make it clear you’re new to the sport. Once again, this is a convenient body of water to explore, due to its proximity to the amenities of the area, meaning it’s fantastic for those who are interested is fishing as well as those who just want to soak up nature.

image used with permission by Dan Ahlstrom

Now, if you’ve got enough time on the water to know the difference between a shooting cast and a double haul, then you’re likely looking for a more complex body of water that holds some bigger fish. Here, one could hardly go wrong by crossing the state line and going to the Madison River. Whether you intercept it above Hebgen, between Hebgen Lake and Quake Lake, or on one of the many miles between Quake lake and Ennis, Montana, you’d be hard pressed to find more rewarding fishing conditions. If you’re feeling like targeting trophy sized fish in a lake setting, Henry’s Lake grows truly massive Yellowstone cutthroat, cutbows, and brookies. There are several access points around the lake and people have done well trolling large streamer patterns along the deeper portions of the west edge. Finally, to pair fantastic fishing with staggering beauty, Box Canyon is where the Snake River flows out of Island Park Reservoir. Here, nymphing and dropper rigs are the way to go--there’s great potential for big fish and some of the prettiest country in the area.

Henrys Fork at sunset……this stellar image is provided by tracy river. an amazing landscape photographer

Regardless of your skill level, Island Park is the place to go if you want to experience western fly fishing at its finest. Come, enjoy our beautiful lands and waters, and settle in for a uniquely wild experience!

A great big Thank you to Mike Jennings for his contribution for this post

Another glorious image from Mike Tubbs

To get updated information for when, where and all the rest check out Idaho Fish and Game site here.