One of the rewards for fishing
Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone National Park
Getting Started is a DVD
program that covers all the
details about fly fishing gear
and flies.
Click here for more information
program that covers all the
details about fly fishing gear
and flies.
Click here for more information
Gear (Fly Rods, Reels, Line, Leaders, Waders, Accessories)
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| ..............................Fly Fishing Yellowstone National Park |
Clothing that camouflage your
presence helps. Trout can spot
movement of objects above the
water. Angie would have been
better off it this light blue shirt
was green. Dress like a deer or
turkey hunter and you will
probably catch more trout.
presence helps. Trout can spot
movement of objects above the
water. Angie would have been
better off it this light blue shirt
was green. Dress like a deer or
turkey hunter and you will
probably catch more trout.
Felt Sole Wading Boots are a
must to keep from slipping and
falling and to protect your feet
from the rough bottom. Gravel
guards keep the rocks out of your
boots. Small gravel getting in
your boots can cause leaks in
your waders.
must to keep from slipping and
falling and to protect your feet
from the rough bottom. Gravel
guards keep the rocks out of your
boots. Small gravel getting in
your boots can cause leaks in
your waders.
You will find that Yellowstone may require some
fly-fishing gear that is different from that you
prefer to use at other fly-fishing destinations.
Here are some suggestions that may be of help
in choosing gear.
Fly Line:
Most all of the fly-fishing you would be doing can
be done using a floating fly line. A sinking or
sinking tip line may be needed for specific or
special fishing methods.
Line sizes would vary depending on the fly you
choose to use. Small dry flies fished in the very
small streams may suggest you use as small
as a three weight line. Most anglers would use
a four (4) or five (5) weight however. A five (5)
weight fly line would probably be the best all
around size for the park if you were limited to
one line size. Six (6) and seven (7) weight lines
would be preferred for nymphing because you
need some added strength to cast the weight
you may be attaching to the nymphs. A six (6) or
seven (7) weight line sizes would generally be
preferred for streamer fishing.
Either a double taper or a weight forward fly line
would be preferred. Shooting heads lines would
be needed only for specific special applications.
Backing:
Backing is usually needed to fill your fly reel
spool. There are many trout in the park that can
easily take you line down into the backing, so it
is certainly recommended.
Rods:
You should select the weight of the fly rod
based on the size of the line you need to cast
the flies you will be casting. Choose the fly rod
size to match the line size.
You do not necessarily need a fast action rod for
the Yellowstone National Park. Medium action
rods make the type of cast you need in many
situations much better than a fast or tip action
rod. They also protect light tippets better than
fast action rods.
Some anglers like to use very short rods for the
very small trout streams. Some prefer a normal
rod length because they help make the short
roll cast better than a short rod. We recommend
an eight (8) to nine (9) foot rod length for most
dry fly situations. A nine (9) foot rod may also
come in handy for high-stick nymph fishing.
Reels:
Most anglers will tell you that the fly reel is not
an important item, that it only serves to store
your line. It is true that you will probably hand-
line most of the small fish you catch but again,
most streams do contain some large trout.
Hang one of them and you will certainly wish
that you had something more than a rough
clicker drag. For that reason we suggest using
a reel with a good, smooth disc drag system.
The other important consideration is the weight
of the reel. The lighter it is the better you will like
it. It should, of course, match the size of the line
you are using.
Leaders:
Short leaders from eight (8) to ten (10) feet work
well in most cases. Remember that if you are
making very short cast, and you often do in the
small streams of Yellowstone, you would be
mostly casting a leader, especially if the leader
was a long one. Leaders don't cast near as well
as fly lines so you should keep the leader as
short as possible in cases where you are
making short cast. In the faster pocket water the
short leaders don't tend to be as much of a
problem as they do in smooth water.
There are situations where you will need a long
leader. Ten and twelve foot leaders may be
needed when the water is extremely low and
clear as well as smooth.
There are many situation where the water is
smooth. Most all of the meadow streams have
smooth flowing water. The Firehole and
Madison Rivers at times will require a longer
leader. In these situations the trout are easily
spooked.
Most of the time a 5X leader would probably be
the preferred choice. However, again if the water
is low, clear or smooth or if you are fishing very
small flies such as midges you may need to
use a 6X or 7X leader. In cases where you are
fishing streamers or heavy nymphs you may
need a 2X or 3 X leader, so be prepared by
having a good selection of them.
Factory tapered leaders work just fine but if you
want to tie your own, please do.
Tippets:
Everything we just said about leader sizes
applies to the tippet except you would need to
keep them a size smaller than the tag end of
the leader in most cases.
Fluorocarbon tippets and leaders for that
matter, work fine of course, and may offer some
advantage over nylon in very clear or smooth
water. That should be a matter of personal
choice.
Waders:
There are many situations where you may need
to wade but our rule of thumb is not to wade
unless you have to in order to properly present
your fly. When you do use waders, we
recommend waders that breathe. Those made
of Gore-Tex material are preferred.
Wading Boots:
We recommend felt bottom shoes as opposed
to cleats although there are many situations
where the cleats would work best.
Wading Belt:
Don't be caught wading without a wading belt
on. Keep it snug and as tight as you can
comfortable wear it. Usually it will not be
needed but it is a very good idea to form a habit
of always wearing it. If you ever fall in while
wading, it will help keep the water from filling
your waders and drowning you. It is almost
impossible to get up off the bottom with your
waders full of water, especially if your are
washing downstream in a strong current.
Gravel Guards:
Gravel guards of some type are recommended
to keep the small stones and other debris out of
your boots. They can cause leaks.
Sunglasses:
Polarized sunglasses are a must. They will help
you in many ways. Not only will they allow you to
see the bottom more clearly, they may help you
spot trout. We recommend plastic lens over
glass for safety reasons. Large flies that
accidentally hit the lens can break the glass
(and maybe even the plastic) and cut your eye.
The best shade of color depends on the light
conditions. Darker colors work better on bright
sunshine days and lighter colors of lenses work
better on cloudy, overcast days. We think the
best all around color is amber.
Fly Vest:
A fly vest or chest pack is nice but not absolutely
necessary. It will help store such things as your
fly boxes, pliers, and other accessories.
Fly Boxes:
You will need at least one, of course, but
separating your nymphs from your dry flies and
terrestrials is always a good idea.
Floatants:
Some type of floatant to help your dry flies to
float is necessary for most types of flies. There
are powered and liquid types available. The
rough pocket water can drown your flies fairly
easy.
Clothing:
The shade of color of your clothing and hat or
cap is very important. In the small streams you
will usually be making short cast. That means
you will need to get close to the trout without
spooking them. Bright colors tend to spook
them more than subdued or dull colored
clothing. You should try to match the colors of
the surroundings as much as possible. In other
words you should camouflage yourself as much
as you can. Dull greens and light browns are
usually good colors to wear.
Tippet Dispenser (Extra Tippet Material):
Extra tippet material is necessary. Each time
you tie on a fly you will shorten the tippet. If you
hang up, and you may well do that, you may
damage or shorten the tippet.
Carry extra tippet in the size you need. We
suggest 2X through 7X.
A tippet dispenser will help you keep track of the
tippet material and provides easy access. This
is not a requirement, however.
Clippers:
You will need some way of clipping you leader
and tippet. A knife or bitting the tippet will work of
course, but it will blunt the ends of the tippet and
make it difficult to get through the eyes of some
hooks. Clippers will chop it off without a blunt
end.
Landing Net:
We land most of our fish by hand. This is much
more difficult than using a landing net. However,
the landing net is not a easy thing to carry along.
If not stored behind your back it gets in the way
sometimes and tends to hang on everything. If
you catch a large brown trout, for example, you
will probably wish you had one though. If you do
choose to use one, you will need a small to
medium size net. The huge ones are not
necessary. There are landing net clips you can
purchase to hook them to your fly vest or pants.
Midge Threader:
If you fish midges, and we hope you do, you will
need a midge threader even if you have good
eye sight. If you don't see well, you will have to
have one or someone along with you to tie them
on for you.
Fly Floatant:
Fly Floatants come in several varieties and
types. There are liquid and dry powder types.
They help your dry flies float better.
Some types cause the fly to create air bubbles.
Some anglers contend that this makes the fly
look more natural to the trout because some
insects use air to propel themselves to the
surface when they hatch.
We do suggest you carry some of the liquid
paste type to help your dry flies float better in the
rough pocket water typical of some Yellowstone
streams.
Bear Spray:
Insect Repellent:
Copyright 2007 James Marsh
fly-fishing gear that is different from that you
prefer to use at other fly-fishing destinations.
Here are some suggestions that may be of help
in choosing gear.
Fly Line:
Most all of the fly-fishing you would be doing can
be done using a floating fly line. A sinking or
sinking tip line may be needed for specific or
special fishing methods.
Line sizes would vary depending on the fly you
choose to use. Small dry flies fished in the very
small streams may suggest you use as small
as a three weight line. Most anglers would use
a four (4) or five (5) weight however. A five (5)
weight fly line would probably be the best all
around size for the park if you were limited to
one line size. Six (6) and seven (7) weight lines
would be preferred for nymphing because you
need some added strength to cast the weight
you may be attaching to the nymphs. A six (6) or
seven (7) weight line sizes would generally be
preferred for streamer fishing.
Either a double taper or a weight forward fly line
would be preferred. Shooting heads lines would
be needed only for specific special applications.
Backing:
Backing is usually needed to fill your fly reel
spool. There are many trout in the park that can
easily take you line down into the backing, so it
is certainly recommended.
Rods:
You should select the weight of the fly rod
based on the size of the line you need to cast
the flies you will be casting. Choose the fly rod
size to match the line size.
You do not necessarily need a fast action rod for
the Yellowstone National Park. Medium action
rods make the type of cast you need in many
situations much better than a fast or tip action
rod. They also protect light tippets better than
fast action rods.
Some anglers like to use very short rods for the
very small trout streams. Some prefer a normal
rod length because they help make the short
roll cast better than a short rod. We recommend
an eight (8) to nine (9) foot rod length for most
dry fly situations. A nine (9) foot rod may also
come in handy for high-stick nymph fishing.
Reels:
Most anglers will tell you that the fly reel is not
an important item, that it only serves to store
your line. It is true that you will probably hand-
line most of the small fish you catch but again,
most streams do contain some large trout.
Hang one of them and you will certainly wish
that you had something more than a rough
clicker drag. For that reason we suggest using
a reel with a good, smooth disc drag system.
The other important consideration is the weight
of the reel. The lighter it is the better you will like
it. It should, of course, match the size of the line
you are using.
Leaders:
Short leaders from eight (8) to ten (10) feet work
well in most cases. Remember that if you are
making very short cast, and you often do in the
small streams of Yellowstone, you would be
mostly casting a leader, especially if the leader
was a long one. Leaders don't cast near as well
as fly lines so you should keep the leader as
short as possible in cases where you are
making short cast. In the faster pocket water the
short leaders don't tend to be as much of a
problem as they do in smooth water.
There are situations where you will need a long
leader. Ten and twelve foot leaders may be
needed when the water is extremely low and
clear as well as smooth.
There are many situation where the water is
smooth. Most all of the meadow streams have
smooth flowing water. The Firehole and
Madison Rivers at times will require a longer
leader. In these situations the trout are easily
spooked.
Most of the time a 5X leader would probably be
the preferred choice. However, again if the water
is low, clear or smooth or if you are fishing very
small flies such as midges you may need to
use a 6X or 7X leader. In cases where you are
fishing streamers or heavy nymphs you may
need a 2X or 3 X leader, so be prepared by
having a good selection of them.
Factory tapered leaders work just fine but if you
want to tie your own, please do.
Tippets:
Everything we just said about leader sizes
applies to the tippet except you would need to
keep them a size smaller than the tag end of
the leader in most cases.
Fluorocarbon tippets and leaders for that
matter, work fine of course, and may offer some
advantage over nylon in very clear or smooth
water. That should be a matter of personal
choice.
Waders:
There are many situations where you may need
to wade but our rule of thumb is not to wade
unless you have to in order to properly present
your fly. When you do use waders, we
recommend waders that breathe. Those made
of Gore-Tex material are preferred.
Wading Boots:
We recommend felt bottom shoes as opposed
to cleats although there are many situations
where the cleats would work best.
Wading Belt:
Don't be caught wading without a wading belt
on. Keep it snug and as tight as you can
comfortable wear it. Usually it will not be
needed but it is a very good idea to form a habit
of always wearing it. If you ever fall in while
wading, it will help keep the water from filling
your waders and drowning you. It is almost
impossible to get up off the bottom with your
waders full of water, especially if your are
washing downstream in a strong current.
Gravel Guards:
Gravel guards of some type are recommended
to keep the small stones and other debris out of
your boots. They can cause leaks.
Sunglasses:
Polarized sunglasses are a must. They will help
you in many ways. Not only will they allow you to
see the bottom more clearly, they may help you
spot trout. We recommend plastic lens over
glass for safety reasons. Large flies that
accidentally hit the lens can break the glass
(and maybe even the plastic) and cut your eye.
The best shade of color depends on the light
conditions. Darker colors work better on bright
sunshine days and lighter colors of lenses work
better on cloudy, overcast days. We think the
best all around color is amber.
Fly Vest:
A fly vest or chest pack is nice but not absolutely
necessary. It will help store such things as your
fly boxes, pliers, and other accessories.
Fly Boxes:
You will need at least one, of course, but
separating your nymphs from your dry flies and
terrestrials is always a good idea.
Floatants:
Some type of floatant to help your dry flies to
float is necessary for most types of flies. There
are powered and liquid types available. The
rough pocket water can drown your flies fairly
easy.
Clothing:
The shade of color of your clothing and hat or
cap is very important. In the small streams you
will usually be making short cast. That means
you will need to get close to the trout without
spooking them. Bright colors tend to spook
them more than subdued or dull colored
clothing. You should try to match the colors of
the surroundings as much as possible. In other
words you should camouflage yourself as much
as you can. Dull greens and light browns are
usually good colors to wear.
Tippet Dispenser (Extra Tippet Material):
Extra tippet material is necessary. Each time
you tie on a fly you will shorten the tippet. If you
hang up, and you may well do that, you may
damage or shorten the tippet.
Carry extra tippet in the size you need. We
suggest 2X through 7X.
A tippet dispenser will help you keep track of the
tippet material and provides easy access. This
is not a requirement, however.
Clippers:
You will need some way of clipping you leader
and tippet. A knife or bitting the tippet will work of
course, but it will blunt the ends of the tippet and
make it difficult to get through the eyes of some
hooks. Clippers will chop it off without a blunt
end.
Landing Net:
We land most of our fish by hand. This is much
more difficult than using a landing net. However,
the landing net is not a easy thing to carry along.
If not stored behind your back it gets in the way
sometimes and tends to hang on everything. If
you catch a large brown trout, for example, you
will probably wish you had one though. If you do
choose to use one, you will need a small to
medium size net. The huge ones are not
necessary. There are landing net clips you can
purchase to hook them to your fly vest or pants.
Midge Threader:
If you fish midges, and we hope you do, you will
need a midge threader even if you have good
eye sight. If you don't see well, you will have to
have one or someone along with you to tie them
on for you.
Fly Floatant:
Fly Floatants come in several varieties and
types. There are liquid and dry powder types.
They help your dry flies float better.
Some types cause the fly to create air bubbles.
Some anglers contend that this makes the fly
look more natural to the trout because some
insects use air to propel themselves to the
surface when they hatch.
We do suggest you carry some of the liquid
paste type to help your dry flies float better in the
rough pocket water typical of some Yellowstone
streams.
Bear Spray:
Insect Repellent:
Copyright 2007 James Marsh
Knots and Rigging Techniques
is a DVD program that covers all
the knots you will need to tie for
any fly fishing situation.
Click here for more information
is a DVD program that covers all
the knots you will need to tie for
any fly fishing situation.
Click here for more information
Matching Rod, Reel and Line
Buy Good Waders
Have a Good Fly Selection
