Fishing a Slough Creek Cricket
imitation.
imitation.
Slough Creek:
| ............................Fly Fishing Yellowstone National Park |
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Fishing Lower Slough Creek.
Riffles are normal here.
Riffles are normal here.
A small cutthroat form lower Slough
Creek.
Creek.
Fishing Slough Creek on a cloudy
day.
day.
Slough Creek has been written about as much as any trout stream we know of.
Over the years it has almost become the symbol of Western Rocky Mountain trout
fishing.
Slough Creek begins about 4 miles outside the park where a series of small
streams flow together. The portion of Slough Creek, inside the park, is a series of
4 meadows. Most of the stream in the meadow sections is from 20 to 30 feet wide.
The Second and Third Meadows are separated by a short section of fast water
flowing through timber. The First Meadow is separated from the Second Meadow
by a mile long stretch of faster water flowing through timber. The First Meadow is
separated from the Lower Meadow by a section of fast, steep gradient water that
flows through a canyon for a mile and a half.
Species:
The fish are cutthroat trout. The Lower Meadow holds some cutbows and rainbow
trout. The fish average 14 to 18 inches with some going over 20 inches. The fish in
the riffle and run sections are usually quite a bit smaller.
Access:
Access to Slough Creek is via the Slough Creek Road that starts 6 miles east on
the Northeast Entrance Road from Tower Junction. It is two and one-half miles to
the Slough Creek Campground located at the end of the road.
Upper Three Meadows:
The Slough Creek Trailhead that accesses the upper 3 meadows is about 2 miles
from the Northeast Entrance Road before you get to the campground. It is 11 miles
from the trailhead to the park boundary. It is about 2 miles to the first Meadow, 4
miles to the Second Meadow and 8 miles to the Third Meadow. The First Meadow
is the toughest one to reach because you must hike uphill about 400 feet. It is the
only upper meadow that you can reasonably access on a day trip. The two
uppermost meadows would require an overnight trip to fully enjoy the trip.
Lower Meadow:
Access to the Lower Meadow and the fast water sections of the lower part of the
stream is from parking areas along the Slough Creek Road. Access to the
confluence of Slough Creek with the Lamar River and an area called the VIP Pool,
is from the parking area at the intersection of the Northeast Entrance Road and
Slough Creek Road. It is one-half mile west down the trail formed by an old
roadbed to Slough Creek.
Buffalo Creek:
Buffalo Creek is the only major tributary stream of Slough Creek. It flows into
Slough Creek at the Campground. It is about 5 miles from the campground to
where the stream enters the park. Buffalo Creek is a tough stream to fish due to
the ruggedness of the terrain it flows through. The fish are rainbow trout that are
small averaging about 8 to 12 inches.
Comments:
Fishing Slough Creek requires some careful thought and planning. The First and
Lower Meadows are the only ones that you can feasibly fish during a day trip. The
upper two meadows require an overnight trip. The entire stream is usually
crowded during the prime season.
Copyright 2007 James Marsh
Over the years it has almost become the symbol of Western Rocky Mountain trout
fishing.
Slough Creek begins about 4 miles outside the park where a series of small
streams flow together. The portion of Slough Creek, inside the park, is a series of
4 meadows. Most of the stream in the meadow sections is from 20 to 30 feet wide.
The Second and Third Meadows are separated by a short section of fast water
flowing through timber. The First Meadow is separated from the Second Meadow
by a mile long stretch of faster water flowing through timber. The First Meadow is
separated from the Lower Meadow by a section of fast, steep gradient water that
flows through a canyon for a mile and a half.
Species:
The fish are cutthroat trout. The Lower Meadow holds some cutbows and rainbow
trout. The fish average 14 to 18 inches with some going over 20 inches. The fish in
the riffle and run sections are usually quite a bit smaller.
Access:
Access to Slough Creek is via the Slough Creek Road that starts 6 miles east on
the Northeast Entrance Road from Tower Junction. It is two and one-half miles to
the Slough Creek Campground located at the end of the road.
Upper Three Meadows:
The Slough Creek Trailhead that accesses the upper 3 meadows is about 2 miles
from the Northeast Entrance Road before you get to the campground. It is 11 miles
from the trailhead to the park boundary. It is about 2 miles to the first Meadow, 4
miles to the Second Meadow and 8 miles to the Third Meadow. The First Meadow
is the toughest one to reach because you must hike uphill about 400 feet. It is the
only upper meadow that you can reasonably access on a day trip. The two
uppermost meadows would require an overnight trip to fully enjoy the trip.
Lower Meadow:
Access to the Lower Meadow and the fast water sections of the lower part of the
stream is from parking areas along the Slough Creek Road. Access to the
confluence of Slough Creek with the Lamar River and an area called the VIP Pool,
is from the parking area at the intersection of the Northeast Entrance Road and
Slough Creek Road. It is one-half mile west down the trail formed by an old
roadbed to Slough Creek.
Buffalo Creek:
Buffalo Creek is the only major tributary stream of Slough Creek. It flows into
Slough Creek at the Campground. It is about 5 miles from the campground to
where the stream enters the park. Buffalo Creek is a tough stream to fish due to
the ruggedness of the terrain it flows through. The fish are rainbow trout that are
small averaging about 8 to 12 inches.
Comments:
Fishing Slough Creek requires some careful thought and planning. The First and
Lower Meadows are the only ones that you can feasibly fish during a day trip. The
upper two meadows require an overnight trip. The entire stream is usually
crowded during the prime season.
Copyright 2007 James Marsh
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