When to Come and What To Expect:
Fly Fishing: Yellowstone National Park – June – Miscellaneous
Gallatin River:
The Gallatin River can become clear enough to fish to later part of June. Some years it doesn’t clear or warm up enough before the first week of July. It depends all on the weather and the snow pack. It is one of, if not the coldest river in the park. The water normally runs about 40 degrees during the later part of June at the warmest. Once it begins to get into the mid and high forties, the fishing will pick up. So will the hatches. You shouldn’t count on the Gallatin River being fishable the last week or two of June, but it s possible.
Gardner River:
The Gardner River is another cold river, but not as cold as the Gallatin River. Its water flows mostly from slightly lower elevations in the mountains. Some years it is clear enough to fish during the middle of June and other years, it is the first week of July before it produces any fish. Salmonflies and Golden Stoneflies can start hatching in late June if the water warms up enough. Fishing can be great the last week of June, so keep a check on this one. Little Yellow Stoneflies, called Yellow Sallies, are always present by the end of June.
Slough Creek:
The Lamar River and Soda Butte Creek normally doesn’t clear up until at least the first week of July. Some years it is the middle of July before this happens. It all depends on the weather and the snow pack. On the other hand, Slough Creek normally become fishable prior to the Lamar River and Soda Butte Creeks. It is worth checking out for the last week of June. Some years it is very fishable at that time and when it is, the fishing is usually fantastic.
Copyright 2010 James Marsh