Under Construction
Upper Yellowstone River & Misc. Y. Lake Tributaries:
| ............................Fly Fishing Yellowstone National Park |
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View across the lake as seen
from the East Entrance Road.
from the East Entrance Road.
The Yellowstone River is one of it not the premiere freestone stream in the United
States. It is the main blood vessel of Yellowstone Park. It is the largest non-damed
river in the United States.
Uppermost Portion:
The Yellowstone River begins in the Absaroka Mountain Range outside the park
and flows into the southern part of it. Several tributary streams flow into the
Yellowstone before it reaches Yellowstone Lake some 30 miles to the North from
its start near the continental divide. In its uppermost parts, the trout are generally
small averaging maybe 5 to 10 inches as with most any small headwater stream.
The uppermost part is steep terrain. About 20 miles or so from the lake, the river
flows through a valley and drops very little in elevation all the way to the lake. It is a
winding stream that flows through meadows and willows. Cutthroat trout up to 20
inches long and occasionally better are common in the lower portion of the river.
It is the middle to the end of July before runoff subsides enough to fish this portion
of the stream.
The entire upper portion of the Yellowstone River is only accessible by boat or by
making a long hike or horseback trip. Several different trails access the river. Many
are controlled by the bear management plan, so you should check with the park
officials before venturing into this part of the park.
The Throughfare section is mosquitoes heaven. The low-land, marsh-land type
terrain, is a perfect habitat for them. Spring runoff causes this area to be cluttered
with fallen trees. The stream can change course and meander wildly from year to
year.
The Upper Yellowstone River receives almost no pressure from anglers. The only
company you are likely to have is a grizzly bear. It is an extremely remote area.
Areas of the river may be as far as 25 miles as a crow flies from the river to the
nearest road.
Thoroughfare Creek:
Thoroughfare Creek is the Yellowstone River’s largest tributary stream above the
lake. Several small streams flow together to form this creek. It flows through open
meadows and willow scrub brush. The resident trout are cutthroat and are usually
small, less than 8 inches long. During the spawn, larger cutthroat move up into the
stream. To hike into this stream you will have to hike around 30 miles. Even if you
cross the lake by boat, it is over 16 miles to the creek. It is very remote.
Atlantic Creek:
Atlantic Creek starts are a series of small streams wandering through a meadow,
then it drops for the next two or three miles into the Yellowstone Valley. It flows
through the valley for another two miles before it enters the Yellowstone River.
The fish can be as large as 16 to 18 inches when the cutthroats move out of the
Lake and up into the river to spawn. The local resident fish rarely exceed 6 or 8
inches long.
Like the river, this creek is very remote and requires a very long hike to reach.
Columbine Creek:
Columbine Creek is a small tributary of Yellowstone Lake.
Beaverdam Creek:
Beaverdam Creek is another small tributary of Yellowstone Lake.
Chipmunk Creek:
Chipmunk Creek is another low gradient stream (except for the uppermost part)
that flows into Yellowstone Lake on its southeastern shore. Like the other streams
that flow into the lake, this one has its spawning run of cutthroat trout. Resident
fish would be on the small side.
Grouse, Thumb and Arnica Creeks:
Grouse, Thumb and Arnica Creeks are all small tributary streams of Yellowstone
Lake. Although they probably have their spawning runs of cutthroat trout from the
lake it is doubtful, considering all the other fishing possibilities that exist, that any
of them would be worthy of a visiting anglers prime consideration.
Comments:
The best way to visit the upper Yellowstone River area would be to take a horse
back trip with an outfitter that knows the country. If you cross the lake by boat, you
can fish the river but your success would vary widely depending on the time.
Overnight camping is the only practical way to fish this part of the river. We would
call any trip you make to this part of the Yellowstone River, an adventure more than
a fly-fishing expedition.
Some of the miscellaneous streams in that flow into Yellowstone Lake can be
reached by boat. None of them are major fishing destinations.
Copyright 2007 James Marsh
States. It is the main blood vessel of Yellowstone Park. It is the largest non-damed
river in the United States.
Uppermost Portion:
The Yellowstone River begins in the Absaroka Mountain Range outside the park
and flows into the southern part of it. Several tributary streams flow into the
Yellowstone before it reaches Yellowstone Lake some 30 miles to the North from
its start near the continental divide. In its uppermost parts, the trout are generally
small averaging maybe 5 to 10 inches as with most any small headwater stream.
The uppermost part is steep terrain. About 20 miles or so from the lake, the river
flows through a valley and drops very little in elevation all the way to the lake. It is a
winding stream that flows through meadows and willows. Cutthroat trout up to 20
inches long and occasionally better are common in the lower portion of the river.
It is the middle to the end of July before runoff subsides enough to fish this portion
of the stream.
The entire upper portion of the Yellowstone River is only accessible by boat or by
making a long hike or horseback trip. Several different trails access the river. Many
are controlled by the bear management plan, so you should check with the park
officials before venturing into this part of the park.
The Throughfare section is mosquitoes heaven. The low-land, marsh-land type
terrain, is a perfect habitat for them. Spring runoff causes this area to be cluttered
with fallen trees. The stream can change course and meander wildly from year to
year.
The Upper Yellowstone River receives almost no pressure from anglers. The only
company you are likely to have is a grizzly bear. It is an extremely remote area.
Areas of the river may be as far as 25 miles as a crow flies from the river to the
nearest road.
Thoroughfare Creek:
Thoroughfare Creek is the Yellowstone River’s largest tributary stream above the
lake. Several small streams flow together to form this creek. It flows through open
meadows and willow scrub brush. The resident trout are cutthroat and are usually
small, less than 8 inches long. During the spawn, larger cutthroat move up into the
stream. To hike into this stream you will have to hike around 30 miles. Even if you
cross the lake by boat, it is over 16 miles to the creek. It is very remote.
Atlantic Creek:
Atlantic Creek starts are a series of small streams wandering through a meadow,
then it drops for the next two or three miles into the Yellowstone Valley. It flows
through the valley for another two miles before it enters the Yellowstone River.
The fish can be as large as 16 to 18 inches when the cutthroats move out of the
Lake and up into the river to spawn. The local resident fish rarely exceed 6 or 8
inches long.
Like the river, this creek is very remote and requires a very long hike to reach.
Columbine Creek:
Columbine Creek is a small tributary of Yellowstone Lake.
Beaverdam Creek:
Beaverdam Creek is another small tributary of Yellowstone Lake.
Chipmunk Creek:
Chipmunk Creek is another low gradient stream (except for the uppermost part)
that flows into Yellowstone Lake on its southeastern shore. Like the other streams
that flow into the lake, this one has its spawning run of cutthroat trout. Resident
fish would be on the small side.
Grouse, Thumb and Arnica Creeks:
Grouse, Thumb and Arnica Creeks are all small tributary streams of Yellowstone
Lake. Although they probably have their spawning runs of cutthroat trout from the
lake it is doubtful, considering all the other fishing possibilities that exist, that any
of them would be worthy of a visiting anglers prime consideration.
Comments:
The best way to visit the upper Yellowstone River area would be to take a horse
back trip with an outfitter that knows the country. If you cross the lake by boat, you
can fish the river but your success would vary widely depending on the time.
Overnight camping is the only practical way to fish this part of the river. We would
call any trip you make to this part of the Yellowstone River, an adventure more than
a fly-fishing expedition.
Some of the miscellaneous streams in that flow into Yellowstone Lake can be
reached by boat. None of them are major fishing destinations.
Copyright 2007 James Marsh
