Yellowstone National Park, 22 July, 2015

TEAM7x spent 9 days in and around the fabulous Yellowstone National Park fishing mainly the northeast corner of the park; Slough Creek.  The Lamar and Soda Butte suffered from off-color water due to heavy rain.  A severe storm blew throughout the park on the 28th, dropping snow at elevations above 8,000 feet!

We also spent 2 days on Depuy Spring Creek in Livingston.  Levels on Slough were a bit low, but clear and our efforts fishing dry to large Cutthroat trout were rewarded with some terrific big cuts, all in the 16 to 20 " range.  While mostly sight fishing, PMD's, sparkle duns, floating soft hackles did most of the work; with the water gin clear, fly changes and persistence in picking out one fish and in presentation was the key.  Native Yellowstone Cutthroats are beautiful and selective and with the exception of some cutbow hybrids are dominant in Slough Creek.  Regulations require that cutbows be killed in certain areas of Slough to protect the native cutts.

Mornings were PMD time until around 2:00PM when the Slough Creek winds descended.  Later in the evenings, very small spinners and midges brought fish into the shallows and up.  Many folks "take a hike" up to the 1st and 2nd meadows above Slough Creek Campground.  We fished the lower Slough ahead of its confluence with the Lamar and found plenty of big cuts, and plenty of good holding water and most days, uncrowded.

Met a few friends along the way as well…the magic of Yellowstone is not only in its unparalleled fly fishing opportunities in its miles of creeks, rivers and streams but in the sheer beauty, the wildlife, the open spaces, the Yellowstone River itself…it should be on everyone's bucket list!

Matt took the first Cutthroat on day one and what a beauty!  The color, the slash, just perfect!

Depuy Spring Creek remains a favorite of ours.  Privately owned, this classic spring creek is loaded with Cutts, BIG browns that migrate from the Yellowstone and some rainbows.  The insect life is prolific so finding rising fish is never a problem with the constant water temps.  Again, this is selective, technical fishing but patience and persistence is rewarded.  After a great day, we promptly booked a second day on this world-class stream.  Again, a bucket list must for any passionate dry fly angler!

Back home, other than the Farmington, with TEAM member Bob reporting in…GO SMALL... not much happening with the heat, humidity and low water until later in September.  We're attempting to find the latest Atlantic Salmon news for fall fishing the Shetucket and will update ASAP!

DRAG FREE everyone!

TEAM7x