I'm endeavoring to plan a week of backcountry fly fishing in Yellowstone this summer. There are a few other threads here on Yellowstone trips, but many targeted more towards the bigger rivers and guides, staying in cabins, etc.

I definitely don't mind, and would even want to, fish some of the more famous rivers, however an integral part of the trip will be hiking into the backcountry to get away from the crowds and fish some of the more wild rivers. In all likelihood, we won't hire a guide at all. If we did, I'd imagine it would only be for the first day, perhaps for a float on one of the more famous rivers before heading into the backcountry to camp and find some other water.

I'd welcome a PM or any other info from anyone who has experience/knowledge of this sort with Yellowstone. I'm going to start researching this extensively on my own, but any points in the right direction would certainly be an asset.

Pretty flexible in regards to when to go. Anytime from mid July to late August should work well.

my advice is don't limit yourself to staying in side the park, lots of great places in that area outside the park.

Oh, happy to fish in or out of the park. Just want to do it from a tent instead of a hotel room.

I wouldn't go until august at this point. Many of the alpine streams will be high and cold in July.

You really can't go wrong with any of the backcountry streams out here. Grab a map and start exploring for best results, imo.

This is a decent book that covers the logistics of the type of trip you are thinking about. It covers the major drainages and when they are fishable, how to reserve backcountry sites and get required permits, and a little about hiking and camping. Its not so much about where to fish and what flies.

http://www.amazon.com/Yellowstones-Ba ... roats-ebook/dp/B004ZUWQNA

Where to fish: anywhere in the backcountry that's legal

Flies: Anything that floats and woolybuggers.

I should get published and make millions.

You can pitch a tent at one of the developed campgrounds, i.e. "car camping". Years ago we did this at a campground along the Firehole. Then you can do day hikes. Just check the maps for streams and trails that are within day hiking range.

You can also backpack and camp in the backcountry. You have to check with the rangers about this. They have designated campsites in the backcountry. We did this also, years ago. We talked to the rangers, and on the map they showed us a designated place to camp, about 3 1/2 miles back, at the confluence of two streams. The fishing and scenery were great. In 3 days, we saw only one other fisherman, and he only fished for about 1/2 hour. And we saw a couple hiking through, and a ranger.

Some areas of the park are known to have a lot more grizzly bear activity than others. I'd ask about that, too, and choose places where trout are numerous, but grizzlies are not.

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Now you're just rubbing it in. ;)

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Thanks for this, btw. This looks perfect.

Getting stoked for this trip already. It means I probably won't get out to OR for steelhead this year, but I can live with that.

this is a good one too...sucks i couldnt use it much when we were there, but its one you can pack with you...tells you hatches, has maps, what kind of fish, density of bears....

http://www.amazon.com/Yellowstone-Fly ... 1330043768&sr=1-1-catcorr

I'll second govtmule's recommendation on the Mathews book, his is the best Yellowstone fishing book.

Best map by far:
Nat Geo Map

I was there labor day weekend 2011. Remember to buy some bear spray and be smart about your surroundings. I was continually looking over my shoulder in the back country...

see my slideshow below that has some grizzly and wolf photos i captured while fishing in the Lamar Valley...

it was an awesome trip

Did you use your spray on the grizzly. I'd like to know if it worked. :)

No... i didn't have to use it but instead got use a camera.

thankfully the Wolf & Grizzly were at least 100 yards away across a meadow on Soda Butte Creek

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