Best Flies for Fishing in Yellowstone National Park

August 6, 2023

Yellowstone National Park is grounded in fly fishing history. It is the lifeblood and starting point of many of the famous rivers in the area. With many rivers and lakes to explore and the opportunity to catch native fish, it is a fly fisherman’s paradise.

There is no place in the world I would rather be than casting a fly in Yellowstone National Park. I have spent my fair share of days fishing in Yellowstone over the past few summers and have fallen in love with its wildness and native fish.

While I am no expert on fly fishing in Yellowstone, I have learned a thing or two in my few seasons of fishing in the park. Over the years, I have gravitated toward a few flies that seem to work best (for me) in the waters of Yellowstone and thought it could be helpful to share with the many anglers that travel to Yellowstone to fish.

From Memorial Day to the last day in October, here are the best flies for fishing Yellowstone National Park.

Best Flies for Fishing In Yellowstone

Wooly Bugger

While the big, articulated streamers have blown up in popularity over the past few years, the park does not allow articulated flies. While this may be a bummer for you streamer junkies out there, it is no reason to not fish a streamer in Yellowstone. The many outrageous streamer days I’ve had in the park fishing a wooly bugger have made the wooly bugger my favorite streamer pattern for any watershed.

I know you can put a wooly bugger on any list of best flies and it fits, but I am dead serious about the effectiveness of this fly in Yellowstone. It is the only streamer you need when fishing in the park.

The wooly bugger is a great pattern for Yellowstone because of its versatility. Fish a small one in the spring as the Firehole and Gibbon drop in flows. Strip buggers throughout the summer on Yellowstone Lake to catch the big cutthroat and lake trout. And finally, cast a wooly bugger to the migratory fish in the fall for the potential fish of a lifetime.

The wooly bugger gets it done and accounts for many of my big fish in the park. I tie mine in black and olive in sizes 4 to 12. I like to tie them on jig hooks which allow the fly to ride hook point up and give it a vertical jigging motion as I retrieve it. However you tie them, a wooly bugger is a must-have fly when fishing in Yellowstone.

Girdle Bug

This one may be a little weird, and I struggle to explain it. The classic girdle bug has made for some amazing days of nymphing in Yellowstone National Park. This fly is specific to the fall, targeting the migratory fish out of the lakes that flow into the rivers of Yellowstone to spawn.

The classic girdle bug is a rubber legs nymph tied with black chenille and white rubber legs. It may look weird in the water, but it does it matter when your rod is bent with a big rainbow on the end of your line?

Now if this article blows up and everyone is fishing the traditional girdle bug, I doubt it fishes as well as it has for me over the last few years. I am not one to care for secret flies (presentation > flies) so I am happy to share this one with you. I am curious to see how it fishes for you.

CDC Flying Ant

The CDC flying ant accounts for many of the big Yellowstone cutthroat I’ve ever caught. It is my go-to confidence fly when sight-fishing big cutthroat on dry flies in Yellowstone National Park.

Ants are a major food source throughout the summer for the native cutthroat in Yellowstone. The CDC ant is the perfect representation. Whether it be on a lake or river, fish feeding on the surface in Yellowstone always seem to be willing to take an ant pattern. Though they can get picky and have lots of time to inspect their food. This pattern is rarely refused. If they refuse it, get it wet and sink it. A sunken CDC ant is my secret trick to fooling those picky fish in Yellowstone.

Give the CDC ant a try next time your sight fishing one of those native cutthroat in Yellowstone and send me the pictures of the many fish it fools for you.

Thunder Thighs Hopper

The thunder thighs hopper has grown in popularity to be one of the top grasshopper imitations in this area of the world. This pattern is easy to see, floats well, and has the perfect grasshopper silhouette. It’s no wonder it fools so many trout each August. I’ve jumped on the train recently and have had lots of fun fishing Yellowstone with this fly. It is a must have when fishing the northeast corner and all the small streams throughout the park.

Chubby Chernobly

All winter I dream of the days I can tie on a size 6 chubby and cast it into big pocket water for hungry cutthroat. There is truly nothing better. The chubby is the perfect fly for those eager cutthroat that inhabit the famous Yellowstone River. It’s easy to see and floats all day which allows for more fun on the water and less tinkering with your fly.

Though the chubby chernobyl did not make this list just for its ability to imitate the great stonefly hatches Yellowstone experiences. The versatility the chubby offers is why it is a must-have fly in my Yellowstone box.

I tie my chubby chernobyl’s in a variety of sizes and colors, sizes 16 through 6. Whether it be a caddis, beetle, ant, hopper, or stonefly, I can confidently put a chubby on and know it is imitating a food source the fish are seeing on that given day. The chubby is one of the best and most popular flies for fishing in Yellowstone National Park.

Pheasant Tail

When fishing in Yellowstone, I do my best to fish dry flies as much as possible. The park offers fantastic dry fly opportunities, but it doesn’t always work out that way. Whether you’re sight fishing picky fish or looking to nymph the bottom of a deep run, a pheasant tail is often all you need when nymphing in Yellowstone.

Another fly that made the list due to its versatility. Whenever I am presented with a sight fishing opportunity where the fish has refused my dry fly, I put on an unweighted pheasant tail dropper. It never seems to fail. I also come prepared with bead head pheasant tails that work perfectly on any dry dropper rig.

There are plenty of mayfly hatches throughout the fishing season in Yellowstone. From pmds on the Firehole to callibaetis on Yellowstone Lake, a pheasant tail nymph will get the job done.

Parachute Adams

With many famous mayfly patterns developed on the watersheds in Yellowstone, it was hard to settle on one to put on this list.

The parachute adams has been my most effective mayfly imitation in the park. I’ll tie these from a size 10 to a size 20, allowing me to fish big drakes down to midges throughout the park’s fishing season. It makes a perfect callibaetis imitation when casting to rising lake fish on one of the many stillwater fisheries of Yellowstone. Tie a few in smaller sizes for the Firehole on opening day weekend. It is also an excellent imitation for the fall drakes on the Lamar.

Tie a few parachute adams in various sizes and be prepared to head out in the stormy weather to find some of the best mayfly fishing of your life.

Other Flies in My Yellowstone Box

Coffee’s Sparkle Minnow

Zonker’s (white and tan)

There you go, some of my best flies for fishing in Yellowstone National Park. These are the flies that have worked for me and I understand you may have other patterns that have worked for you. Feel free to share your favorite patterns for the park in the comments for others to view.

Yellowstone has a few restrictions that one should be aware of when preparing to fish Yellowstone. No lead is allowed when fishing in the park waters. All flies must be barbless and only single hook flies are allowed. Check the park fishing regulations and please obey the regulations, they are in place to conserve these amazing fisheries.

Yellowstone is truly a special place in the fly fishing world. If you’re lucky enough to be taking a trip to Yellowstone, I hope one of these flies helps you catch the incredible fish that inhabit the park’s waters. Feel free to reach out to me if you have further questions about fishing Yellowstone, I’m happy to help.