Yellowstone Trip 2011 (Part 5) Yellowstone Proper

[Greg Madrigal]

We arrived in W. Y/S on the 22nd. We stopped off at Blue ribbon Fly Shop in W. Y/S and got the 411. We opted to head into Y/S and hit up the Lamar Valley as planned. Unfortunately for us, all camps were full there, so we ended up outside the park in Cooke City. Due to a bear making a meal out of a guy last year, the first 3 campgrounds outside the park were closed down to soft-sided campers like ourselves. We ended up at Fox Creek c/g a few miles outside of Cooke City (cuz grizzlies don’t pass outside of the city limits.) With bear spray in hand, and mosquito shock paddle in hand, we braved the heavy local skeeter population and had 1 nice night in this beautiful c/g alongside the pristine Clarks Fork.
A deer paid us a visit. I think he was eating minerals leeching out of the mud underneath the water spigot.
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Mark awoke next morning HURTING and we both thought the trip was over. We opted to fish a few hours on Slough Creek. We taunted a nice 17” cutty to no avail. After fishing, we knew we would have to spend at least another night in the Park, so we found a very nice spot at Pebble Creek campground. That is where we stayed until this am.
Greg fished Soda Butte for a few dinks, as Mark rested his weary back. Mark seemed better yesterday so we hit up the Lamar River. In 4 hrs we each caught around 10 Y/S cutties.
We hit up Soda Butte Creek for the next few days due to rain and hail that muddied the Lamar. We both did very well. The pics are all jumbled and I am running outta time, so, Enyoy…
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[Sublime-Steve]

wow.. I loved the report.. what kind of camera r u using? hose r some nice macro shots. Nice fish.. Id like to learn fly fishing. whats a good cheap starter kit i could find @ BPS?

[Hometown]

Thank you that sure is purdy i need to put that on my bucket list

[Greg Madrigal]

Thanks guys and gals. I used a Nikon D40x DSLR camera. LOVE it. I dunked my Lumix (whick I love too) and she's still out of comission. :(
If you want to learn to FF, join a club. It is BY FAR the best way unless you know someone who has enough gear and knowhow for you to borrow and learn from. Most clubs have outings designed to teach newbs. That said, I absolutely love fly fishing and I typically catch more fish now than I used to using bait and lures! Trout (wild and acclimated stockers) are tuned into bugs, period. That's what they eat everyday for subsistence. Makes sense that they will eat your fly that looks just like their favorite bugs, right?!

Any cheap starter kit will get the job done in the beginning, but you will graduate just like anything. Start with a 3-5 weight rod/reel combo (Fives are most readily available.) Then, join a club!

Good luck.
Greg

[gavin310]

Great report! Thanks for documenting it so well...

[Beeracuda211]

How did they taste? We would all like to know... ;)

[Bobber Boy]

Very nice report and pretty awesome pics! Thanks for sharing!

[Wingnut]

Sorry I'm late on this thread Greg... I just went thru all the parts of your reports. :EyePop:
What an amazing adventure Greg. Thank you for the fantastic reports!
Beautiful scenery, excellent fishing and good times with friends... what more can one ask for... :Cool:

[flytyingreloader]

Greg, your series REALLY evoked some great memories for me. I've fished a lot of those same areas, and was blessed in 1999 to spend "hopper season" along the Madison--Gallatin--and Bighorn. I had to burn some vacation time, or lose it. How awful.

FYI--you are quite correct about the winters being DOGMATIC. I have a sister in Bozeman, and a couple years ago she and hers came south for Christmas. At 8:30 A.M. in West Yellowstone, the temp was -46* F on 12/21.

[Lightning]

Beautiful photos! Thanks for the report.