Yellowstone 2017

[DarkShadow]

Yes, I only meant that all the fish are wild, not stocked. I know that Cutthroat are the only species of trout native to the entire Rocky Mountains area, unless one counts Apache Trout and Gila Trout from AZ and NM. (We did catch Apache Trout at Sunrise Lake in Arizona, which are amazingly said by biologists to be descended from Salmon that swam up the Colorado River during the ice ages.)

There are two types of Cutthroat in Yellowstone, the Yellowstone Cutthroat east of the Continental Divide, and Snake River Cutthroat on the west side. Sadly, though, Cutthroat have been extirpated, diminished or hybridized with Rainbows throughout much of their range. They are doing better in Yellowstone than most places. Even the Lahontan Cutthroat in Pyramid Lake, NV are probably only there because other kinds of trout cannot tolerate the alkaline water in the lake. (A few other specialized native species, plus non-native Sacramento Perch thrive there too.)

There might have been Arctic Grayling in some parts of the Rockies too, such as Yellowstone, and thus the efforts to restock them. I keep thinking about going back to Joe Wright Reservoir in CO where I caught them in July. The place is full of those critters and they are fun to catch.

National parks have a policy of not stocking fish, actually, unless it is to reintroduce native species. We went to Rocky Mountain National Park in July too, where all the trout are wild (but mostly non-native). Literature about the park mentioned that Greenback Cutthroats are being reintroduced into some waters, but otherwise, the park is not stocked. The same applies to national parks in CA. Many of the lakes are fishless, because the trout cannot spawn and they aren't stocked, which makes me all the more puzzled that some lakes in CA national parks are having all the fish removed by gillnetting in order to make more frog habitat. Anyway, one reason that I like to fish in national parks is because all the trout are wild, which I prefer to catching stockers, plus the scenery and good fishing. ;) And my wife has a lifetime national parks pass.

Lefty,

I was trying to get a grayling to go, but apparently they are very scarce in the park and only a few drainages have them. Would've been fun to knock off a new species of fish from the list.

And you are correct in your assessment in regards to YNP being the last stronghold for native Yellowstone Cutts. Even inside the park, the Westslope has gradually been taken over by Brooks in the upper drainages, and have hybridized with rainbows in the lower. I know there are a few streams that were treated with rhotenone for the past year or so and are going to be re-stocked with pure strains of cutts. I know Soda Butte was one of these recipients and also Grayling creek, which ironically no longer has grayling.

In regards to California's policies? Let's just say that after seeing the type of efforts that other state's wildlife departments in conjunction with organizations like Trout Unlimited do to improve fisheries, Idaho for example, we seem to be going backwards. Of course, this may be just my perception because I live in the actual state and perhaps I can't see the forest for the trees.

Upon entering the park, instead of paying the $30 fee for 7 days, the Old Man got himself a yearly pass to any National Park for a paltry $20. If anything, it's motivated him to check out more National Parks in California and elsewhere, and any time spent with my pops in the forest is a'ok in my book.

You didn't catch those trout, they're Photoshopped. Fake News.

(Except the eff'd-up monogram on that net - that's real.)

Hook'd? Is that you?!

damn... makes a fella want to go fishing

Worst part about these vacations is coming back home and then on the weekend waking up and saying, "Hmm...should I go fish West Fork San Gabriel?" Then sighing and going back to bed. Every time I've gotten back from my YNP trips in October, I've used my CA fishing license an average of one time before the end of that year.

I'm over here on Expedia trying to see if I can escape to SLC on Friday morning to fish the Provo or the Weber for a 3 day weekend then be back home on Sunday night. The most astonishing part is that I can escape for around $350 (plane ride, hotel, car rental). I spend more when I head to Bishop or Kern for a 3 day weekend. WTH!