Hello all,
We just finished up our Slough Creek backcountry! The boys were once again split into two groups, with each spending two nights in one of the most beautiful areas of the park, while the group not in the backcountry fished and explored the rest of what Yellowstone has to offer in the frontcountry.
We last published an update after the Snake River backcountry trip, with half of the boys yet to come out of the Heart Lake backcountry. That portion of the trip turned out to be one of my favorites I’ve ever done. From the magical scenery to the incredible fishing, it was truly a memorable experience. We began our trek the day after the area opened, meaning that for much of the trip, we were the first visitors of the season behind the rangers.
Our first day was a tough nine-mile hike, much of it uphill. The boys pushed through mosquitos and heat, and after the first four miles, we were greeted by our first view of Heart Lake. After a quick lunch in a geyser basin, we pushed on to our campsite right on the lake’s edge. That evening, we landed a 22-inch cutthroat on the first cast, and we knew we were in for some incredible fishing.
The next morning, we awoke to a glass-calm lake and found large fish cruising the banks, eager to eat big dry flies. We spent much of the day making long casts to rising fish before hiking four more miles to our next campsite, located at the outlet of the Heart River. That afternoon and evening were filled with dry fly action and surprisingly large cutthroat in the small river.
The following day, we continued on to a site near the confluence of the Snake and Heart Rivers. We were the first people to fish that stretch since last year, and every camper caught multiple beautiful, unpressured Snake River cutthroat. After dinner on the riverbank, we prepared for the big hike ahead.
Once again, the boys crushed a challenging nine-mile hike on the final day, with a long mid-day break for fishing and a dip in the hot springs. There’s no better feeling than the first shower and clean clothes after a long backcountry—and the boys got both that evening at Canyon Village.
That night was filled with final preparations and packing for the Slough Creek backcountry, which began the next day for half the group. The first crew started with a leisurely four-mile hike to our campsite. After lunch and setup, we enjoyed a phenomenal day of fishing—four campers landed personal bests, and 5–6 fish over 20 inches were caught. The cutthroat were eager to eat terrestrials and streamers, and a caddis hatch in the evening produced nonstop action.
The scenery at Slough Creek is breathtaking. After a classic Lillard backcountry meal of buff mac, we rested up for our five-mile hike the next day into the third meadow. Along the way, we saw bison and sandhill cranes—an added bonus to the day. Sight fishing with chubby Chernobyls before dinner was unforgettable, and that evening’s hatch brought even more fish to hand. The group got a taste of technical dry fly fishing with tricos and other small bugs, improving casting and line management in the process.
Early the next morning, we packed up and made the eight-mile hike to the trailhead, where we passed the other group and shared fish stories over lunch.
The second group started with a more intense nine-mile hike to the third meadow. Sight fishing conditions were tricky that day, but the boys never lost excitement and pushed through with determination. That evening, we got into fish on tricos and honed our dry fly skills. The group was also lucky enough to hear wolves howling nearby—an unforgettable experience.
Fishing improved the next afternoon after hiking five miles to the first meadow for our second night. Cutthroat, many over 20 inches, were eager to eat both dry flies and nymphs. A few truly giant fish were spotted, leaving us all excited to return to this incredible place one day.
This morning, we hiked the final four miles out and, after a close bison encounter and a bear sighting, we made our way to Cooke City for our final campsite before returning to Base Camp.
Both groups had chances to fish Blacktail Pond, which produced fun action for brook trout and helped everyone add a new species to their list. We also fished the Lamar River, where big fish rose from deep holes to crush hoppers. Lamar Valley, one of the park’s richest wildlife zones, didn’t disappoint—we saw several bears and countless bison.
We also visited a museum in Mammoth, diving into the park’s fascinating history. One group set off on a quest to rediscover a lost honey hole on the Gardiner River, known as the Wishing Well, which was wiped out last year when the river blew out. Although the exact spot wasn’t found, they discovered incredible canyon fishing along the way.
This past week has been a phenomenal opportunity to explore Yellowstone and fish some of the best waters in the world. I feel so lucky to share this place with such a great group and can’t wait for what’s ahead.
We'll fish around Cooke City for the next two days—likely back on the Lamar River—before heading to Base Camp in Ennis for showers and a final day floating the world-famous Madison River, then wrapping things up before the boys head home.
Tight lines,
Evan, Andrew, Joe, and the LFFE Team
