After the Hatch: Episode 5 - Brian O’Keefe on What Makes Yellowstone a World-Class Cutthroat Fishery.
Every episode of After The Hatch starts on the water. This time, Steve Hoovler joins Brian O’Keefe for two days on the Yellowstone River around the July opener, finding cold water, scattered hatches, and big, healthy cutthroat that make them earn every eat.
Having spent decades fishing and photographing remarkable waters around the globe, Brian brings a distinct perspective to what makes Yellowstone world-class. He and Steve break down the challenge of fooling selective cutthroat on dry flies, from recognizing spent caddis in the drift to approaching subtle rises without disturbing the whole flat. For Brian, figuring out those fish is part of the attraction, not an obstacle to a good day.
They also explore Yellowstone’s “total experience”: native trout, bison in geothermal steam, changing light, and the details that reward looking beyond your fly. Brian shares practical advice for taking better fishing photos while keeping fish wet, along with reflections on the curiosity and sense of adventure that keep him coming back.
