YNP Report - July 10, 2025

We’re more than a week into one of the best months of the season in Yellowstone National Park, and dry fly anglers continue to find great opportunities in nearly every direction. If casting dries to rising trout is your goal—and let’s be honest, why wouldn’t it be?—there are few places on earth better than this.
Here's this week's standouts.
Yellowstone River – Caldera Stretch
The Caldera stretch of the Yellowstone River remains a standout this week, with a full lineup of hatches underway: Gray Drakes, Green Drakes, PMDs, Caddis, Flavs, Salmonflies, and Goldenstones. As is often the case on this river, reports range from “the best fishing of my life” to “meh, didn’t see much.” That variability is typical of the Yellowstone and underscores the value of staying flexible—sometimes, a change of location makes all the difference.
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Mornings have produced localized spinner falls of Green and Gray Drakes.
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Afternoons bring a steady trickle of Goldenstones and Salmonflies, concentrated in rougher water habitat that suits stoneflies.
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Evenings—when the storms stay away—offer the best headhunting conditions with spinner falls of PMDs, Flavs, and multiple Drakes, along with strong caddis activity. These evening hatches are highly localized and reward anglers who focus on smooth, flat water.
Northeast Corner – Slough, Soda Butte & Lamar
All three rivers in the Cutthroat Triumvirate—Slough Creek, Soda Butte Creek, and the Lamar River—are offering solid options, but conditions remain dynamic.
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Slough Creek has had the most consistent clarity and dry fly fishing.
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Soda Butte and the Lamar are more hit-or-miss depending on the timing and intensity of afternoon thunderstorms. Be sure to monitor USGS streamflows and check in with us at the shop before heading out.
Cicadas are still buzzing in the Park, so having a few large foam patterns ready for breezy afternoons is a smart move.
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Mornings often bring spinner falls of PMDs and Gray Drakes, followed quickly by emergences of PMDs and the last of the Green Drakes.
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Warm, calm evenings have produced excellent caddis action and additional spinner falls.
Gallatin River
The Park section of the Gallatin continues to be one of the best options for hot afternoons thanks to its cold, clean water.
While the Green Drake and Salmonfly action is tapering off, fish remain eager to rise to Goldenstones, PMDs, Flavs, and Caddis, all of which are hatching in fishable numbers. Target riffles, pocket water, and shady banks for best results.
Yellowstone Lake
The first Callibaetis hatches of the summer are now bringing fish to the surface on calm, warm mornings.
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Gull Point is a great area to explore, especially if you enjoy stalking cruising trout in shallow water.
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If the surface action is sparse, try a slow-stripped Callibaetis nymph just under the surface.
Hoot Owl Restrictions in Effect:
Due to an overabundance of caution, the Park Service has kept in place Hoot Owl angling restrictions on the Firehole, Madison, and Gibbon Rivers. Fishing on these rivers is closed daily from 2:00 p.m. until sunrise the following morning. This unprecedented early-season move reflects how quickly water temperatures have climbed into the stress zone for trout.
We recommend giving the Madison River in YNP a complete break for now. Even early in the day, water temps are creeping beyond safe levels, and those fish deserve a rest until cooler weather returns in the fall.
For the Firehole and Gibbon, consider fishing only the furthest upstream stretches, where cooler water persists. Specifically, focus on the meadows below Biscuit Basin on the Firehole, or the upper meadow sections of the Gibbon.
Currently, these are the only waters in the park under restriction, but conditions can change quickly. Be sure to stay tuned for updates from the Park Service here.
As always, check in with the shop for the latest conditions, fly recommendations, and river updates. We’re here to help you stay dialed in for your next adventure!