Fly Fishing the Firehole River

Arguably the most unusual trout river in the world, the Firehole flows through active geyser basins with steam rising alongside every cast, yet holds healthy brown and rainbow trout that demand precise, technical dry-fly presentations. Its geothermal warming makes it one of the first Yellowstone rivers to fish in spring and compresses the season into two distinct windows.

5 shops nearby
spring creek
May 1 through mid-June (spring window)
Wyoming
6 key hatches

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The best time to fly fish the Firehole River is May 1 through mid-June (spring window). Key hatches include Midges, Blue, Pale Morning Dun, Caddis. 5 fly shops near the Firehole River can outfit your trip.

Hatches & seasons

When & what to fish on the Firehole River

River typespring creek

Best seasonMay 1 through mid-June (spring window), then September through October 31 (fall window). Geothermal input raises water temperatures above trout tolerance July through Labor Day, making the river effectively unfishable in midsummer.

AccessGrand Loop Road parallels much of the fishable 10-mile stretch from Biscuit Basin downstream to Firehole Falls, with numerous signed pullouts and parking areas. Firehole Canyon Drive (one-way) accesses the canyon section below the falls. No fishing license is required inside Yellowstone National Park, though a park entry fee applies.

Key hatches

Midges — May through June, September through October
Blue-winged Olive — May through June, September through October
Pale Morning Dun — June
Caddis (including White Miller) — May through early June, September
Salmonfly — early June in Firehole Canyon (earliest in the region due to thermal warming)
Terrestrials (ants, hoppers) — late August through September

From The Fly Bench