Fly Fishing Yellowstone Country
The Fish
The Fish Of Yellowstone National Park
Not all the fish in the park's waters are of
interest to the fly fisherman, but they should be. The fishes of Yellowstone
represent an artificial assemblage of introduced and native fish. The aquatic
ecosystem has been forever altered by the introduction of non-native species.
Disease, predation, competition, and extinction of native species has been the
result of this human behavior. The fisherman has been both the villain and the
hero in these actions. It is impossible to fish the waters of the park without
being in touch with the complex interplay of the natural history and human
history of this wonderland.
Of the eighteen (or 20,) known species of fish in
the park, twelve are natives. Some are considered sport fish, others are
considered to be less desirable. These uninformed attitudes have led to some
introductions of species that have adversely affected native populations. It is
mandatory that the fisherman be able to identify the fish that he catches in
order to obey the regulations in the park and fully appreciate his fishing
experience.
The Native Fish Of Yellowstone National Park
- Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout (Salmo clarki
bouvieri)
- Fine Spotted Snake River Cutthroat Trout (Salmo
clarki subsp.)
- Westslope Cutthroat Trout (Salmo clarki
lewisi)
- Montana Grayling (Thymallus arcticus
montanus)
- Mountain Whitefish (Prosopium williamsoni)
- Mountain Sucker (Catostomus platyrhynchus)
- Longnose Sucker (Catostomous catostomous
griesus)
- Utah Sucker (Catostomous ardens)
- Mottled Sculpin (Cottus bairdi)
- Redside Shiner (Richardsonius balteatus
hydrophlox)
- Utah Chub (Gila atraria)
- Longnose Dace (Rhinichthys cataractae)
- Speckled Dace (Rhinichthys osculus)
The Exotic Imported Fish Of Yellowstone National Park
(World travelers invade the rivers and lakes as well as the hotels & roads of
Yellowstone)
AGGRESSIVE BROWN TROUT
The various species of Brown trout were brought
to Yellowstone National Park in the frenzied aquacultural period of the late
19th and early 20th century. This was a period that saw United States citizens
becoming aware of their place in the global community. They, at this time, began
to "ape" the behaviors and values of the older countries and societies of
Europe: thus they 'enhanced' their status by fishing for the 'best' fish -- the
European trout.
The von Behr brown trout arrived from Germany in
a series of early aquacultural experiments in 1882 - 84. The Loch Leven brown
trout arrived very shortly thereafter (Anglophiles were not to be out done!)
Both of these species were introduced into Yellowstone by 1892. These
introductions have changed the ecology of fish in the park forever (which,
admittedly, is a very long time.)
VORACIOUS, ADAPTABLE RAINBOW TROUT
It did not take long for the aquacultural
community to discover that the North American Rainbow Trout (in its many
guises,) was the most easily 'farmed' of all the trout. It is highly adaptable,
tolerant of many and varied water conditions, and thrives on commercial fish
food.
Not wanting to be left behind in the great hatchery revolution of the first 1/2
of the 20th century, Yellowstone Park managers quickly added the various strains
of California, Idaho, Washington, and Oregon Rainbows to their hatchery and
stocking program. They planted fish where there never were trout (such as the
Upper Firehole River,) and in rivers where there were pristine populations of
very rare native fish (such as the Upper Gibbon River, refuge to the Grayling.)
These introductions, too, have changed the ecology of fish in the park forever
(which, admittedly, is a very long time.)
ITTY-BITTY (VERY HUNGRY & AGGRESSIVE) BROOK
TROUT
This immigrant from New Jersey and Pennsylvania
was the first of the non-native salmonids to visit the park. It first arrived in
the fishless Upper Firehole River in 1889. It would have done well in this
virgin stretch of river, however the sophisticated tastes of upper-crust anglers
during this historical period demanded that non-American fish be introduced to
this most perfect of trout waters. After all, despite the extensive pollution
from the industrial revolution, it was still possible to catch "Brookies" close
to Philadelphia, Hackensack, Princeton, and New York.
LARGE, LUNKING, DELICIOUS LAKE TROUT
First stocked in the fishless waters of Shoshone
Lake, and shortly thereafter in the fishless waters of Lewis Lake, in 1890,
these fish have become the top predator of these lakes (and Yellowstone Lake as
well!) Subsequent stockings of Loch Leven Browns, and Brookies have only
provided food for these giants.
For a time in the early history of the park the
large schools of large fish were seen as an economic boon to park
concessionaires. These fish were fished for commercially, and fed to the wealthy
patrons of park hotels. Although not satisfying to the ego, these fish are very
satisfying to the palate and park fisheries managers continued to foster their
protection until it became apparent that they were destroying the fishery in
Yellowstone Lake.
With the decline of large populations of the
Yellowstone Cutthroat in Yellowstone Lake and the Yellowstone River (also
commercially fished,) it became apparent that the ecological consequences could
not only devastate the rich source of protein for bears, wolves, coyotes,
pelicans, cormorants, ducks, etc. It could also impact park revenue if sport
fishing on the lake and river was degraded.
The lake trout, if caught in Yellowstone Lake,
must be killed and reported to a ranger. This regulation is enforced with vigor
- with good reason.
TENACIOUS PETITE PROMISCUOUS LAKE CHUB
Despite repeated attempts to eradicate this
little fish, it persists in environments that can only be described as marginal
to its adaptive history and preferences (life will find a way!) It is probably
in the park because not all fishermen use flies to lure fish to the net. The
little lake Chub is a common bait fish in the intermountain west, and is a
successful lure for predatory trout of all stripes. It only takes a few of these
promiscuous and precocious fish to start a thriving population, (just ask any
fisherman on Slough Creek!)
HYBRID GLORIES OF POOR PLANNING & SERENDIPITY
With the indiscriminate scattering of fish
throughout Yellowstone, it is no surprise that intra-species, inter-species, and
other misogynistic happenings abound. The results of these happenings are fish
that are native only to the time and place of their occurrence. Because of the
hybrid vigor exhibited by these fish they often out-compete their parents and
establish new races of fish. Given enough time and isolation these populations
will become distinct species in their own right and pay tribute to the hand of
park managers of the past.
CREATIVE "CUTBOW" TROUT (RAINBOW X CUTTHROAT
TROUT)
These hybrids exist in most waters where the
native cutthroat trout have been nudged toward extinction by the introduction of
the various rainbow species. Fishermen with only an eye to sport regard these
fish as less desirable than rainbows, and have even taken to disparaging the
natives as "inferior fish."
REDSIDE SHINER X SPECKLED DACE HYBRID
This fish is probably only of interest to
ichthyologists, it occurs in only a couple of places in the park in the
headwaters of the Snake River and some adjacent lakes.
PARK FISHING REGULATIONS
The fishing regulations in Yellowstone National
Park are informed by the need to protect and preserve the Native Species while
allowing visitors to enjoy many types of fishing experiences. In many waters,
introduced species threaten to overwhelm the natives. In some waters, such as
the Firehole River (above Firehole Falls,) only populations of introduced fish
exist.
In most of those waters where introduced species
abound, it is possible to take and keep fish. Releasing specified fish caught in
these waters is a practice that may do more harm than good. It is best to study
the regulations and strictly abide by them.
In Yellowstone Park, there are species of fish that must always be released, and
there are species that you are required to kill if you catch them. Regulations
can and do change from year to year. Regulations are available where you
purchase your fishing permit. Read the regulations carefully and understand them
before fishing.
Special Fishing Areas & Definitions
There are some portions of the waters in
Yellowstone Park that are reserved for bait and tackle fishing, others are set
aside for fly fishing only. The regulations allow fly fishing in all areas that
are open to fishing but restrict the use of bait, tackle and gear to specific
areas. These areas are detailed in the park regulations that you receive when
you purchase your fishing permit.
Fly fishing is defined as fishing with a fly, it
is not defined by the type of fishing rod, or the type of fishing line, nor the
type of fishing reel. Many park visitors use a casting bubble (or bobber,) a
long leader, and a fly on a bait casting or spinning outfit to "Fly Fish."
Special regulations and definitions, including "open & closed waters" are
evaluated on an annual basis and subject to change yearly. Even if you have
fished in the park during previous years, it is important to check the
regulations each time that you return.
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