Wild Trout Fishing on the Gibbon River, Wyoming

The Gibbon River rises in the centre of Yellowstone National Park from Grebe Lake. It flows through Wolf Lake and onwards through the beautiful Park scenery until it is joined by the Firehole River (probably Yellowstone's best know rivers due to its many geysers) to create the start of the Madison River.

Sue Parker fishing at Gibbon Meadows

Trout and grayling fishing
The very topmost section of the Gibbon is difficult to fish due to the steep wooded terrain through which it flows, and the fish there - brook trout, cutthroats and the occasional grayling - are generally rather small. Two of the lower sections of the river offer excellent flyfishing, however. The first of these is the calm and slow-flowing section that runs through The Meadows, and the second is a much faster stretch below the spectacular Gibbon Falls.

Almost there: rainbow trout on the lower Gibbon River

This lower section is home to a good population of rainbow trout, while the slower meadows section is home to wild brown trout some of which are quite sizeable. Both sections are easily accessible with good wading.

A nice brown trout from the upper reaches

Tackle
Light tackle (AFTM #4 or #5 rod) and fine tippets are essential on the gentler stetches such as Gibbon Meadows but less important on the brawling lower reaches. Distance casting is not essential, but on the quiet pools it is crucial to cast accurtely because lining fish is fatal as far as success is concerned! Dry flies and small nymphs to match the seasonal hatches are all you really need on the Gibbon River.

What to expect
Trout are free rising on the Gibbon, and as this is a high-altitude river the 'dog days' syndrome is minimal. Fish of 12 to 15 inches are plentiful throughout the river system and a catch of ten in an afternoon should be a reasonable expectation for a competent flyfisher provided you steer clear of popular road-side spots where the many National Park visitors tend to congregate.

Accommodation
There are hotels inside Yellowstone National Park and in West Yellowstone, just outside the Park.

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