Yellowstone National Park opened fishing on the Firehole and Gibbon Rivers on May 1st for the first time in over a century and Sweetwater’s Rich Ridgeway was enjoying the great early season fishing in the Park! Check out his fishing report, then get you YNP fishing license and get up there for some early season fun!
Yellowstone National Park Fishing Report 5/3/26
(Firehole & Gibbon Rivers)
Fishing inside the park is hitting a great early-season window, caddis activity is building and fish are looking up. Both the Firehole and Gibbon river are producing, with a simple consistent approach getting it done.
Game Plan:
- Mornings: Run a dry-dropper setup with an Elk Hair Caddis on top and a Zebra Midge underneath. This is the most consistent way to pick up fish early in the day on both rivers.
- Afternoons (when caddis start hatching): Switch to a double caddis dry rig. Fish are keying on adults, and a two-dry setup will increase visibility and eats.
The Firehole River is slightly ahead in terms of hatch activity thanks to warmer water, offering longer dry fly windows. The Gibbon River is a bit more temperature-dependent, but when bugs get active, fish will rise in riffles, seams, and pocket water.
Recommended Flies:
- #14–18 Elk Hair Caddis (primary dry)
- #16–18 Zebra Midge (morning dropper)
- #14–16 Caddis patterns (for double dry setups)
- #16–18 Caddis Pupa / Emerger
- #16–18 Soft Hackles
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