Iconic Waters

It takes gut-wrenching discipline – that, or incredible stupidity – to gaze upon iconic trout waters and not race wildly back to the car to rig up one’s 5wt. But that’s how we found ourselves as we entered Yellowstone early Saturday morning with the intention to scoot through the park ahead of the tourist traffic. The plan would get us to our Montana destination with some time to spare, but doomed us to little more than longing glances at streams we’ve dreamt of since we were tiny fisherlings.

And while the variety of terrain in Yellowstone is mesmerizing, it was the waters that captivated our attention and imagination. The names alone are poetry to the fly angler.

The Snake

Lewis Lake and Lewis River

De Lacy Creek

Firehole

Nez Perce and Fairy Creeks

Gibbon River

The Madison

And this was just a swing through the southeast corner of the place.

Add to these the myriad of picturesque small pools that dot the Divide, reflecting their settings like mystical mirrors, and you have a fisherman’s dream. As frustrating as it was to simply observe these inspiring waters, it did tie up yet another of the loose ends in our week’s itinerary. Next Tuesday, to that point undefined, would be spent back here in the park…

… rigging up the 5wt.