YNP Dawn Treader 3 - Slightly Off The Beaten Path

I may not be a "Dawn Treader" in a strict sense for this post as I was driving YNP in a slightly later hour = very early morning = than past two "Dawn Treader" trips. I was a bit soured from schedules. As you have guessed and seen, "Dawn Treader" trips are meant to hit some of the best spots within YNP for my own fishing, explorations, and expansion of my guiding options. I still have some more destinations on my list but I believe I've gladly be done with major ones!!

This time I hit a trail which is certainly not a secret but is not heavily used.
I believe he (she?) was watching me as my guardian, rather than me as a prey!!

Need a ski or slid to get down?

 In the morning till mid afternoon, dry-fly actions were practically none. Slightly disappointing but I took it as this was a good time to experiment different flies and methods.

 And then always learning............

Suddenly Rainbow!?

A couple of under-water patterns to note are:
Drowned Soft-Hackle Hopper.

And then McKnight's Home Invader - Black. YES!! Cutty DO love this one as much as they love to take dry-flies on rise!!

In the mid afternoon, I got good actions on dry-flies. Patterns are still the same as shown in the past couple posts.

Again, I've completed the top-listed destinations for "Dawn Treader" trips. So if I conduct one or two more during this summer (or next?), it would be meant for fan fishing and somewhat back-country experience/scenery.
See you "off" & "on" the beaten paths!!

YDFF (Yellowstone Dry Fly Float)

Float fishing on Yellowstone River has started well and been in its PRIME since!!
Over all water condition is just right!! 'Stone can be fished any choices of your preference. Given choices, I do fish & guide with Dry-Flies!!
The other day I self-guided. A tiny insects on the big river!!

 Reason we call fly a fly.........
Also a reason we recommend "catch & release"!?

 Hmmmmmm, learning.

After carefully observing structures and mood of the river, I got a big yet quiet rise on my black Chubby!!!

YAY!!!

At the very last riffle-corner. Happy way to end the day!!

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I had two nice gentlemen from Pennsylvania. We had good & constant surface actions all morning!!

 They each caught respectable sizes for this section. Again with dry-flies!!

"If you can learn to read the waters of Yellowstone River and consistently take trout, you can travel the world and consistently be a successful fly angler." (Don Williams, 1976)

More Cutt Guide

Last week, I was glad to share my beloved Yellowstone Cutthroat fishing in my favorite part of Yellowstone Park.
Soda Butte Creek in the morning.

After lunch, we moved to Lamar River. From Soda Butte to Lamar, it was a bit too crowded for my liking (weekend visitors/fishers, I guess.....) but we found a nice stretch for us, furthermore, we hit Green Drake hatch right on time & spot!!

YES!!

Running to the other side of the river.....!!

This was some of the best Cutty caught by my clients!!

My usual way of Goodbye.....

Casting to......

Flies mentioned in the recent posts are still effective.
Fish with Big Chubby and Green Drake patterns while they work!!

YNP Dawn Treader 2 - On The "Beaten" Path

Yesterday, I hit the trail within Yellowstone Park, leaving, again, my house way before dawn. It's a well-known "beaten" path and fishery so no descriptions needed.

"Cardiac Hill" for the first thing in the morning made me think otherwise........

..........reached........

 Reaching and fishing here weren't my objective but I wouldn't mind testing waters. OMG, a native Cutty first thing in the morning made my effort rewarding already......

I moved on to the destination.

According to the source, this water holds a distinctive strain of Yellowstone Cutty.......... After fruitless attempts and bushwacking, I got it!!

Here's a happy fisherman!!

I can't give any description but at a glance, I have noticed Cutty in this drainage DO have a vivid spot on their gills (both sides, almost symmetric), just like moles.

In the afternoon, I moved back to the stream. It was another Cutty Bonanza day!! My priginal patterns were gladly inhaled!!

 Hmmmmm.......

Last one!! Happy end!!

Here are yesterday's hot flies.
BeetAnt 

Combo Ant

Yes I enjoyed the day!!..............But here's a consequence. I had to walk back to my truck at the end of the day, after I had too much activities.............. My body is squeaking as of this typing........ Anyway, it was another great day in YNP and was worth being a "Dawn Treader"!!
Back to guiding!!

The First "Cutt" is The............

Their first ever "Cutt" was memorable...........

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I ventured northeast corner of YNP.
NOTE: This year YNP Officials revised their smartest law that they had tried to enforce last year: kill all rainbows below Slough Creek Campground. Which anglers followed this stupidity anyway? I never saw Rangers who was monitoring/watching anglers' activities at all either..... Whatever........ Now all of our lovely trout will be harmfully released!! - WITH or WITHOUT SLASHES!!

Handsome Cutbow!

Then, The First "Cutt"of the season with the dry-fly is always special!!

 YAY!!

I was barely hoisting with a single hand. See its jaw.........Already fat!!

Now let's examine their foods of choice.
Green Drake nymph.

I bet this was the exoskeleton of stonefly nymph.

These were either PMD of Flav.

And here's what we expect!! = Green Drake dun!!

or Emerging nymphs

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Here are glimpses of my recent go-tos.
Bullet Head Chubby - black. One can't go wrong with this pattern when Cutty are actively looking up!

Pheasant Tail Mayfly Cripple - Green Drake. This is one of my original patterns and also one out of most trusted Green Drake assortment. Click Here and Here.

I hit the next trail tomorrow!