Wyoming fly fishing is defined by big, wild water — rivers swollen by snowmelt from the Wind River Range, the Tetons, and the Absarokas that run cold and clear through valleys of extraordinary beauty. The Snake River, the Green River below Flaming Gorge, and the countless tributary streams of Yellowstone National Park represent some of the last genuinely wild trout fisheries in the lower 48 states — places where hatchery supplementation is minimal or absent, and the fish you catch are direct descendants of native populations that have occupied these waters for thousands of years.
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Wyoming’s Premier Fly Fishing Rivers
Snake River — Jackson Hole and Below
The Snake River through Jackson Hole and the Snake River Canyon below Jackson is the centerpiece of Wyoming fly fishing. Fine-spotted cutthroat trout — a subspecies unique to the upper Snake drainage — are the primary quarry: wild, aggressive, and visually stunning fish with an unusually dense spotting pattern. Fish average 14–18 inches in most sections; fish over 20 inches are present throughout. Float fishing in McKenzie drift boats is the primary method on the Jackson Hole section — the braided channels, logjam-studded banks, and complex currents demand a guide for most visiting anglers. Dry fly fishing with large attractor patterns (Royal Wulff, Elk Hair Caddis, Stimulators) is the standard approach from June through October. Jackson, WY hosts numerous fly fishing guide services and shops.
Green River Below Flaming Gorge Dam
The Green River below Flaming Gorge Dam near Dutch John, Utah/Wyoming is one of the premier tailwater trout fisheries in the Rocky Mountain West — technically just over the Utah line but overwhelmingly a Wyoming-area fishery accessed from the Wyoming side. Cold, clear dam discharge creates ideal conditions for enormous populations of rainbow and brown trout: fish averaging 16–20 inches, abundant year-round hatches, and some of the most accessible high-quality tailwater fly fishing in the region. The A, B, and C sections below the dam each offer distinct fishing character — the A section is the most technical with the largest fish; B and C offer more accessible fishing for wading anglers.
Yellowstone National Park — Wild Cutthroat Country
The rivers and streams within Yellowstone National Park offer a completely unique fly fishing experience. Yellowstone cutthroat, Snake River fine-spotted cutthroat, and westslope cutthroat exist in waters little changed since Lewis and Clark. The Yellowstone River above the falls (fly fishing only, catch and release) is a wilderness trout experience unlike anything else in the lower 48. The Firehole River — geothermally heated, producing extraordinary insect hatches — is one of the most technically interesting freestone rivers in the country. The Lamar River in the Northeast corner of the park holds outstanding cutthroat in remote canyon settings accessible primarily by trail. A Yellowstone NPS fishing permit ($25/season) is required in addition to a Wyoming fishing license or separate purchase inside the park.
Wyoming Fly Fishing Seasons
| Month | Conditions | Best Option |
|---|---|---|
| April–May | Pre-runoff window (April), then snowmelt begins (May) | Green River tailwater (consistent year-round) |
| June–July | Spring runoff on freestone rivers; tailwaters fish well | Green River below Flaming Gorge; June opening on YNP |
| July–September | Peak season — rivers dropping and clearing | Snake River Jackson Hole; Yellowstone Park; Green River |
| October | Fall — browns spawning, streamer fishing outstanding | All rivers; streamer fishing for large brown trout |
| November–March | Winter fishing — Green River and tailwaters only | Green River (open year-round below Flaming Gorge) |
Wyoming Fishing License
Non-resident combined fishing license: approximately $14/day or $92/season at wgfd.wyo.gov. Yellowstone National Park requires a separate NPS fishing permit (available at park visitor centers and fly shops near park entrances).
Related: Montana Fly Fishing Guide | Colorado Fly Fishing Guide