Still Water Fishing

By Connor Truman

The small lakes here in Yellowstone are often overshadowed by the legendary Yellowstone,  Firehole and Madison Rivers. The lakes are full of everything from Arctic Grayling to invasive Lake Trout and are often a challenge for new and inexperienced Fly Fishermen. This quick guide will give you the basics you need for fishing the still waters of Yellowstone. 

First we have to discuss what is classified as still water. It's pretty simple, still water is a non flowing body of water such as a pond, lake or reservoir. When targeting fish in the river you typically focus on pockets, deeper holes and soft spots where fish can hold. The lakes rely more on your vision and understanding of the fish you're targeting. Look for signs of fish activity such as rising fish, swirls on the water surface, or insects hatching. If you see the direction the fish is heading try to get in front of it so your fly is already in the strike zone whether you have  indicator and nymph or a dry fly tied on. Try and learn the depths and structures of the lake or pond you're fishing. Fish often congregate near drop-offs, weed beds, or underwater structures.

When it comes to fly selection, match the hatch if insects are active. Common still water flies include damselflies, dragonflies, midges, leeches and mayfly nymphs. Carry a selection of dry flies, nymphs, and streamers to cover the different feeding patterns that you observe. One of my favorite still water flies is a size 12 balanced leech pattern in black or olive, paired with an indicator. Small jig style streamers paired with an indicator also are very effective.

Retrieval is important when still water fishing. Experiment with different retrieval techniques such as slow retrieves, fast strips, or erratic movements to mimic different prey behavior. Varying your retrieve can trigger strikes. Use the wind to your advantage. I like casting into the wind so the flies are drifted naturally by the wind and waves.

When it comes to gear, I use a 5-7wt fly rod so I can effectively cast an indicator out far as possible. If fish are deeper in the water column, move the fly farther under the indicator. My base depth is usually around 2 feet. You can change this based on your needs. My go to leader and tippet setup is a 9ft 4x leader to a 2ft section of 5x tippet. I like the Oros indicators in orange or white depending on the lighting.

If you're not getting bites, don’t hesitate to move to different areas of the lake or pond. Fish might be concentrated in specific areas depending on wind, water temperature and the terrain. Probably don't fish the 1-2 ft deep flat if it's 80 degrees out. Most likely the trout are a little deeper than that in the cooler waters

Early morning and late evening are often the best times as fish are more active during these cooler periods. However, don’t discount midday fishing, especially if bugs are hatching.

Again, wind can concentrate food and push it towards certain areas of the lake. Fish often feed more actively in these windblown areas. I know I've mentioned wind multiple times, and it's because I believe it to be one of the most important factors when fishing still waters. 

Here is my exact setup when I hit the still waters in YNP:

9ft 7wt Lefty Kreh Edition TFO with a 7wt Rio weight forward line with the shooting head.

9ft Rio Power flex 4x leader to 2 ft of Rio 5x Tippet. Size 12 black balanced leech under an Oros indicator.