Surrounding waters

Henry’s Fork Lodge is truly at the epicenter of the world’s most legendary fly fishing rivers. From spectacular forested alpine settings, to abundant big brown, cutthroat, and rainbow trout, anglers of all levels are guaranteed the fishing experience of a lifetime. Below is a short-list of rivers, streams and lakes surrounding the lodge. We’ve tried to provide as much information as possible about the diverse experiences offered by each one, but are more than happy to talk through them with you during the planning phase of your trip.

Henry’s Fork

The Henry’s Fork has rightly been called the greatest dry fly stream in the world for its big wild rainbows, tremendous insect hatches and spectacular alpine setting. It offers at least 50 miles of the most varied water in the Rockies, including miles of beginner-friendly water that has offered many of our guests their first catch and triggered a lifelong love of fly fishing.

The famed Harriman State Park section, known worldwide as The Railroad Ranch, is one of the icons of fly fishing. Its seven miles of gorgeous, wadeable spring creek flows and large free-rising rainbows provide a true test of angler skill, persistence and knowledge.

The lower Henry’s Fork is a place for everyone, with browns and rainbows much more susceptible to taking your fly. Fishing from a driftboat is the primary way of covering the water and makes for much less demanding angling skills.

The prime time for the Railroad Ranch water is June until mid-July, and again from September through mid-October. Hatches and fishing remain good through the middle of the summer, so the Ranch is always a great choice. The lower river is good throughout the season, but May to early-July is best for the famed salmonfly and golden stonefly hatches; and from September on, the big browns are on the move and eager to take your fly.

Madison

The Madison originates in Yellowstone National Park from the confluence of the Gibbon and Firehole Rivers. In the park, it has the quiet character of a spring creek, and you may be accompanied by bison, elk or swans as you wade for browns and rainbows. Outside the park, the river flows for more than 40 miles of boisterous, non-stop riffles, reminding you you’re in Big Sky country.

The Madison fishes best in the heart of summer, making it the perfect complement to the Henry’s Fork, which begins to slow then. Prolific hatches of mayflies and caddis along with terrestrials like ants, beetles and grasshoppers attract fish to the surface in midsummer and nymphing is always productive. Both floating and wading are effective ways to approach the Madison and public access is excellent.

South Fork of the Snake

This huge river south of the lodge holds the largest population of trout in Idaho, and is home to the native of the Rockies known as the cutthroat. It too complements the Henry’s Fork, as it comes into its own in July and continues to be good well into the fall. The South Fork is roughly ten times the size of the Henry’s Fork and is fished almost exclusively by floating. Guides will expertly escort you through the canyons and farmlands inaccessible by road or on foot. Prolific cutthroats and browns, and less demanding casting, make for ideal conditions, especially for less experienced anglers.

Teton River

The Teton is a lesser known, but high quality fishery that we’re very fortunate to have in our area. The upper sections are like a miniature Henry’s Fork, fed by springs and populated by rainbows and cutthroats that rise to abundant hatches. The middle and lower sections have rougher water and canyon stretches that hold large cutthroats. Prime time on the Teton begins after runoff, sometime in early July. When late summer gives way to fall, sometime in September, the fishing takes another leap up with renewed hatches of mayflies and rising fish.

Firehole and Gibbon

These two streams in Yellowstone National Park are largely spring-fed, and fish very well into early July and again in the fall. You can expect to fish in the company of bison, elk, hot springs and geysers. The Firehole becomes too warm in early July, but fishes well again in September, when big fish run up from the Madison and Hebgen Lake. Both of these streams have good hatches of mayflies and caddis and are excellent dry fly waters. Both are very wadeable and accessible by road or short walks.

Gallatin

The Gallatin is a mid-sized river that flows along the road to Bozeman, and offers cutthroats in its upper section in Yellowstone National Park. Rainbows can be found in the middle canyon section, and browns in the lower valley section. The Gallatin offers excellent non-technical fishing, making it a great place to wade and learn. It typically fishes best after runoff in late June, and is also ideal during the warmest parts of the day, so no need to get a particularly early start.

Slough Creek, Lamar, Soda Butte Creek

These three streams in the northeast corner of Yellowstone National Park are great native cutthroat streams, offering sizable fish right along the road. You can find greater solitude by hiking away from the road to gorgeous meadow stretches. These streams fish best after runoff subsides in late June or July. All are prime dry fly streams in a spectacular setting, so well worth the drive through the park. You are certain to see herds of bison and may also catch a view of a wolf or bear.

Yellowstone River

This large river is one of the last strongholds of the Yellowstone cutthroat, the native fish of the Rockies. Fishing the Yellowstone is experiencing the essence of the park – grand vistas, abundant wildlife, and large native trout. The Yellowstone opens on July 15 and fishes well through the rest of the summer. Though the fish numbers are reduced, the average size is very large, so chances of a trophy cutthroat are good.

Hebgen Lake water ripples on calm Quake Lake

Lakes

Sometimes overlooked are nearby lakes that produce both big fish and surprising dry fly fishing. Among the best are:

Nearby Henry’s Lake is Idaho’s most popular fishing lake and produces huge rainbow/cutthroat hybrids and the state record brook trout.
Hebgen Lake is a fantastic dry fly lake with “gulpers,” large rainbows and browns that cruise and gobble prolific mayfly hatches all summer.
Quake Lake is another great dry fly lake with a huge variety of hatches in a magnificent setting.

Private fishing

Sheridan Ranch has a spring creek and lake, both of which hold abundant big rainbows. Access is by fee and is limited, but can be arranged by the fly shops. Its highly productive fishing has been the highlight of many trips to the lodge.