Cody

Wyoming Fly Fishing Trips: Clarks Fork, Yellowstone River

Clarks Fork Yellowstone River Fishing

map button weather yellow pages print

Clark's Fork of the Yellowstone River  
(Clarks Fork Ranger District)

Species Present:
Rainbow Trout, Mountain Whitefish, Brook Trout, Yellowstone and Snake River Cutthroat, Grayling, Brown Trout and some Rainbow-Cutthroat hybrids.

Seasons:  
Fishing is allowed year round but the area receives substantial amounts of snow in the winter. Ice out on the main forks of the river is usually around the end of April. Spring runoff usually runs until the end of June. 

Access:  
The Clarks Fork River drainage is located in the northwest corner of Wyoming adjacent to Yellowstone National Park on the Clark's Fork Ranger District. The canyon section of the Clarks Fork River is the only river in Wyoming with the designation "wild and scenic." Summer hiking into the canyon from on top is hazardous under good conditions. Float access to the upper and lower sections are fair with low water being the limiting factor but the canyon is limited to kayakers with expert skill rating. The lower section is accessed by driving State Highway 120 north out of Cody to State Highway 292 which dead ends in the Clarks Fork Canyon. Access to the canyon is limited to about 5 spots with the best access at the lower end. The upper reaches of this canyon and river are reached by taking State Highway 120 north out of Cody for 16 miles to the Chief Joseph Highway 296. This road broadly parallels the river. To reach the very upper reaches of the river take State Highway 212 west. The road is not maintained past State Highway 296 in the winter. State Highway 212 is usually plowed open by Memorial Day. 

Camping: 
There are 4 developed campgrounds along the Clarks Fork and dispersed camping is also allowed. Campgrounds along the Clarks Fork are Fox Creek, Crazy Creek, Lake Creek, and Hunter Peak.

Comments:  
From Reef Creek upstream, all fish over 8 inches shall be released immediately with a creel limit of 6 fish. Artificial flies and lures only in this section. From Reef Creek downstream, the creel limit is 3 fish with only 1 exceeding 12 inches and all legal methods of fishing are allowed. The upper reaches of the river and the canyon offer some spectacular scenery. Big horn sheep and mountain goats (the only population in Wyoming) are often seen on the canyon walls. Numerous small tributaries empty into the river but access is limited to most in the canyon. The fishery of the lower reaches of the river are maintained by periodic stockings by Wyoming Game and Fish (managed as a basic yield fishery) while the upper reaches and canyon are maintained by natural reproduction (managed as a wild fishery).  

For further camping and access information, contact:
Shoshone National Forest
Phone: 307-527-6241

For specific fishing regulations or species and size information, contact:  
Wyoming Game and Fish Department
Cody Regional Office
2820 State Highway 120
Cody, Wyoming 82414
Phone: 307-527-7125

YD Flies - 20% Below Wholesale, Top Quality - 20% below wholesale everyday! These first quality hand-tied flies are the best deal on the 'web. It just so happened that a very well-known fly distributor bought too many that sat around unsold. Brand names like Skykomish and Rene Harrop are among our unique mix of dries, nymphs, wets & streamers.

Local Web Listings: (upgrade your listing)


Uxu Ranch LLC
P.O. BOX 110 Wapiti, WY  82450-0110
view site : call us (307) 587-2143
Elk Creek Ranch
P.O. BOX 1476 Cody, WY  82414-1476
view site : call us (307) 587-3902
Fiddle Back Ranch Arena
P.O. BOX 159 Meeteetse, WY  82433-0159
view site : call us (307) 868-2661
Rimrock Dude Ranch
2728 N Fork Hwy Cody, WY  82414-7801
view site : call us (307) 587-3970

Local Phone Only Listings: (upgrade your listing)


Double Diamond X Ranch
3453 Southfork Rd Cody, WY  82414-8022
call us (307) 527-6276
V Ventures Llc
P.O. BOX 31 Kirby, WY  82430-0031
call us (307) 864-2009
Seven D Ranch LLC
P.O. BOX 100 Cody, WY  82414-0100
call us (307) 587-9885

Cody, WY Weather

66°
( 19° C)