12th October 2006

I flew into Yellowstone regional airport in Cody Wyoming on the 12th of October through Denver CO. Just before the door on the plane closes, John Welaj jumps on board. The plan was to fish in Yellowstone WY and Montana for the next couple of days.

Brett Tolly picked us up at the airport and we headed into this small town for dinner but the town is the eastern gateway into Yellowstone National Park. A steak and some fishing plotting later we headed out of town towards Yellowstone.


We arrived into very small town that looked completely deserted but I cant remember what the name of the town was. On the main street we see a couple of motels and decide to try to get some rooms for the night but it was getting close to 11pm. One of the motels is open and we walk straight in to find no one at the reception but loud party noises come out of the apartment adjacent to the lobby.

After banging on the door and calling out for assistant some one finally arrives and reluctantly rents us a room for the night. The tourist season is over and the staff probably has nothing else to do but to party through the night. This is one of the largest hotel rooms I have seen in my life, with 3 queens sized beds and for about 80$ , it was a bargain.


Day 1, Yellowstone 13th October

After about 5 hours of sleep we wake up just before sunrise. Of course there is nothing open in this town so early but I think we managed to get some coffee from the front desk when we checked out. We where ready to go fishing, outside the sun was still lurking behind the mountains and it was still pretty dark outside. When we left there was no one around and the town looked completely deserted.


We drove through the park and saw some amazing wildlife. The only people around for the first hour were a group of photographers that was photographing the buffalos from save distance. The route that we had planned to take was closed due to snow so we had to take an alternate route that would set us back about couple of hours. It was good for me as I would be able to see more of the park. I could of course have spent several weeks in this park taking pictures but that had to wait another time although Brett was kind enough to stop once in awhile for me to get some shoots.

Brett Tolly, my self and John Welaj in Lewis channel.

Day 1, Lewis River 13th October
After hiking 4,5 miles in Grisly country we arrived to what is called the Lewis river (or Lewis Channel). This is a river that runs between two lakes in Yellowstone park and do to the hiking distance then most of the time there is not a lot of fishermen around. This time of year there is great fishing in this channel between the lakes as the trout will micrate down into the river for spawning.


Nice one, look at the amazing colors on this fish.

When hiking back to the car (4,5 miles) we where really pushing it as when we had about half an hour left then it was pitch black and I finally figured out why John and Brett wanted me to go with them...if we would run into a grizly, I would for sure be the one he would catch first...


Day 2. 14th October
We woke up early and headed over to Montana but the plan was to meet up with some friends and fish the Spillway on the Upper Beartrap. On the way over there we passed the spectacular Quake Lake but a 7.5 r. earthquake in 1959 created this lake and took the life of 28 people that where out camping in the valley.


John with a nice one.


We fished the Spillway for about couple of hours before we found out that it was actually closed. We then drove over to the Madison or to the 3 dollar bridge and fished for awhile above and bellow the bridge.

Day 3. 15th October
This was the last day of the trip. After trying out some place in the upper Madison we headed down to Madison in the Park where we fished Barnshole no.1 and no.2. This was a great pool with lot of fish in it. Apperently then this is a pool where most US presidents have fished in and I am not surpriced as we cought both nice browns and rainbow.


Barnshole no 1.


Very nice Rainbow that Brett caught in Barnshole no 1. just before dark.

It was time to head back to real life and I was very happy with the trip. I had seen some great fish and even better scenery.