Saving Yellowstone’s Native Trout

It’s easy to think Yellowstone National Park is all geysers and grizzlies. But for anglers, the park’s native cutthroat trout belong at the top of the to-do list. Just ask Austin Campbell. Fly-fishing transformed Campbell’s life, and now the angling guide and advocate loves to share his enthusiasm for visiting and protecting places like Yellowstone.

Campbell grew up fly-fishing with his family, but when he moved east to run track and attend college at Penn State, angling took on a whole new meaning. Whenever the stresses of track or classes began to build, Pennsylvania’s cold-water trout streams provided refuge.

“That was huge for me,” Campbell says. After he graduated, Campbell realized he wasn’t the only one who could benefit from such an escape, so he became a fly-fishing guide. And in 2020, he and his brother started running free community events to teach other folks how to fish. So far, he says that’s been the most rewarding aspect of his whole fishing journey. “Instructing people and watching them succeed—it’s just as good as if I’d caught the fish myself,” Campbell says. “Fishing allows you to really slow down and be present. That time is so important, and I think that’s something everyone should have access to.”Campbell found plenty of places to slow down in Yellowstone National Park. While catch-and-release fishing for the park’s cutthroat trout, he also learned about efforts to protect them. Learn more in the video above, and see below to start planning your own fly-fishing adventure.

Where to Drop a Line

Slough Creek

Cast a dry fly on the meandering bends of Slough Creek, one of Yellowstone’s most productive cutthroat fisheries. Target the upper meadows for better odds; the farther upstream you hike, the less pressured the fisheries tend to be.

‍Yellowstone River

The lifeblood of the park, the Yellowstone River offers more than 200 miles of high-quality trout fishing—and some of the wildest water in Montana. For the easiest access, fish the stretch between Yellowstone Lake and Yellowstone Falls. Lake trout are abundant here, but patient anglers can still bag a decent-size cutthroat.

‍Lamar River

Welcome to one of the park’s most scenic fisheries. Along the Lamar River, the meadows teem with bison and the wide-open skies yield uninterrupted views of the surrounding peaks. Target the seven-mile reach between Soda Butte Creek and Lamar Canyon for the easiest access (and biggest fish).

‍Snake River

Accessible from Yellowstone’s South Entrance, the Snake River starts within the national park before flowing south toward the Tetons. Head to the upper zone for solitude and quiet waters and the lower reaches for bigger cutthroats (and even some browns). Do it right: Pack a small flask of Yellowstone Select to toast to the day’s catch.

Raise a Toast: Streamside Sipper

Celebrate a great day in the national park with this custom recipe and Yellowstone Bourbon, which was founded in 1872 to honor America’s first national park, and which continues to support the national park system today.

Glassware: Rocks glass

‍Ingredients

• 2 oz Yellowstone Bourbon Toasted
• 4 oz chilled black tea
• 1/2 oz maple syrup
• Cinnamon stick for garnish

‍Directions

• ‍Fill a cocktail shaker with ice.
• Combine all ingredients and shake until chilled.
• Strain the mixture into a rocks glass filled with ice.

Established in 1872, Yellowstone Bourbon was crafted to honor the sprawling wonder of America’s first national park. It’s what first inspired us to create approachably smooth whiskey for the benefit and enjoyment of the people, and why we still do it today.