And be sure to check boating regulations. Virtually the whole lake offers excellent fishing. The south and southeast arms have reputations for even better angling, but they are miles from the nearest road and have some restrictions on boat motors. The whole north shore parallels park roads, while hiking trails reach remote sections on the east and south. Public boat launches and marinas at West Thumb and Bridge Bay offer convenient services.
Flies work well early in the season when cast to rising fish.
Spoons and spinners brings results almost any time. Small to medium sizes work best. Lures with more than one cluster of hooks are illegal. The river becomes much more available to anglers as it gently flows out of Yellowstone Lake through several miles of pines and meadows, past the Sulphur Cauldron, and across the tranquil, wildlife-rich Hayden Valley before cascading violently into the picturesque Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. The Hayden Valley portion is closed to all fishing, but anglers can ply the waters at either end provided they release any fish they catch.