Cold Weather Fishing On The Shoshone River - Park County
Written By: Sarah Reish
One of the things we have noticed a lot during this last year is that people are looking for experiences that are safe and offer exciting adventures minus the crowds. During the summer the Shoshone River is teaming with fish and you can find anglers set up along the riverside. Driving along the North Fork, which takes you into Yellowstone National Park, you are bound to see vehicles parked alongside the road. Now that summer is over, some may think all outdoor activity has ended, but that’s not the case. Join us as we show you Park County like never before. We’re headed outdoors and into the wide open spaces looking for adventures during our cooler season - mainly pre-snowfall. We want to thank the Park County Travel Council for working with us and giving us the opportunity to highlight early winter outdoor activities in Park County. We are excited to share the adventures and remind people that outdoor activities are year-round here in Wyoming!
The Details
The North Fork Shoshone River is located in Park County, Wyoming and travels along side US 14/16/20. It is a dream fishing location for anglers as it is accessible from Buffalo Bill Reservoir all the way to Yellowstone’s East Gate. While there are areas that are shallow, there are still spots with deeper pools. The waters flow lower this time of year so locating the pools is important. While driving and looking for a fishing location anglers should take note of the pull offs and private versus public access points.
Fishing in Low Water Levels
We found two locations with fantastic pools and beautiful scenery. We spent an entire day exploring and fishing and were not disappointed, aside from the minimal bites. During this time of year it is common to see lower water levels as well as cooler water temperatures. This causes the fish to go low, preserving their energy in the deeper pools. For this reason, it is more likely to hook something if you seek out the deeper sections of the river. Finding good spots may take some time, plan on hiking down to the water and walking the shore line to find the right spot for you.
Fly Fishing - The Shoshone River was made for anglers who fly fish. Bring your waders and flies and settle in for a day out in the quiet beauty of Northwestern Wyoming.
Spin Fishing - You do not need to be an expert fly angler to enjoy fishing along the Shoshone. Grab your gear and settle along the shoreline and enjoy your day on the river.
Fishing Location #1 - Holy City
Our first fishing spot for this trip, and deep pool we located, was under Holy City just West after the bridge along 14/16/20 in the Shoshone National Forest. Our friends, Jason and Lisa joined us - Jason is an avid angler and Lisa loves the outdoors and camping, combined they are a wealth of local knowledge. While we are also local to the area, these guys are gurus. This location hosts a pull-off where you can safely park off the road. There are several trails leading down to the river. Keep in mind while looking at our photos, we are here in the fall with lower water levels. The beach-like area won’t be present during the spring and summer seasons due to snow melt, please traverse safely and cautiously. The cliff features a beautiful domed like cave overshadowing the pool. If you drop your line upstream (West) it will follow the current into the deeper pool area. We loved this spot and the beauty surrounding it.
Fishing Location #2 - Marker 410
While the first location was absolutely stunning, this location put up a fight and quite possibly won the award as my favorite spot for the day. Marker 410 is just past the entrance into Shoshone National Forest and has a gravel trail that leads down to a parking area. The expansive shoreline allows anglers to spread out and enjoy the river. We were alone at all of the locations we explored and fished. This location had multiple deep pools and plenty of remarkable scenery. Like the first location, much of the area we were in will be underwater in spring or summer months due to the snowmelt and run off. Being that it was low water level we were able to explore quite a long portion of the shore line. It was vast.
Fishing Location #3 - Below The Damn
To access the river below the damn take the Hayden Arch Bridge turn off just outside of Cody. There is no designated parking, but you can pull off the road. Ensure you are not blocking the gate as the power plant needs access to this area. Like the other locations we hike to the river. There is amazing fishing in this area and it is a much loved location. The canyon walls rise high and surround you and it is nothing short of breathtaking. The river here flows fast towards town, but this protected area is loved by the trout that live in it, which makes this quite the location for fishing.
Consider This
Safety First
Be Bear Aware - Carry bear spray. Keep in mind that this is bear country and while you may be minding your own business, bears are territorial and you may be invading their space.
Watch the weather - Heavy rains can cause river flooding and it can happen fast.
Communicate - Let someone know where you are headed. There is no phone signal and you will want someone to know where you are if you get injured hiking down to the river or along the shore.
Pack it out
Don’t be trashy, pack out your trash and gear. If the person before you left trash let’s pick it up and pack it out as well. We want to leave our outdoor spaces better than we found them.
Tips - Most anglers are in the know, but for your first time fishing here are some tips to help you out.
First, hire a local expert to take you out. There are tons of anglers in this area who love what they do and they love to teach others the trade. Don’t underestimate how much you can learn while working with a local fishing guide.
If you are spin fishing, your line will get caught in the river rocks. This is normal, to free it walk to different locations and gently and sometimes not so gently pull your line to see if it will free itself.
Adhere to fishing etiquette
Give others fishing at least 100 yards. Don’t crowd in.
Be quiet, fish startle easily and if others are around you be respectful of your noise levels.
Picnic & Hiking
One of our stops was at Elk Fork Campground for a picnic. This beautiful campground offers a trailhead and river access for fishing and hiking. We love this location as it is sheltered from the wind and because it is open year round it makes a great location for winter camping. Use caution and stay bear aware. The campground provides bear boxes for storing food and trash items. This beautiful campground is open year round and offers winter camping for outdoor enthusiasts.
We did not have a successful catch this trip, but that’s okay. Last winter our Live WYld team did some winter fishing so we will share those successes here. Laurel is an amazing angler!
Cast your line!
Don’t sit inside this winter waiting for spring and summer. Go out and enjoy our amazing fall and winter fishing. Be sure to snap some pictures and share your adventures on social media and tag us @LiveWYldMag and @CodyYellostone then use #LiveWYld