North Fork Shoshone River Fishing Guides
The freestone river running the Wapiti Valley from Yellowstone's east gate down to Buffalo Bill Reservoir, guided hard out of Cody.
Guides on the North Fork Shoshone River
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About the North Fork Shoshone River
The North Fork of the Shoshone River drains seven hundred square miles of the Absaroka Range and runs fifty miles east from the east gate of Yellowstone National Park to Buffalo Bill Reservoir above Cody. The Wapiti Valley it flows through is one of the more dramatic settings for a trout river anywhere in the country, with volcanic spires standing over both banks the whole way. The gauge at Wapiti sits roughly in the middle of the fishable river.
This is classic freestone water. It runs fast, cold and clear outside of runoff, with long riffles, boulder gardens and deep corner pools, and it is best fished by wading rather than floating through most of its length. The trout are a mix. Cutthroat and cuttbow hybrids dominate the upper river nearer the park boundary, rainbows and browns become more common as the river drops toward the reservoir, and brook trout hold in the colder side streams. Mountain whitefish are abundant throughout and often outnumber the trout in the deeper runs.
Timing is the main thing to get right. Snowmelt off the Absarokas puts the river out of shape from late May well into July in most years, and the fishing season effectively begins when it drops and clears. From then until October the North Fork is a dependable dry fly river, with golden stoneflies and caddis early, terrestrials through the summer, and blue-winged olives on the cold grey days of autumn.
The valley is public land for much of its length, with a string of Shoshone National Forest campgrounds and lodges along the highway providing straightforward access. Grizzly bears use this corridor heavily, and anglers walking the brushy bank are expected to carry spray and make noise. Cody, half an hour downstream, is the outfitting town for the whole drainage.
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Access
Wapiti - the gauge reach, with national forest access from the highway pullouts.
Yellowstone east gate - the top of the river, where it leaves the park boundary.
Wapiti Valley campgrounds - a string of Shoshone National Forest sites with bank access.
Buffalo Bill Reservoir - the downstream end, with a state park and boat ramps.
Cody - the outfitting town below the reservoir, with guides, shops and lodging.
Elk Fork - a major tributary joining in the middle valley with a trailhead.
Sweetwater Creek - a smaller side stream with a forest access point off the highway.
Seasons
Spring: high and off-color through snowmelt, with fishing limited until the river drops.
Summer: the core season, with stoneflies and caddis early and terrestrials through the warm months.
Fall: low clear water, blue-winged olives on grey days, and browns colored up before the spawn.
Winter: cold and largely unfished, with the lower river near the reservoir the only realistic option.
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Questions
What is the current flow on the North Fork Shoshone River?
As of Sep 17, 6:15 am, the USGS gauge NORTH FORK SHOSHONE RIVER AT WAPITI, WY reads 238 cfs. Conditions update every 15 minutes.
What species can you catch on the North Fork Shoshone River?
Anglers target Brook Trout, Brown Trout, Cuttbow, Cutthroat Trout, Mountain Whitefish, Rainbow Trout on the North Fork Shoshone River in Wyoming.
Where can you access the North Fork Shoshone River?
Wapiti - the gauge reach, with national forest access from the highway pullouts. Yellowstone east gate - the top of the river, where it leaves the park boundary. Wapiti Valley campgrounds - a string of Shoshone National Forest sites with bank access. Buffalo Bill Reservoir - the downstream end, with a state park and boat ramps. Cody - the outfitting town below the reservoir, with guides, shops and lodging. Elk Fork - a major tributary joining in the middle valley with a trailhead. Sweetwater Creek - a smaller side stream with a forest access point off the highway.
When is the best time to fish the North Fork Shoshone River?
Spring: high and off-color through snowmelt, with fishing limited until the river drops. Summer: the core season, with stoneflies and caddis early and terrestrials through the warm months. Fall: low clear water, blue-winged olives on grey days, and browns colored up before the spawn. Winter: cold and largely unfished, with the lower river near the reservoir the only realistic option.
Where are the fishing regulations for the North Fork Shoshone River?
Regulations change by season and section. Read the current rules on the Wyoming agency site: https://wgfd.wyo.gov/regulations