Freestone · Mixed · Wyoming

Gibbon River

Gibbon River venue image
Google Places

The Gibbon is a small Park meadow river that helps make the Madison where it joins the Firehole, and it's two rivers in one — slow, brushy meadow water full of small browns, rainbows, and brook trout up top, then a tumbling canyon stretch below Gibbon Falls.

Species

About as good as it gets

Low and clear — careful approach country. Take your time — read the water before you cast.

75% confidence in this read
Water temperature for brown trout
Cool — slow
10°C est.ideal 10–16°C
0°14°28°
Why this score · for brown trout
  • Temperature9328% weight
  • Flow8022% weight
  • Clarity9518% weight
  • Feeding Time5013% weight
  • Pressure807% weight
  • Insect activity5612% weight
Conditions
Level
Dry recently
No gauge reading
Water temp
9.6°C
Estimated
Clarity
Clear
Air temp
18°C
Wind
SW 17 km/h
Gentle breeze
Pressure
1013 hPa
Rain · 48h
0.0 mm
No meaningful rain
Rain · ahead
0.0 mm
No meaningful rain · next 48h

Live readings — water temperature is an estimate where the gauge does not record it.

How to fish it · for brown trout
When
Nymphing can work through most of the day.
Where
Cover mixed depths.
Method
Start with tight-line nymphs and adjust if fish rise or drift higher.
Kit
9 ft #4 rod, floating line, 12 ft tapered leader to 4–5 lb fluoro tippet.
Why this works
Excellent — water clarity is right today, though time of day could be better.
Through the year
0–3 scale · June highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
GrannomHatch
2
2
Evening SedgeHatch
2
3
3
3
2
Western Green DrakeHatch
2
2
Flav (Small Western Green Drake)Hatch
2
3
2

Numbers are intensity 0 (none) to 3 (peak) — a guide, not a guarantee.

Gallery · 1
  1. Terrain map of the venue
    Terrain map
Permits & access
Permit required — see local rules.
  • Yellowstone NP licence and special regulations
  • Geothermal warming on the meadows — leave warm water alone in high summer.
Directions
Apple MapsGoogle Maps
About this water

The Gibbon is a small Park meadow river that helps make the Madison where it joins the Firehole, and it's two rivers in one — slow, brushy meadow water full of small browns, rainbows, and brook trout up top, then a tumbling canyon stretch below Gibbon Falls. There's some geothermal warmth in it, so it has the same summer caveat as the Firehole: when the water's warm, leave the fish be. In the cool months a soft-hackle swung through the meadow runs or an attractor in the canyon is honest, low-pressure fun.

  • Mixed
Seasons & zones
  • TroutSaturday of Memorial Day weekend → First Sunday in November
Other water nearby · 5