Bechler River Facts

Location:

The Bechler River is formed by the confluence of the Phillips, Gregg and Ferris Forks high in the southwest corner of Yellowstone National Park.  The river flows for 20 miles before joining the Fall River at Cave Falls. 

The Bechler cascades down a narrow canyon for the first part of its journey.  After Colonnade Falls, the river slows and calms for four miles, flowing through a delightful meadow before taking a final descent down to the Fall River.

Features:

The best part of the Bechler River is the four mile stretch in the meadow.  This area contains numbers of 9-14 inch rainbows, with some in the 16-20 inch range.  Most of the trout in the Bechler are rainbows, but there are some cutthroats as well.  The river through the meadow is too deep to wade, as it contains many deep channels and pools. 

The fishing in this section is similar to a spring creek.  Long, thin tippets are needed, perfect presentations are required and you absolutely can not show your profile to the fish.  The trout are very wary and will spook if they see you. 

Seasonal Strategies:

The Bechler River fishes best in the late summer and early fall.  It is not required that you match the hatch exactly.  Attractors and grasshopper patterns work well if fished by undercut banks. 

The river is best fished in the morning and evening, and is better on days with cloudy overcast than sunshine.

Special Regulations:

Native fish are catch and release only. Check the fishing regulations for Yellowstone National Park for other information regarding the Bechler River.

Access:

A trail follows the Bechler River for its entire length.  There is a plethora of campgrounds along the way.

Special Cautions:

Bears are common in this area.  Travel in groups of three or more and observe all the usual precautions when traveling and camping in bear country.

Links:

Bechler River Blog Entries and Updates

For the most current fly recommendations and hatch information, click on the Bechler River Blog Entries and Updates