Firehole River
river in Wyoming
Heating up from geothermal activity, the Firehole offers a surreal fly fishing experience with early season hatches in a volcanic landscape.
River flow last 30 days
What's working on Firehole River
- 01Stable flows and clear skies indicate promising fall conditions on the Firehole River.
- 02Expect active hatches of Blue-Winged Olives, lingering Pale Morning Duns, and a strong October Caddis emergence.
- 03Midge activity is consistent year-round and should be a primary focus, especially in colder mornings.
- 04Brown trout spawning increases the importance of egg patterns for opportunistic feeders.
- 05Focus on slower, deeper runs, seams, and undercut banks for holding fish.
Past reports week by week
11 weeksWhat to tie on
Picked from reports, hatches and the season. Tap a fly for the recipe and where else it works.
Woolly Bugger (Olive)
A reliable year-round streamer, effective for imitating leeches and baitfish, especially in the colder fall flows where trout are more aggressive.
Blood Dot Egg
Fall is spawning season for brown trout, and egg patterns are a crucial food source for opportunistic feeders, including rainbow trout and whitefish.
Buy at AmazonBlue-Winged Olive Comparadun
Blue-Winged Olives are actively hatching in early fall, especially on overcast days, making this low-profile dry fly excellent for selective trout feeding on emergers and adults.
Scud (Pink/Orange)
Freshwater shrimp (scuds) are a consistent food source in the Firehole River, especially in areas with aquatic vegetation, and are effective in colder water.
Buy at AmazonPMD (Pale Morning Duns)
Pale Morning Duns are actively hatching in fall, providing a key food source for opportunistic feeders.
Flashback Pheasant Tail Nymph
An excellent general searching nymph for fall, mimicking various mayfly nymphs that are active year-round and particularly as BWOs begin to emerge.
Zebra Midge
Midges are a primary and consistent food source year-round, especially in colder fall water, and are effective as a subsurface searching pattern.
Buy at AmazonOctober Caddis (Dry)
October Caddis are actively hatching in fall, providing a key food source and drawing aggressive strikes.
Buy at AmazonWhere to fish and who to ask
Midway Geyser Basin Access
A unique thermal area where anglers fish among steam vents and geysers.
National Park Mountain Meadows
The iconic meadows where the Gibbon and Firehole rivers meet to form the Madison.
Fly shops within 40 miles
Madison River Outfitters
TroutHunter
Henry's Fork Anglers
Get Firehole River reports by email
Save this water and we'll email you a weekly summary of conditions, hatches and what's working.
Wyoming season by season
What changes on the water through the year, with the flies for each season.
Read before you go
Winter Fly Fishing: Essential Cold Weather Tips & Tactics
Master winter fly fishing with proven cold weather strategies, gear selection, and tactics for catching trout when temperatures drop.
Fly Line Types Guide: WF, DT, Running & Shooting Heads
Master fly line selection with our comprehensive guide to weight forward, double taper, running lines, and shooting heads for every fishing situation.
Best Fly Fishing Waders of 2025 – Breathable vs. Neoprene
Expert comparison of breathable and neoprene waders with top 2025 models for every budget and fishing condition.
Fly Fishing Pack vs Vest: Which Setup Is Right for You?
Compare fly fishing packs and vests to find the perfect gear setup for your angling style and fishing conditions.
Best Fly Fishing Sunglasses: Lens Color & Polarization Guide
Master lens color selection and polarization technology for superior vision and fish detection on the water.
Fly Fishing Nets – Rubber vs. Nylon & Why It Matters for Fish
The net you choose dramatically impacts fish survival. Here's why rubber nets are superior to nylon for catch-and-release success.
Quick answers
Common questions about Firehole River.
What flies work best on Firehole River?
Our top scored fly patterns for Firehole River right now are Woolly Bugger (Olive) (80% confidence), Zebra Midge (80% confidence), Griffith's Gnat (80% confidence). These picks are scored from recent fishing reports, hatch data, and seasonal patterns.
What fish species are in Firehole River?
Firehole River holds Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Mountain Whitefish. See the species links on this page for fly recommendations and seasonal behavior for each.
What are current flow conditions on Firehole River?
Live USGS streamflow readings for Firehole River are charted in the sidebar of this page and updated automatically from the nearest gauge.
Is Firehole River fishing well right now?
We publish a fresh bite report for Firehole River each week based on recent on-the-water intel. The current report — with conditions, hatches, and what's producing — is on this page.