Slough Creek, the second meadow section.

If the idea of fishing hoppers to abundant large native cutthroat in a pastoral setting appeals to you, you might consider placing Slough Creek in your future. To many an angler, this lovely creek running from the Beartooth Range through 16 miles of Yellowstone National Park before emptying into the Lamar is the gem of Yellowstone.

Slough Creek runs into the Lamar through a short canyon full of riffle water that is little fished. Above this canyon begins the first stretch of good flywater. This water, the Lower Meadow, extends up to the second canyon just above the Slough Creek campground. Its proximity to both campground and road make the lower meadow by far the hardest-fished stretch of Slough Creek.

From the lower meadow a hike -- by trail, not along the river -- of forty-five minutes takes the angler to the first meadow. A hike of another hour-and-a-half takes you to the second meadow. Some people have designated a third meadow above this. The third meadow is really just an extension of the second -- Elk Tongue Creek being the dividing line. Across the Montana border is the last meadow area, known as Frenchie's.

The principal fish here is the Yellowstone cutthroat. The cutthroat in the meadows will run between 14 and 18 inches. This fish is, by all accounts, the same animal that comes so readily to hook in the upper Yellowstone. Fishing pressure has educated the Slough Creek cutthroat, and they are as wary as their Yellowstone River brothers are brash.

Fish in the first meadow are said to be caught 15 times per season. When you see the number of hook scars on these fish, you will have no trouble believing this figure. So how can these trout be called wary? According to Richard Parks of Parks Fly Shop, the numbers probably break down something like this: they are caught eight times in the first week, six times the second week and once for the rest of the season. However it works out, these cutthroat, especially those above the lower meadow, are definitely selective. In the lower meadow you may encounter a few rainbows mixed in with the cutts.

Slough Creek is generally fishable by the beginning of July. You will begin seeing pale morning duns as soon as the river clears. These will remain strong through July but begin to fall off with the arrival of August. Gray drakes, big ones #10 and #12, can be found through the summer. In the early fall you might find the green drake in fishable numbers.

Caddis will be seen in the summer but not in the numbers found on many other Park streams. However, in August terrestrials are of prime importance; it is hard to imagine a river better suited to hopper fishing. Hoppers are abundant in the meadows, and they inevitably find their clumsy way into the creek with great frequency. Beatles and ants -- red and black -- also should be carried in your fly box. Damselflies are another important item in the Slough Creek trout's diet.

The water here is gin clear. You will see your prey well before you cast. And, of course, he may well see you. Work carefully with fine tippets and your best presentation, and you will have success. Anything less and you'll get skunked.

You can easily fish the creek in hiking boots from the bank making the walk in more pleasant. You'll find a net comes in handy.

Slough Creek is the very definition of great meadow fishing. This creek has received plenty of ink in the past few years, and it is about as big a secret as the Madison. Expect to fish in the presence of other anglers -- the further you walk, the fewer you'll see. In August when the Madison and the Firehole are slow, a trip up north to Slough Creek -- and the Lamar -- could lead to a very memorable day of fly fishing.

Slough Creek is one of 50 rivers covered in the CD-ROM Flywater Interactive. In addition to the River Profiles on each of those 50 rivers, you will find maps, photographs, hatch information, fly charts, support services, regulations and more. The Flywater Interactive CD-ROM sells for $59.95 and can be ordered by telephoning 800-692-6292. Two coffee table books, Watermark and Flywater by Grant McClintock and Mike Crockett, are also available. Or visit Flywater Interactive at www.flywater.com.

Copyright © 1996 Flywater Publishing. All rights reserved.