Area Fishing

Jackson is home to some of the most pristine native trout streams in the world. With our vast wilderness, there is a lifetime’s worth of water to explore. Getting involved with the Jackson Hole Chapter is one of the best ways to meet passionate anglers eager to share their knowledge about where to go and what to use to find success on the rivers and streams we work together to protect and restore.

Listed below are some of our most famous and accessible waters, along with information on seasonality and fishing opportunities. Always check local fishing regulations and consider attending a JHTU Chapter event to meet community members who are happy to answer questions and help you make the most of your time on the water!

Snake River – Wilson Bridge

The Snake River is our most iconic and beloved river system. With its headwaters originating in Yellowstone National Park, it winds through the heart of our Jackson Hole valley, offering unmatched access right in our backyard. Just 15 minutes from downtown Jackson or from Jackson Hole Mountain Resort in Teton Village, the Wilson Bridge provides miles of public access in both directions for anglers to explore.

While this incredible fishery can be enjoyed year-round, summer and fall are the most popular seasons to get out on the water. Spring can offer some memorable early opportunities, but May and June are typically times to avoid larger river systems like the Snake, as heavy snowmelt (known as runoff) pushes through the drainage. Once the river clears in late June or July, our native Snake River fine-spotted cutthroat trout become especially eager to feed. Among all trout species, these cutthroats are particularly inclined to look up, making surface patterns a go-to choice.

Many anglers take advantage of their surface-feeding preference by fishing dry-dropper rigs: large terrestrials or stoneflies used to suspend a nymph just below the surface. Smaller dry flies, such as Pale Morning Duns (PMDs), are another favorite, especially in the riffles and shallow gravel bars where these insects hatch throughout the summer. Native Rocky Mountain whitefish are also abundant in the Snake River and tend to feed lower in the water column, where deeper presentations, like nymph rigs fished under a bobber, are often the most effective approach.

Flat Creek – National Elk Refuge

Open to the public from August 1 to October 31, Flat Creek on the National Elk Refuge is an easily accessible option located just 10 minutes north of downtown Jackson. Known for its technical dry fly fishing and large cutthroat trout, Flat creek is the ideal fishing opportunity for those looking to test their fly selection and presentation skills. Holding back routine dry fly patterns and looking to more technical emerger and spinner patterns can often be the key to fooling this sharp-eyed population of fish. Taking time to study rising fish and search the bank for clues of potential terrestrial offerings will often benefit anglers willing to be patient.

Gros Ventre River

Pronounced “Grow-Vont,” the Gros Ventre River winds past the small town of Kelly, Wyoming, just north of Jackson, before eventually merging with the Snake River. As a tributary to the Snake, the Gros Ventre offers anglers opportunities to target native cutthroat trout, the species most people come seeking.

With a substrate much more similar to the Snake than to Flat Creek, anglers often find success using the same dry-dropper and dry-fly rigs they would fish on the mainstem. Keeping an eye out for hatches on shallow gravel bars or looking for fresh stonefly shucks lining river rocks is a great way to determine which setup to use on any given day.

Moose sightings are common along the Gros Ventre, making this an ideal destination for anglers hoping to pair time on the water with a chance for wildlife photography.