The towering Tetons stand like sentinels above the valley of Jackson Hole. The craggy row of mountains dominates the western horizon from almost any vantage point within Grand Teton National Park. Here you'll discover wonderful outdoor recreational pursuits, from the extreme adventures of ice and rock climbing to the tamer pursuits of using the park's hiking trails or road biking. Anglers will delight in exploring the park's renowned trout-fishing opportunities.
Geography
Encompassing more than 310,000 acres in northwest Wyoming, Grand Teton National Park lies north of Jackson on U.S. Highway 26/89/191, just south of Yellowstone National Park via the John D. Rockefeller Jr. Memorial Parkway. The park borders the Targhee National Forest to the west, and the Bridger-Teton National Forest to the east. The park's Teton Range includes a dozen peaks with elevations over 12,000 feet, the tallest being Grand Teton at 13,770 feet.
Types
Enormous Jackson Lake covers 25,000 acres at the base of the Teton Range, providing anglers with an obvious starting point for fishing within the park. You can easily access the park's eight additional large, front-country lakes: Emma Matilda, Two Ocean, Leigh, String, Jenny, Bradley, Taggart and Phelps. More than 100 smaller backcountry lakes provide remote fishing opportunities for the adventuresome angler. Anglers can also fish for trout in Grand Teton's three rivers and numerous streams.
Considerations
Grand Teton National Park generally abides by the Wyoming state fishing regulations established by the Wyoming Game and Fish Department. To legally fish in the park, you must acquire a state fishing license. The creel limit for trout in the park is six per day or in possession, of which no more than three can be cutthroat trout. Only one cutthroat can be longer than 12 inches, and only one trout longer than 20 inches.
Time Frame
Jackson Lake closes to fishing annually for the month of October. The Snake River's seasonal limits include only catch-and-release fishing from Nov. 1 through March 31 and closure from the Buffalo Fork confluence at Moran to Menor's Ferry at Moose from Dec. 15 through April 1, as stipulated by the park's fishing brochure. While certain other seasonal closures apply, the major front-country lakes remain open for fishing year round.
Guidance
For professional guidance to the park's prime fishing spots, consider hiring a park-licensed concessionaire to plan your trip. Grand Teton National Park permits six outfitters to provide guided fishing excursions within its boundaries: Grand Teton Lodge Company, Flagg Ranch Resort, Jack Dennis Fishing Trips, Snake River Angler, Triangle X and Signal Mountain Lodge. These services offer shore, wading, float and boat-fishing trips ranging in length from three hours to multiple days in the backcountry.
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