Bison are abundant throughout
the area, especially in the lower
section of Soda Butte Creek. You
have to keep an eye out for them.
the area, especially in the lower
section of Soda Butte Creek. You
have to keep an eye out for them.
Soda Butte Creek:
| ............................Fly Fishing Yellowstone National Park |
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A beaver dam almost stops the
flow of water in this small off-shoot
of Soda Butte not far from the
Lamar River. Cutthroat will move
into these type of areas.
flow of water in this small off-shoot
of Soda Butte not far from the
Lamar River. Cutthroat will move
into these type of areas.
This is an appropriate sign for the
Soda Butte area. Both black and
grizzly bears make this area their
home.
Soda Butte area. Both black and
grizzly bears make this area their
home.
Soda Butte Creek ranks with any
of the park's streams from a
beauty standpoint and the fishing
action is usually fast.
of the park's streams from a
beauty standpoint and the fishing
action is usually fast.
Casting a hopper right next to the
banks. This is a good method to
use in August. Most terrestrial
insects work fine.
banks. This is a good method to
use in August. Most terrestrial
insects work fine.
Casting space is no problem in
the lower portion of Soda Butte
Creek. It is wide open meadows.
the lower portion of Soda Butte
Creek. It is wide open meadows.
Soda Butte Creek is one of the main tributary streams of the Lamar River. It flows
through one of the most beautiful valleys in the World. The scenery is spectacular.
Soda Butte Creek begins outside the park in Montana and flow inside the
Northeast corner of the park. The stream has mostly cutthroat trout but there are
also a few smaller rainbows.
Upper Part:
The upper part of Soda Butte Creek flows through a deep ravine called Icebox
Canyon. The icebox canyon is a narrow, deeper section of canyon that rarely sees
the sun. Ice stays in the bottom of the canyon most of the year. This also helps
keep the water temperature of the stream low even during the summer months.
The fish are usually larger below the Pebble Creek confluence. However, the
upper part of the stream is full of smaller, eager trout very willing to take your fly.
The stream is very easy to access. It flows along the Northeast Entrance Highway.
The uppermost part of the stream starts near Cooke City just outside the
Northeast entrance.
Lower Part:
The lower part of the stream near the Lamar River confluence, flows through large
meadows and host the largest fish in the stream. Large cutthroat trout, up to 18
inches and even better, can be taken from this section of the stream.
The average length of the fish is probably 12 and 14 inches. Soda Butte Creek has
a very good supply of aquatic insects that makes the fishing even more
interesting. Stoneflies, caddisflies, mayflies and several types of terrestrial insects
makes up the ample food supply for the trout.
Pebble Creek:
Pebble Creek is a small tributary stream of Soda Butte Creek. It contains a
population of cutthroat. The trout are larger than you may expect in a small creek of
its size. It has cutthroat up to 14 inches long in some parts of the stream. Most of
them are smaller and probably average 6 to 12 inches long.
Campgrounds are available along the Pebble Creek Trial including one at its
confluence with Soda Butte Creek. The lower part of the stream is accessible from
the campground but from there upstream you will have to hike. This is probably a
good thing because you will most likely not see many, if any, other anglers.
Comments:
Soda Butte Creek is one of the most beautiful trout streams in the United States.
The magnificent scenery of the mountains surrounding the stream makes it the
picture perfect fly-fishing setting.
Copyright 2007 James Marsh
through one of the most beautiful valleys in the World. The scenery is spectacular.
Soda Butte Creek begins outside the park in Montana and flow inside the
Northeast corner of the park. The stream has mostly cutthroat trout but there are
also a few smaller rainbows.
Upper Part:
The upper part of Soda Butte Creek flows through a deep ravine called Icebox
Canyon. The icebox canyon is a narrow, deeper section of canyon that rarely sees
the sun. Ice stays in the bottom of the canyon most of the year. This also helps
keep the water temperature of the stream low even during the summer months.
The fish are usually larger below the Pebble Creek confluence. However, the
upper part of the stream is full of smaller, eager trout very willing to take your fly.
The stream is very easy to access. It flows along the Northeast Entrance Highway.
The uppermost part of the stream starts near Cooke City just outside the
Northeast entrance.
Lower Part:
The lower part of the stream near the Lamar River confluence, flows through large
meadows and host the largest fish in the stream. Large cutthroat trout, up to 18
inches and even better, can be taken from this section of the stream.
The average length of the fish is probably 12 and 14 inches. Soda Butte Creek has
a very good supply of aquatic insects that makes the fishing even more
interesting. Stoneflies, caddisflies, mayflies and several types of terrestrial insects
makes up the ample food supply for the trout.
Pebble Creek:
Pebble Creek is a small tributary stream of Soda Butte Creek. It contains a
population of cutthroat. The trout are larger than you may expect in a small creek of
its size. It has cutthroat up to 14 inches long in some parts of the stream. Most of
them are smaller and probably average 6 to 12 inches long.
Campgrounds are available along the Pebble Creek Trial including one at its
confluence with Soda Butte Creek. The lower part of the stream is accessible from
the campground but from there upstream you will have to hike. This is probably a
good thing because you will most likely not see many, if any, other anglers.
Comments:
Soda Butte Creek is one of the most beautiful trout streams in the United States.
The magnificent scenery of the mountains surrounding the stream makes it the
picture perfect fly-fishing setting.
Copyright 2007 James Marsh
Attempting to spot a cutthroat prior to
casting to it.
casting to it.
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This is probably an average size cutthroat
for Soda Butte.
for Soda Butte.
Another small cutthroat that
aggressively took the dry fly.
aggressively took the dry fly.
Normally James likes to work his way
upstream but he is having second
thoughts in this case - bison ahead.
Ab
upstream but he is having second
thoughts in this case - bison ahead.
Ab
Small cutthroats are very plentiful in
the upper portions of Soda Butte
Creek.
the upper portions of Soda Butte
Creek.
The middle portion of Soda Butte Creek
is a mixture of forest and meadows. The
water varies with the terrain.
Ab
is a mixture of forest and meadows. The
water varies with the terrain.
Ab
Angie took three cutthroats from
this small channel.
Ab
this small channel.
Ab
A very nice cutthroat trout taken
from the lower end of Soda Butte
Creek.
from the lower end of Soda Butte
Creek.
Late Summer is prime grasshopper
season in the Soda Butte Meadows. This
is a fun way to fish.
season in the Soda Butte Meadows. This
is a fun way to fish.
Another average size cutthroat
trout for the Soda Butte Creek
trout for the Soda Butte Creek