The river is quite wide in this
section just inside the park
boundary.
section just inside the park
boundary.
Snake River:
| ........................... Fly Fishing Yellowstone National Park |
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About to cross the river to fish
the faster water near the far bank.
the faster water near the far bank.
Lower Snake River just inside
the park. Although the river
appears very shallow, it does
contain some deeper runs and
pools.
the park. Although the river
appears very shallow, it does
contain some deeper runs and
pools.
Several very small streams, some in the park and some not, flow together
below the Continental Divide in the Southeastern portion of Yellowstone
National Park to form the Snake River. Plateau, Fox, Sickle and Crooked Creeks
are some of the small streams that form the river. This is in the most remote
area of the park. The Snake flows for about 15 miles before the first major
tributary, Heart River, joins it.
The fish in this portion of the Snake River are small cutthroats that average 8 to
10 inches. This area of the river is at least 15 miles from any road and most of it
much farther. Anyone fishing this section of the Snake River is probably more
interested in hiking and camping than they are fishing.
The first 4 miles of the Snake River below the Heart River confluence, flows
through a large meadow. The next 2 miles of the river flows through a canyon.
Most of the last 9 miles of the stream that is inside the park flows through
meadows.
The fish are mostly cutthroats and whitefish. Some browns may exist in the
lower section inside the park. The fish average 10 to 15 inches with some better
than that.
You can access this section of the Snake River from the South Entrance to the
park. You can hike up the Lewis River just under a mile and ford it to reach the
Snake River or you can take the South Boundary Trailhead at the South
Entrance and then ford the Snake and then fish upstream. The South Boundary
Trail follows along near the Snake River for a few miles.
Heart River:
The Heart River is a four-mile long tributary river that flows from Heart Lake into
the Snake River. It has a canyon section and a meadow section before
converging with the Snake. The fish are mainly cutthroat trout and some
whitefish. They average 9 to 15 inches.
Outlet Creek:
Outlet Creek is a small tributary of the Heart River that flows from Outlet Lake. Its
fish are small cutthroat trout.
Surprise Creek:
Surprise Creek is a small tributary of Outlet Creek.
Wolverine Creeks:
Wolverine Creek is a very small tributary of the Snake River. All but just over a
half mile of the stream lies outside the park boundaries. The fish are cutthroats
that average 8 to 12 inches long.
Red Creek:
Red Creek is a small tributary of the Snake River.
There are several other small streams in this area. Crawfish Creek, Moose
Creek, Outlet Creek, Pocket Lake, Polecat Creek, and Shoshone Creek all have
populations of trout.
Comments:
The Snake River in the park is part of the beginning of one of the greatest
streams in the Northwest. The lower portion of the stream inside the park can
offer some good fishing at times. Like many headwaters, the uppermost parts
of the stream contains relatively small fish. We would not call it a prime
destination but could provide an enjoyable trip for those who like solitude. It is
doubtful you will ever be crowded.
Copyright 2007 James Marsh
below the Continental Divide in the Southeastern portion of Yellowstone
National Park to form the Snake River. Plateau, Fox, Sickle and Crooked Creeks
are some of the small streams that form the river. This is in the most remote
area of the park. The Snake flows for about 15 miles before the first major
tributary, Heart River, joins it.
The fish in this portion of the Snake River are small cutthroats that average 8 to
10 inches. This area of the river is at least 15 miles from any road and most of it
much farther. Anyone fishing this section of the Snake River is probably more
interested in hiking and camping than they are fishing.
The first 4 miles of the Snake River below the Heart River confluence, flows
through a large meadow. The next 2 miles of the river flows through a canyon.
Most of the last 9 miles of the stream that is inside the park flows through
meadows.
The fish are mostly cutthroats and whitefish. Some browns may exist in the
lower section inside the park. The fish average 10 to 15 inches with some better
than that.
You can access this section of the Snake River from the South Entrance to the
park. You can hike up the Lewis River just under a mile and ford it to reach the
Snake River or you can take the South Boundary Trailhead at the South
Entrance and then ford the Snake and then fish upstream. The South Boundary
Trail follows along near the Snake River for a few miles.
Heart River:
The Heart River is a four-mile long tributary river that flows from Heart Lake into
the Snake River. It has a canyon section and a meadow section before
converging with the Snake. The fish are mainly cutthroat trout and some
whitefish. They average 9 to 15 inches.
Outlet Creek:
Outlet Creek is a small tributary of the Heart River that flows from Outlet Lake. Its
fish are small cutthroat trout.
Surprise Creek:
Surprise Creek is a small tributary of Outlet Creek.
Wolverine Creeks:
Wolverine Creek is a very small tributary of the Snake River. All but just over a
half mile of the stream lies outside the park boundaries. The fish are cutthroats
that average 8 to 12 inches long.
Red Creek:
Red Creek is a small tributary of the Snake River.
There are several other small streams in this area. Crawfish Creek, Moose
Creek, Outlet Creek, Pocket Lake, Polecat Creek, and Shoshone Creek all have
populations of trout.
Comments:
The Snake River in the park is part of the beginning of one of the greatest
streams in the Northwest. The lower portion of the stream inside the park can
offer some good fishing at times. Like many headwaters, the uppermost parts
of the stream contains relatively small fish. We would not call it a prime
destination but could provide an enjoyable trip for those who like solitude. It is
doubtful you will ever be crowded.
Copyright 2007 James Marsh
Brown trout exist in the lower
portions of the Snake River.
portions of the Snake River.