Wild Trout Fishing on the Soda Butte Creek, Wyoming

Soda Butte Creek rises beneath Henderson Mountain, near Cooke City in Montana, and flows into the northeast corner of Yellowstone National Park; after flowing for more than 15 miles inside the Park it eventually joins the Lamar River.

The Soda Butte after which the river is named

The river gets its name from an imposing geological feature - the Soda Butte, a calcium carbonate mound formed more than a century ago by a hot spring. Nowadays only very small amounts of hot water and hydrogen sulphide gas continue to flow from this once prolific hot spring.

Not only is this a great fishery but it must rank as one of the most scenic rivers of Yellowstone National Park.

Fishing the margin on the lower reaches of Soda Butte Creek

Cutthroat trout and rainbows in the fast-fowing upper river are plentiful, and they average 10 to 12 inches long, but in the gentler pool-riffle sequences below Icebox Canyon and on down to the confluence with the Lamar River there are fewer but rather larger fish, typically around 14 inches in length.

A lovely little cutthroat trout from the upper reaches of the creek

Trout fishing
On slower stretches of the Soda Butte in the summer and early autumn months there are good hatches of Green Drakes, various Baetis species, and Pale Morning Duns (PMDs as they are known as in the USA); this means that there are usually plenty of rising fish to cast for. On hot breezy days live crickets, hoppers and beetles get blown in, so terrestrial imitations are also essential ammunition if you plan on visiting this river.

If you need detailed advice on river trout flyfishing, our Beginners' Guide to Trout and Grayling Fishing is available online...

Tackle
Light tackle (an 8 ft or at the most 9ft AFTM #4 or 5 rod) and fine tippets are ideal for this lovely little stream. Distance casting is not required, but the upper river is a great place to hone your accuracy skills.

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