See you next season.

Tags: River - YNP - Slough Creek, River - YNP - Soda Butte Creek

Given the following graph, we’d probably tend to agree with the guys from Park’s about Soda right now – technically she’s still fishable, but check out the water temps over the past few days……

There’s another blast of cold weather on the way in late this weekend and into next week that must might be the definitive season ender for productive fly fishing on Soda.

Of course it’s up to you, but we’d rank a whole bucket of other waters ahead of Soda right now on the ‘have to fish this week list’.

Unless there’s a marked change in conditions this will probably be the final Soda Butte report of the season – damn, there’s only 4 weeks left in the Park’s season this year.  Ouch.

Tags: River - YNP - Soda Butte Creek

For the second week in a row most of our crew has been chained to the real world and not been able to make the trek to the northeast corner of the Park, even though it’s less than three hours away.

Looks like today’s weather calls for hot and windy conditions ahead of one of our first fall like weather changes; conditions won’t be ideal but I think I’m headed to Soda anyway after getting some early morning chores done today.

The word we’re hearing is that Drakes, midges, and the almost microscopic (to my eyes anyway) cream Baetis are out; crickets, bees and beetles (much more than hoppers) are leading the terrestrial charge.

Pics tomorrow if I can get my work done and pull this off…..

Tags: River - YNP - Slough Creek, River - YNP - Soda Butte Creek

Soda continues to draw a crowd, particularly along the lowermost section of the river above the Lamar confluence (no surprises here).

One of the things we like about the northeast corner now is that there are a host of bugs you have a chance of encountering on the river.  You need to be ready for the big Green Drakes, Olives, smaller tan Drakes, midges (late), Epeorus, and Flavs; terrestrials other than hoppers are still in play too including ants, bees, crickets and beetles.

There are several very good weeks left as the season nears mid-September back here; just be prepared to do some hiking to leave the crowds behind and find some less educated and beat up fish.

Tags: River - YNP - Soda Butte Creek

Being perfectly honest (which is of course very difficult for most fishermen to do) – I don’t know the details right now; most of my fishing comrades in arms have been shying away from the northeast corner due to the crowds, though that is soon to change for the better.

We’ll do some fishing around today and update the status of these fine waters – you can bet they’re fishing well, terrestrials will still be in play, the fish will have moved beyond their PhDs and are doing postdoc work on being crafty and selective, and there are or soon will be some amazing fall dry fly action. With Drakes showing up on other rivers as we’ve noted lately it’s a safe bet they’re rolling back here.

Nifty vid on the I Don’t Know theme…..might have to track down some more of Lisa’s work…

Tags: River - YNP - Slough Creek, River - YNP - Soda Butte Creek

Fishing on the northeast corner waters is still pretty much a “wow” experience.

While general tourist traffic in the Park is definitely on the downswing, there are still impressive crowds of intent fly anglers plying the Soda Butte and its neighbors.

Flows are very healthy for this time of year, and in addition to the hatches we’ve been talking about for the past few weeks, fall Green Drakes and Heptagenia mayflies are coming on too.   There are enough late day Caddis around to make things interesting.

Terrestrials are still very much in play, particularly ants, crickets, smaller hoppers and beetles.

If it’s this good now, it really does make you wonder how much better the fall window is going to be this year.

Wow.

Tags: River - YNP - Soda Butte Creek

The report from Soda Butte today is pretty much on line with what’s happening on Slough as well – crowds are down a bit (though there are still lots of folks around) and the creek is fishing well.

The pile of work on my desk killed my northeast corner day this week; had I made it the plan was to leave Bozeman early and hike in several miles on Soda. That’s still pretty good advice for those hitting SBC this week, you’ll leave most of the crowds behind in the Junction Meadow and Round Mountain area.

The fly menu from last week still stands – Green Drakes (bigger the higher you go), PMDs, Epeorus, PMDs and a bucketful of terrestrials are on the menu, along with better numbers of Spruce Moths.

Chance of rain, tourists and bears today.

Tags: River - YNP - Soda Butte Creek

A friend who spent years in the Park working for various concessionaires (mainly at Tower and Roosevelt) has spent over two decades of summers fishing the northeast corner of the Park.

When he says it’s been insanely crowded over here we sit up and take notice.

No doubt there is some fishing to be done on Soda right now.  You need to plan on hoofing it up out of the Junction Meadow and Round Mountain areas at least; we’d be heading for the upper half of the creek today if we were headed in here.

Green Drakes (bigger the higher you go), PMDs, Epeorus, PMDs and a bucketful of terrestrials are on the menu, along with Spruce Moths (spotty, but increasing).

Being on the water very late will improve your chances of seeing less fisherfolk and more bears – make a little noise coming out.

Tags: River - YNP - Soda Butte Creek

While many of us may love to watch a boisterous thunderstorm roll by, locals often cringe at the boomers rolling out of the mountain country.

August thunderstorms start fires (and we’ve had an unbelievably quite fire season thus far this year in the greater Yellowstone area) and can dump localized rains that blow out area waters for a day or two, or cause some damage like on the Gardner about this time last summer.

Looking at the upper flow gage on Soda shows that the afternoon storms of the past few days have been dumping a fair amount of water in to the system……

Soda has been pounded (anglers, not thunderstorms) again this year just like last year, and the river’s residents are much more wary than even a month ago.  There are lots of bugs still around -  PMDs, Drakes, terrestrials (crickets and beetles have really been hot) – you just need a much better approach, better fish spotting skills, finer tippets, and a better first cast to make things work right now.

Time to be sneaky / stealthy and do some head hunting.

Tags: River - YNP - Soda Butte Creek

Soda Butte never ceases to amaze me this time of year; at first glance you’d think it would never stand up to the pressure that it receives – yet it typically produces some very fine fishing.

This year is no exception, though we’ve talked to a hoard of folks who have fished it in the past 10 days or so and the first thing they’ve all mentioned is how crowded it’s on the water.  The first mile above the Lamar confluence is pounded mercilessly every year – you need to hike to really enjoy your Soda day.

The fishing is worth the hike – there are Drakes (green and gray), PMDs, Yellow Sallies, Epeorus, and Caddis, and small hoppers trailing a beadhead nymph have been deadly.

Spruce Moths are right around the corner, with beetles and ants a must in the box as well.

Fishing Soda makes those Korkers with the interchangeable soles look all that more attractive.  I’m using a pair I bought this year and have been immensely pleased with the boot overall.

Tags: River - YNP - Soda Butte Creek

Soda Butte is coming into its prime.  Flows are coming down, water is clearing up, and there are lots of bugs hatching with abandon.  

Not much as changed hatch-wise since last week.  PMDs and drakes are key hatches, with evening caddis being pretty prolific.  Terrestrials are becoming an ever more important part of the trout’s diet.  

The cutthroat spawn should be just about over by now, but still keep an eye out for them in the channels.  Also, bring your bear spray and your bug spray.  Mosquitoes and flies have been out in force.  

Tags: River - YNP - Soda Butte Creek

Soda Butte is still running quite a bit higher than her ‘normal’ level for this time of year, though flows have been dropping pretty consistently over the past week; frankly it’s been nice once again to have been spared the heavy rains this week.

The bulk of mayflies present are Drakes and PMDs, with evening Caddis still probably the strongest hatch of all, and one to improve as the warmer weather of summer elbows its way into the northeast corner.  Perhaps a bit early for a flock of terrestrials on Soda, though Jake and his group sure saw a bunch of beetles and hoppers on Slough on Monday.

The Park’s guys have a very noteworthy reminded up for Soda Butte fisherfolk today – avoid fishing over late spawners in the side channels – the clean gravel of their redds is pretty easy to spot.

As always bear spray and good bug protection is essential – it looks goofy but a headnet can be a lifesaver out here.

Tags: River - YNP - Soda Butte Creek

Soda has been looking better this week and will be in much better shape by the end of next week. 

It’s still high and cold, even running out of its banks in places, and a reliable report from a very good friend on Thursday suggested there wasn’t much insect activity rolling along just yet. 

Soda continues to contribute quite a bit to the Lamar right now; if you’re headed for the Lamar, fish it above the Soda confluence.

If you simply have to fish Soda, don’t let us deter you; it’s just not close to prime time yet….

Tags: River - YNP - Soda Butte Creek

Nope.  Not Yet. 

Tags: River - YNP - Soda Butte Creek

Still a lot of snow to come out in the high country back here – flows are still running above average as you can see. 

Fishable in 2 weeks?????

Tags: River - YNP - Soda Butte Creek