Upland Natural Lake · Mixed · Wyoming, US

Lewis Lake

Lewis Lake terrain map

Lewis Lake sits in the quiet southern end of the Park and holds brown trout and lake trout in deep, cold, timber-fringed water — one of the few places in Yellowstone where the lake trout are a legitimate, legal target rather than an invader to be killed.

Fair · Trout
Balanced Leech · 8-12
A respectable few hours, if you choose your moments
Good wave on — drift country. A useful wave. Work the productive shore.
49% confidence
limited data

Lewis Lake is often best in spring through autumn.

What moved it
  • WindSW 13 km/hGentle breeze
Today's fly
Balanced Leech
Balanced Leech8-12
Proven pattern for this period
Conditions on the water
Estimate
Wind
Gentle breeze
SW 13 km/h
N
SW
from the south-west
Wave20 cm ripple
Water temp12.2°C
Air temp14°C
CloudOvercast
Pressure1013 hPa
Rain · recent0.0 mm

No gauge on this water — readings are regional estimates from weather, not a live gauge.

Head to
Wind driftSW wind
North-eastern end

A south-westerly has held for 7 hours, running warmer than the water (15°C air against 12°C water). Expect fish at the north-eastern end — the bank it is blowing into — where the drift piles food, colour and warmth together. This reads the upper water, though — a bottom bait at range feels it far less than a floater or a fish in the margins. Treat it as a tiebreaker between good swims rather than an override — features and angling pressure usually count for more.

How to fish it · for Trout
When
Autumn for staging browns near the channel; summer for the deeper water
Where
Set up a broadside drift and cover the water systematically. Work a bushy searching pattern on the bob and drop a contrasting nymph on the point.
The plan
Plan A

Set up a broadside drift and cover the water systematically. Work a bushy searching pattern on the bob and drop a contrasting nymph on the point.

Plan B

If the main plan is not working, switch to a smaller, more imitative pattern fished slower and deeper. A change of drift angle can also make a difference.

Watch for

Keep an eye on changing conditions — wind shifts and cloud breaks can trigger short feeding spells.

Boat — drift

A gentle ripple is ideal for drifting — broadside drift covering the wind lanes should be productive.

Sub-surface · on the nymphunder the surface

Hatch predictions

Top nymph shown — see all 2 guilds with Pro.

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Beyond the hatch · worth watchingambient prey(1)

Hatch predictions

Top prey shown — see all 3 with Pro.

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Through the year
0–3 scale · September highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Black MidgeHatch
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
Flying AntsHatch
1
2
1
Gray DrakeHatch
1
1
CallibaetisHatch
1
2
2
2
1

Numbers are intensity 0 (none) to 3 (peak) — a guide, not a guarantee.

Ranked for today
Trout fly box
CH
Chironomid
12-16 · Pattern
Proven pattern for this period
Permits & access
Permit required — see local rules.
  • Yellowstone NP licence and special regulations — check current NPS rules.
What's coming
Plan ahead
5-day outlook
Condition match
71%
Cloud50%
Wind65%
Temp100%

A good match for Lewis Lake — most conditions are close to what it fishes best in.

Fishing better nearby · 5
Firehole River
27 km
75
Brown trout · Rainbow trout
Gibbon River
46 km
73
Brown trout · Rainbow trout · Brook trout
Lewis River
1.0 km
Brown trout · Brook trout
Shoshone Lake
9.0 km
Brown trout
Yellowstone Lake
29 km
Cutthroat trout
About this water

Lewis Lake sits in the quiet southern end of the Park and holds brown trout and lake trout in deep, cold, timber-fringed water — one of the few places in Yellowstone where the lake trout are a legitimate, legal target rather than an invader to be killed. You can launch a boat or tube here, and in fall the browns stage near the channel mouth before running up toward Shoshone Lake to spawn. It's a peaceful, big-water place. Strip a leech or a streamer along the drop-offs and enjoy the lack of a crowd.

  • Lake
  • Mixed
Why this score
  • Temperature (cool) is in the sweet spot for autumn fishing.
Directions
Apple MapsGoogle Maps
Seasons & zones
  • Trout Saturday of Memorial Day weekend → First Sunday in November
Related guides
Thermal Layers & Troutreading depth and temperatureEuro Nymphingsubsurface methods
Booking & contacts