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.
A patient day, if you fancy it
Good wave on — drift country. Take your time — read the water before you cast.
41% confidence — limited data
Live now
Conditions on the water
Trends shown where the gauge supports them
Wind
S 8 km/h
Light breeze
Wave
Ripple
Water temp
—
No reading
Air temp
8°C
Cloud
Clear
Pressure
1020 hPa
Rain · 24h
0.0 mm
No rain
Some readings unavailable — check directly before fishing.
How to fish · for brown trout
The brief
When · where · method · kit
How to fish it · for brown 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.
Today's tactical plan
The plan
Plan A · Plan B · what to watch · bank or boat
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
Evening tends to be the best period in summer — stay late if you can for a sedge or spinner fall.
Boat — drift
A gentle ripple is ideal for drifting — broadside drift covering the wind lanes should be productive.
Hatches & runs
What's on, when
Twelve months at a glance
Through the year
0–3 scale · June 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
Daddy Long LegsHatch
2
3
2
Murrough (Great Red Sedge)Hatch
1
2
1
Lake OliveHatch
1
2
2
2
2
2
1
Numbers are intensity 0 (none) to 3 (peak) — a guide, not a guarantee.
Today's fly · curated pack
Top pattern + the box
5 patterns from this venue's curated pack
Evidence
Why today scores what it does
The factors driving today's verdict
Why this score
- Wind conditions (ripple) closely match what this water fishes best in.
About this water · Lough note · 4 min read
About this water
Lewis Lake, on the water
Field guide · contributor-editedLewis Lake · about
What this water is
Background · character · contributors
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
Lewis Lake · directions
How to get to the water
Directions
Lewis Lake · zones
Where the rules change
Seasons · zones · per-species rules
Seasons & zones
- TroutSaturday of Memorial Day weekend → First Sunday in November
Lewis Lake · permits
Good to know
Permits & access
Permit required — see local rules.
- Yellowstone NP licence and special regulations — check current NPS rules.
Lewis Lake
Google Places
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.
Species
A patient day, if you fancy it
Good wave on — drift country. Take your time — read the water before you cast.
41% confidence — limited data
Conditions
Wind
S 8 km/h
Light breeze
Wave
Ripple
Water temp
—
No reading
Air temp
8°C
Cloud
Clear
Pressure
1020 hPa
Rain · 24h
0.0 mm
No rain
Some readings unavailable — check directly before fishing.
Condition match
69%
Cloud70%
Wind100%
Temp25%
A reasonable day here, though temperature isn't quite in the sweet spot.
How to fish it · for brown 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
Evening tends to be the best period in summer — stay late if you can for a sedge or spinner fall.
Boat — drift
A gentle ripple is ideal for drifting — broadside drift covering the wind lanes should be productive.
Why this score
- Wind conditions (ripple) closely match what this water fishes best in.
Through the year
0–3 scale · June 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
Daddy Long LegsHatch
2
3
2
Murrough (Great Red Sedge)Hatch
1
2
1
Lake OliveHatch
1
2
2
2
2
2
1
Numbers are intensity 0 (none) to 3 (peak) — a guide, not a guarantee.
Gallery · 1
Terrain map
Permits & access
Permit required — see local rules.
- Yellowstone NP licence and special regulations — check current NPS rules.
Directions
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
Seasons & zones
- TroutSaturday of Memorial Day weekend → First Sunday in November
About this water · Lough note · 4 min read
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.
Fishing better nearby · 5