Tailwater · Mixed · Wyoming

Lewis River

Lewis River venue image
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The Lewis River drains Lewis Lake down toward the Snake in the quiet southern end of Yellowstone, and its claim to fame is the channel between Lewis and Shoshone lakes, where big lake-run browns push up to spawn in the fall and draw anglers willing to wade cold water for a shot at a real fish.

Species

A proper day on the water

Low and clear — careful approach country. Stay small, stay accurate.

75% confidence in this read
Water temperature for brown trout
Cool — slow
9°C est.ideal 10–16°C
0°14°28°
Why this score · for brown trout
  • Temperature8228% weight
  • Flow8022% weight
  • Clarity9518% weight
  • Feeding Time5013% weight
  • Pressure807% weight
  • Insect activity5812% weight
Conditions
Level
Dry recently
No gauge reading
Water temp
9.0°C
Estimated
Clarity
Clear
Air temp
15°C
Wind
SW 19 km/h
Gentle breeze
Pressure
1015 hPa
Rain · 24h
0.0 mm
No rain
Rain · ahead
0.0 mm
No meaningful rain · next 48h

Live readings — water temperature is an estimate where the gauge does not record it.

How to fish it · for brown trout
When
Nymphing can work through most of the day.
Where
Cover mixed depths.
Method
Start with tight-line nymphs and adjust if fish rise or drift higher.
Kit
9 ft #4 rod, floating line, 12 ft tapered leader to 4–5 lb fluoro tippet.
Why this works
Good — water clarity is right today, though time of day could be better.
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
Freshwater ShrimpHatch
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
Western Blue-Winged OliveHatch
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
Pale Morning DunHatch
2
3
3
2

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

Gallery · 1
  1. Terrain map of the venue
    Terrain map
Permits & access
Permit required — see local rules.
  • Yellowstone NP licence and special regulations
  • Handle spawning browns minimally — the fall run is the headline.
Directions
Apple MapsGoogle Maps
About this water

The Lewis River drains Lewis Lake down toward the Snake in the quiet southern end of Yellowstone, and its claim to fame is the channel between Lewis and Shoshone lakes, where big lake-run browns push up to spawn in the fall and draw anglers willing to wade cold water for a shot at a real fish. The river proper has meadow and canyon reaches with browns and brook trout. It's lake-fed water, so it runs clear and steady rather than flashing with the weather. Handle the spawning browns with the respect a spawning fish deserves.

  • Mixed
Seasons & zones
  • TroutSaturday of Memorial Day weekend → First Sunday in November
Other water nearby · 5