Freestone · Mixed · Wyoming/Montana

Soda Butte Creek

Butterstone Loch terrain map
Terrain map

Soda Butte is the Lamar's roadside tributary — pocket water and runs you can step into right off the Northeast Entrance road, holding native Yellowstone cutthroat that don't make you work too hard for the privilege.

Species

About as good as it gets

Low and clear — careful approach country. Take your time — read the water before you cast.

75% confidence in this read
Water temperature for cutthroat trout
Ideal
11°C est.ideal 9–15°C
0°14°28°
Why this score · for cutthroat trout
  • Temperature10028% weight
  • Flow8022% weight
  • Clarity8518% weight
  • Feeding Time5013% weight
  • Pressure757% weight
  • Insect activity5912% weight
Conditions
Level
Dry recently
No gauge reading
Water temp
11.3°C
Estimated
Clarity
Clear
Air temp
18°C
Wind
W 19 km/h
Gentle breeze
Pressure
1013 hPa
Rain · 48h
0.0 mm
No meaningful rain
Rain · ahead
0.3 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 cutthroat 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
Excellent — water temperature 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
GrannomHatch
2
2
Evening SedgeHatch
2
3
3
3
2
Western Green DrakeHatch
2
2
Flav (Small Western Green Drake)Hatch
2
3
2

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

Permits & access
Permit required — see local rules.
  • Yellowstone NP licence and native-cutthroat rules (barbless catch-and-release).
Directions
Apple MapsGoogle Maps
About this water

Soda Butte is the Lamar's roadside tributary — pocket water and runs you can step into right off the Northeast Entrance road, holding native Yellowstone cutthroat that don't make you work too hard for the privilege. It clears earlier than the main Lamar, so when a storm has the big river the color of coffee, this is often where you go to actually catch something. Barbless catch-and-release under Park rules.

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