Upland Natural Lake · Mixed · Wyoming, US

Yellowstone Lake

Yellowstone Lake terrain map

Yellowstone Lake is the great high-altitude lake at the heart of the Park, and it holds the largest population of native Yellowstone cutthroat left on earth — a fishery that nearly collapsed under illegally-introduced lake trout and is clawing back through a hard, ongoing suppression program.

Fair · Cutthroat 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

Yellowstone Lake is often best in spring through autumn.

What moved it
  • WindSW 7 km/hLight breeze
Today's fly
Balanced Leech
Balanced Leech8-12
Proven pattern for this period
Conditions on the water
Estimate
Wind
Light breeze
SW 7 km/h
N
SW
from the south-west
WaveRipple
Water temp11.0°C
Air temp12°C
CloudOvercast
Pressure1017 hPa
Rain · recent0.0 mm

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

How to fish it · for Cutthroat Trout
When
Mid-summer after the late opener; sight-fish the warming shorelines
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 4 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
Trout seasonSeason
1
2
2
2
2
1
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
Cutthroat Trout fly box
CH
Chironomid
12-16 · Pattern
Proven pattern for this period
Permits & access
Permit required — see local rules.
  • Yellowstone NP licence
  • Native cutthroat are catch-and-release ONLY; any lake trout caught must be killed under invasive-suppression rules
  • Conservation-critical — follow NPS regulations exactly.
What's coming
Plan ahead
5-day outlook
Condition match
85%
Cloud50%
Wind100%
Temp100%

Conditions are ideal for Yellowstone Lake — wind, cloud and temperature all line up.

Other water nearby · 5
Lewis Lake
29 km
Brown trout
Lewis River
30 km
Brown trout · Brook trout
Shoshone Lake
30 km
Brown trout
Firehole River
41 km
Brown trout · Rainbow trout
Gibbon River
42 km
Brown trout · Rainbow trout · Brook trout
About this water

Yellowstone Lake is the great high-altitude lake at the heart of the Park, and it holds the largest population of native Yellowstone cutthroat left on earth — a fishery that nearly collapsed under illegally-introduced lake trout and is clawing back through a hard, ongoing suppression program. This is conservation water first and foremost. The cutthroat cruise the shorelines and shoals where you can sight-fish them from the bank or a tube. Park rules require you to kill any lake trout you catch and release every cutthroat unharmed — follow them to the letter; this lake's recovery depends on it.

  • Lake
  • Mixed
Why this score
  • Wind conditions (ripple) closely match what this water fishes best in.
  • Temperature (cool) is in the sweet spot for autumn fishing.
Directions
Apple MapsGoogle Maps
Seasons & zones
  • Trout 15 June → First Sunday in November
Related guides
Thermal Layers & Troutreading depth and temperatureEuro Nymphingsubsurface methods
Booking & contacts