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West Thumb to South Entrance -
Yellowstone National Park
This stretch of road provides access to some of the most remote backcountry lakes in all of Yellowstone and is the road that connects Yellowstone with Grand Teton National Park and Jackson, Wyoming. It features two beautiful, roadside accessible waterfalls, the Lewis Lake Campground and boat dock, and a scenic canyon drive with repeating sheer cliffs and flat areas with multiple river channels.
Fly Fishing the Lewis River from Lewis Falls through the meadows: Below Lewis Falls the Lewis River briefly cascades until it flows under the bridge of the South Entrance Road and down the valley, approximately 2 miles through beautiful meadows. Brown trout averaging 12 to 14 inches, and the smaller brook trout averaging 4 to 6 inches inhabit this stream.
Flies to Use by Hatch During the Early, Summer, and Fall Periods of Fishing the River:
Early/June: Usually not well fished due to the cold-water temperatures
July/August: Mayflies, green drakes, PMDs
Sept/Oct: Blue-winged olives, emergers
Fly Fishing Heart Lake: This lake holds the Yellowstone Park record for the largest lake trout ever caught; 42-pounds of awesome fun at the end of that person’s line. The average size of trout in this lake is around 18-20 inches. Lake trout were introduced into the lake in the 1890’s, and the lake also holds cutthroat trout and mountain whitefish, but these two species must be released if caught. This lake can only be fly fished or fished using artificial lures, and there is no limit on the number of lake trout that can be caught and kept. Caddis and mayflies are best for dry-fly fishing, and a streamer that imitates a small cutthroat for lake trout.