Soda Butte Creek overall continues to  fish pretty well at this point, even though showers have intermittently stained the water this past week.

Soda Butte Creek’s restrictions as every knows by now were revoked on the 22nd - look for the numbers of fisherman to pick up a bit.

The automated temperature measuring at this station has registered air temperature highs in the around 70 all week, with lows ranging from the low 40s to the low 30s.  Water temps have peaked at 60 to 61 most afternoons (65 F on the 24th) by the automated monitors.

Flows near the Lamar Ranger Station spiked on the 21st and again on the 23rd (smaller) - this morning’s flows at the gauge near the Lamar Ranger Station are 49 cfs, with today’s average 76 cfs.

Required flies on Soda Butte are going to be a bit smaller (#16-18) than on other Park waters.  There may be a few PMDs around in the morning, and a pocket or two of Caddis in the evenings still coming off.  Baetis are still in the mix here too.  Flavs are still around, and BWOs are far off, and you might see some on the cooler days.  We’re also looking for the Western Green Drakes higher, and the Fall Green Drakes and Hecubas down lower any time now.

Another productive strategy right now is to search with small terrestials (hoppers, beetles, ants) and attractor nymph droppers.  We think this area hosts some of the finest fall terrestrial fishing in the Park.

The bad news is that as Slough, Soda Butte, and the Lamar have been some of the best fishing Park waters through a challenging summer, there’s been some pressure on these rivers, and the trout have seen a lot of flies.  Think before you cast, and make that first cast to an unfished run count.

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Flies to have in the box:

Dries:  PMDs - parachute, sparkle dun, sprout, cripple, CDC emerger, PMX - yellow, peacock, royal; Paradrake, gray, green/olive; Parachute Adams; Lime Tude; X-caddis (higher); Royal Trudes (higher); Stimulator, olive, yellow; Humpy, yellow;  Wulffs; Baetis Parachute

Nymphs:  WD 40, red, green; BH PT; Copper John, green / chartreuse; Micro Mayfly, olive, black; Barrs PMD emerger; small brown caddis nymphs

Terrestrials: Hoppers - Grand, tan, yellow; Dave’s; Para Hopper; Beetles - Fire, Foam, HiVis, Krystal Leg; Ants - Wilcox Glo Ant, CDC winged, epoxy, Para Ant, brown /cinnamon /black

Streamers / Others:  Wooly Buggers, olive /brown / black; Girdle Bug, smaller

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