Soda Butte Creek continues to  fish pretty well at this point, as has been typical of the waters in the NE sector of the Park this summer. 

Soda Butte Creek below Amphitheater Creek remains under special regulations right now - basically the river below Amphitheater Creek is closed from 2 PM to 5 AM.  We feel that most waters should really be closed by noon - or whenever water temps rise into the high 60s.

Flows have been gradually declining all week; rainfall has been more in the form of spotty showers than downpours, and the water has been stained at times but has not blown out since very early in the week.  Flows near the Lamar Ranger Station this morning (0745) were 55 cfs (today’s average 94 cfs, the 20% marker 66 cfs). 

The automated temperature measuring at this station has registered air temperature highs in the high 70s to low 80s all week, though interestingly lows have been in the mid to high 30s.  Water temps have peaked at 66 or 67 most afternoons by the automated monitors - certainly better than several weeks ago.  It looks like a warmer week coming by the forecasts.

The best strategy right is to search with small terrestials (hoppers, beetles, ants) and attractor nymph droppers.   Spruce Moths are around, though sporadic.  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. 

The bad news is that as Slough, Soda Butte, and the Lamar are some of the best Park fishing right now, 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

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

Terrestials:  Hoppers, small to mid size, VW hopper, Grand hopper - tan; Beetles, Ants - chernobyl, ParaAnt, black and cinnamon;

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

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