Lamar River

About Lamar River

The Lamar River, a 43-mile freestone stream in Yellowstone National Park, is renowned for its native Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout and occasional Rainbow Trout. A highly productive 7-mile stretch through the Lamar Valley, accessible from the Northeast Entrance Highway, offers excellent opportunities for dry fly fishing, especially during clear water periods. Anglers can anticipate hatches of Drakes, and terrestrial fishing for hoppers, ants, and beetles is a major draw. While the river's headwaters in the Absaroka Mountains present steeper, canyon country with smaller trout, the river flattens as it approaches Soda Butte Creek, with fish size increasing to a common 9-14 inches. This lower section, particularly in late July and August, provides less pressured, receptive trout that are susceptible to attractor patterns and hoppers.