Plateau, Fox, Sickle and Crooked Creeks are some of the small streams that form the Snake river. The river lies in the most remote area of the park.
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The Snake River flows for about fifteen miles before its confluence with the first major tributary, Heart River, joins it. The fish in this portion of the Snake River are small cutthroats that average 8 to 10 inches. This area of the river is at least fifteen miles from any road and most of it much farther. Anyone fishing this section of the Snake River is probably more interested in hiking and camping than they are fishing.
The first four miles of the Snake River below the Heart River confluence, flows through a large meadow. The next two miles of the river flows through a canyon. Most of the last nine miles of the stream that’s inside the park flows through meadows.
Species:
The fish are mostly cutthroats and whitefish. Some browns may exist in the lower section inside the park. The fish average 10 to 15 inches with some going better than that.
Access:
You can access this section of the Snake River from the South Entrance to the park. You can hike up the Lewis River just under a mile and ford it to reach the Snake River, or you can take the South Boundary Trailhead at the South Entrance and then ford the Snake. From there you could fish upstream. The South Boundary Trail follows along near the Snake River for a few miles.
Heart River:
The Heart River is a four-mile long tributary river that flows from Heart Lake into the Snake River. It has a canyon section and a meadow section before converging with the Snake. The fish are mainly cutthroat trout with some whitefish. They cutthroats average 9 to 15 inches.
Outlet Creek:
Outlet Creek is a small tributary of the Heart River that flows from Outlet Lake. Its fish are small cutthroat trout.
Surprise Creek:
Surprise Creek is a small tributary of Outlet Creek.
Wolverine Creeks:
Wolverine Creek is a very small tributary of the Snake River. All but just over a half mile of the stream lies outside the park boundaries. The fish are cutthroats that average 8 to 12 inches long.
Red Creek:
Red Creek is a small tributary of the Snake River.
Misc. Tributaries:
There are several other small streams in this area. Crawfish Creek, Moose Creek, Outlet Creek, Pocket Lake, Polecat Creek, and Shoshone Creeks all have populations of trout.
Comments:
The Snake River that’s inside Yellowstone Park is part of the beginning of one of the greatest streams in the Northwest. The lower portion of the stream inside the park can offer some good fishing at times. Like many headwaters, the uppermost parts of the stream contains relatively small fish. We would not call it a prime destination but could provide an enjoyable trip for those who like solitude. It is doubtful you will ever be crowded.
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Copyright 2012 James Marsh