place to get into. The resident fish
are on the small side.
lower part of the stream. This one
is probably the average size fish.
The Lewis River flows from Shoshone Lake through the Lewis River Channel and into Lewis Lake.
Lewis Channel:
The Lewis Channel is three miles long. This is a fairly large stream. The trout in the Lewis Channel are brown trout that average 15 to 20 inches with some larger ones. There are also some lake trout in the channel.
This Lewis Channel is accessible by boat or from the Lewis River Trail that you can access at the Dogshead Trailhead. The trailhead is located about eight miles from the West Thumb on the South Entrance Road. It’s a three mile hike to the channel.
Lewis Lake to Canyon Section:
The Lewis River flows from Lewis Lake over cascades upstream of the Bridge at the South Entrance Road. Below the bridge, for the next two miles, the Lewis River is smooth, slow flowing water.
Canyon Section:
The Lewis River then proceeds to fall into a deep canyon. This canyon section is very difficult to access and for the most part contains only small fish. It finally levels out to flow into the Snake River just inside the South Park Boundary.
Species:
The fish in the upper part of this section of the river are brown trout and brook trout. There are also a few lake trout. The browns average from 12 to 15 inches and larger and the brook trout average from 4 to 6 inches. Fish in the lower canyon portion of the stream are brown trout, cutthroat trout and whitefish. In the fall, brown trout will migrate out of Jackson Lake up the Snake River and into the Lewis River up to the waterfalls. These spawning brown trout are usually large ones.
Comments:
At the right time of the season the Lewis Channel can be one of the better trout fishing destinations in the park.
Copyright 2011 James Marsh
