Soda Butte Creek is infringed by numerous peaks with names such as Abiathar, Baronette, Hornaday, Republic, and The Thunderer. Waterfalls pour from coullairs high among rocky precipices. The valley was carved thousands of years ago by massive glaciers, like a giant plow scouring the bowels of the earth. To this day the creek has a slight glacial hue to it.
Soda Butte Creek (above) is a small stream with surprisingly large cutthroat trout.
Enroute to its confluence with the Lamar, Soda Butte flows through heavily forested tracts punctuated with occasional subalpine meadows adorned with wildflowers. Downstream from the Pebble Creek confluence, Soda Butte spills onto the sagebrush flats of the Lamar Valley where it passes its namesake, the Soda Butte cone, a dormant hot spring.
Access is easy as the northeast entrance road parallels the creek its entire length from the Lamar River to Cooke City. Cutts from 8 to 16 inches are the primary species along the creek's length, however, there are some rainbows and cuttbows in its lower reaches.
Pebble Creek is very similar to Soda Butte, although a smaller version. Pebble dumps into Soda Butte in a lovely meadow at the foot of The Thunderer. Just upstream of the confluence lies Pebble Creek Campground, one of the park's best. From the campground upstream a trail parallels the creek for 13 miles. Day hikes and overnight trips will put anglers into 8 to 14 inch cutts. One hundred fish days were not uncommon several years ago, but increased pressure and several years of high water have decreased the catch rates recently. The scenery alone is worth the hike and at the northern boundary of the park, Cutoff Mountain stands like a sentinel overlooking the upper meadows of the creek.
Green Drakes, Golden Stones, and Pale Morning Duns are important aquatic insects on Soda Butte Creek (above), but do not underestimate the importance of terrestrials. Hoppers, beetles, and ants should be in every angler's fly box.
Numerous species of insects hatch on both creeks throughout the season. Golden stones, caddis, Pale Morning Duns and Baetis so typical of hatches elsewhere in the region also occur here. As with the Lamar, a great Green Drake hatch occurs in September on Soda Butte Creek giving the trout one last hardy meal before winter. In addition to matching the hatch, attractors, terrestrials, and various bead-head nymphs work well on both creeks, though the fishing is less technical on Pebble Creek.
This alluring region of Yellowstone has much to offer to everyone, not just fly fishermen. You can bring your family here and a good time will be had by all. The wildlife, breathtaking scenery, and superb fishing, what could be better? It's a place for adventure angling at its finest, remember its more than just the fish!
Chad Olsen owns Greater Yellowstone Flyfishers in Bozeman, Montana.
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