Soda Butte Creek facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Soda Butte Creek |
|
|---|---|
Soda Butte Creek
|
|
| Country | United States |
| State | Wyoming |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | 45°01′20″N 109°55′03″W / 45.02222°N 109.91750°W, Yellowstone National Park, Montana |
| River mouth | Lamar River 44°52′12″N 110°11′43″W / 44.87000°N 110.19528°W Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming 6,601 ft (2,012 m) |
Soda Butte Creek is a stream about 20 miles (32 km) long in Yellowstone National Park. It is an important branch of the Lamar River. The creek gets its name from a geyser called Soda Butte, which used to be near where the creek joins the Lamar River. A miner named A. Bart Henderson gave the creek and the geyser their names in 1870.
The creek starts just outside the northeast part of the park. It flows from the southern slopes of the Absaroka Range near Cooke City, Montana. If you drive on the Northeast Entrance road, you will see Soda Butte Creek running alongside it for the entire way inside the park. Many people enjoy fishing in Soda Butte Creek, especially for native Yellowstone cutthroat trout.
Fishing in Soda Butte Creek
Soda Butte Creek is a very popular spot for people who enjoy fly fishing. In the upper parts of the creek, you can find brook trout. Further down, closer to its mouth, you will mostly find Yellowstone cutthroat trout and some rainbow trout.
Because of melting snow in spring, the water levels are usually too high for fishing until about mid-July.
Fishing Rules and Regulations
The rules for fishing in the Lamar River area, including Soda Butte Creek, sometimes change. In 2018, some new rules were put in place to help protect the native fish.
- Non-native Fish: Anglers (people fishing) are now asked to keep any non-native fish they catch. This includes rainbow trout, brook trout, and any fish that look like a mix of rainbow and cutthroat trout. This rule applies to the entire Lamar River area.
- "If you don't know, let it go": If you catch a fish and are not sure if it is a hybrid (a mix of two types), it's best to gently release it back into the water.
- Waders: You are no longer allowed to use waders (special waterproof pants for fishing) that have felt soles. This helps prevent the spread of tiny organisms that could harm the park's waters.
- Banned Items: Some fishing items are always banned in the park. These include barbed hooks (hooks with a small point that makes it harder for fish to get off), lead weights, lead split shot (small weights), and live bait.
Images for kids
-
Soda Butte, around 1872, by William Henry Jackson
-
Soda Butte Creek, around 1890
-
Soda Creek in January 2009
-
Soda Butte in December 2009
-
Soda Butte in June 2016
