Major Lakes
| Image | Description |
|---|---|
| Yellowstone Lake 44°28′N 110°22′W / 44.467°N 110.367°W / 44.467; -110.367 (Yellowstone Lake) | |
| Yellowstone Lake is the largest body of water in the park. The lake is 7,732 feet (2,357 m) above sea level and covers 136 square miles (350 km2) with 110 miles (180 km) of shoreline. While the average depth of the lake is 139 feet (42 m), its deepest spot is at least 390 feet (120 m). Yellowstone Lake is the largest freshwater lake above 7,000 feet (2,100 m) in North America. Historically, Yellowstone Lake has been a major fishing destination for Cutthroat Trout which could be easily caught from shore with lures and flies. Today, Cutthroat Trout populations are declining as a result of the unauthorized introduction of Lake Trout into the lake. The lake generally opens for angling in mid June. All Cutthroat Trout caught must be released and all Lake Trout caught must be killed. |
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| Heart Lake 44°16′04″N 110°29′20″W / 44.26778°N 110.48889°W / 44.26778; -110.48889 (Heart Lake) | |
| Heart Lake holds Cutthroat Trout, Lake Trout, and Mountain whitefish. Lake Trout were introduced in the 1890s. Angling is restricted to fly fishing or artificial lures. All Cutthoat Trout and Whitefish must be released. There is no limit on the number of Lake Trout harvested. The park record Lake Trout, 42 pounds (19 kg), was caught in Heart Lake.
Heart Lake is 7.5 miles (12.1 km) from the south entrance road at Lewis Lake via the Heart Lake trail. Heart Lake can also be reached via the Trail Creek trail that traverses the southern shoreline of Yellowstone Lake or via the Heart River trail/Snake River trail from the park's southern border. Heart Lake is within the Heart Lake Bear Management Area and access to the area is closed between April 1 and June 1 annually. |
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| Shoshone Lake 44°22′20″N 110°42′45″W / 44.37222°N 110.71250°W / 44.37222; -110.71250 (Shoshone Lake) | |
| Prior to 1890, Shoshone Lake was barren of fish as Lewis Falls on the Lewis River was a barrier to upstream migration. In 1890, fisheries personnel planted Lake and Brown trout and created a popular fishery, especially for large Brown trout in the fall. The lake also contains the Utah chub which was probably inadvertently introduced by bait anglers in the 1950s. Brook Trout were planted in several tributary streams and are occasionally found in the lake. Angling is restricted to fly fishing or artificial lures. Boating on Shoshone Lake is restricted to hand-powered craft only, which means float tubes, kayaks or canoes.
The lake is accessible by water via Lewis Lake and the Lewis River channel. Several trails provide access to the western, northern and eastern shoreline of the lake. The Shoshone Lake trail connects the Upper Geyser Basin and the Lewis River channel while passing through the Shoshone Geyser Basin at the southwest end of the lake. The DeLacy Creek trail provides access to the northern and eastern shoreline via the Grand Loop Road near Craig Pass. The Dogshead trail and Lewis River Channel trail provide access from the south entrance road near Lewis Lake. There are 20 backcountry campsites on Shoshone Lake. |
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| Lewis Lake 44°18′16″N 110°37′46″W / 44.30444°N 110.62944°W / 44.30444; -110.62944 (Lewis Lake) | |
| Lewis Lake is a popular brown and lake-trout fishery. The 2,716-acre (10.99 km2) lake is 12 miles (19 km) north of the South Entrance, on the West Thumb–South Entrance Highway. Lewis and Yellowstone Lakes are the only lakes that allows motorized watercraft.
Lewis Lake contains brook trout, browns, cutthroats, and lake trout. Most of the angling pressure is from spin fishers, but a few local fly anglers make the lake a regular stop, fishing the drop-off along the southwest shore with sinking lines and leech imitations. Fishing from a tube or a boat is more reliable than wade fishing the outlet. The best times to fish Lewis Lake are at ice-out in mid-June, warm summer evenings, and late October, when the spawning brown trout become aggressive. Streamers and leeches are effective in the early and late season with caddis the fly of choice on warm summer evenings. |
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Read more about this topic: Angling In Yellowstone National Park
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