Yellowstone Park, July 20th, 2021

Beula Lake

Main roads are crowded with record numbers of tourists and most streams are warm and at or near base levels. There are some waters that do not experience the crowding found on road-side waters and retain water temperatures suitable for active trout. Beula Lake,at near 7500 feet elevation, is one of these if a 2.5 mile walk to get there is not a physical obstacle. It’s trailhead is off the lightly traveled Ashton-Flagg Road near the east end of Grassy Lake Reservoir. Currently it is offering good fishing for those carrying a lightweight flotation device or those willing to wade its southeast and east shore lines. Yellowstone cutthroat trout are the sole inhabitants and they range to near trophy size. Speckled dun, damsel flies and cinnamon caddisflies are the most numerous aquatic insects with leeches and scuds also important. Terrestrial insects become more important as summer advances. Three primitive campground are along the west shore and can be reserved through the park’s back country permit system. Riddle Lake, sitting very near the Continental Divide and off the park’s south entrance highway with a walk of just under 2 miles is similar to Beula in many respects but offers smaller cutthroat.