bluestreamflyFind water
Menu
Generated Yellowstone meadow-river scene representing the Lamar River, not an exact location photo
All Wyoming reports

Lamar River

Generated artwork: BlueStreamFly · Regional illustration; not the exact location.

Should I go fishing?

Yes — worth going.

No single best way to fish. Wading and Bank fishing have the same top score. Use current access, footing, weather, and local rules to choose.

Rating updatedRiver local time:

Why this recommendation?

USGS shows 169 cfs. The flow has been stable over about 6 hours. USGS marks this reading provisional and may revise it. USGS records for this date (1923-2025, 87 readings) show a typical middle range of 152 cfs to 252 cfs. Flow is within the typical range for this date, so weather, temperature, and access become the next checks.

Available live dataHighHow much of the live flow, weather, and alert data came back.
Confidence in this recommendationHighCurrent flow, weather, alerts, and trip-critical signals support this decision.
Usually checks again about every 45 minutes

If you go

Check first
Yellowstone’s northeast-region rules say native fish are catch-and-release, while rainbow trout, brook trout, and identifiable cutthroat-rainbow hybrids in the Lamar drainage must be killed.
Try
Walk enough to leave the first roadside pullout crowd, but not so far that wildlife or weather trap you out in the valley.
Leave when
Skip when high dirty water, thunderstorms, wildlife congestion, or park advisories make the day unsafe or low value.

Flow and weather

Showing server-checked river conditions while current readings refresh.
Flow
169 cfs
From the latest stored river check. Open the official source for the newest reading.Water 52.9°F · 24h high 56.7°F · USGS provisional
Air forecast
37°F
Next 24h high
73.0°F

NWS air forecast near

Rain chance
0%
Latest stored weather check

Mostly Sunny

Wind
1 mph
Weather checked
More forecast and source details

Mostly Sunny

National Weather Service

Lamar River near Tower Ranger Station, Wyoming

The National Weather Service forecast is temporarily unavailable.

Live data

Where these readings come from

RiverReports gauge: LAMAR RIVER NEAR TOWER RANGER STATION WY

Water 52.9°F · provisional · 24h high 56.7°F provisionalWater observed · high observed
Official USGS station Opens in a new tab.RiverReports gauge Opens in a new tab.Official NWS forecast Opens in a new tab.

Flies for this time of year

Seasonal starting points, not a live hatch report. Match what you see on the water.

See flies for every season
SeasonWhat to look forFlies to try

Each fly name opens its matching Fly Box guide.

More fishing tips

Methods, fish species and trip notes

How to fish Lamar River today.

The Lamar is best when runoff has dropped into defined banks, the open reach aligns with current park rules, and afternoon thunderstorms or wildlife congestion are manageable. Skip it when the river is high and dirty, when the valley is stormed out, or when park advisories say back off.

Clear dropping runoff

The most exciting all-around Lamar condition because banks, seams, and sight-fishing lanes all improve together.

Windy meadow flow

Still fishable, but presentations and fish handling become much harder than the river map suggests.

High dirty water

Usually a pass unless you are only scouting the valley for a later day.

Low late-season flow

Can still fish beautifully, but fish handling and trout stress need more attention.

Wading, bank fishing or floating?
Access choicesNo single best option

Wading and Bank fishing have the same top score. Use current access, footing, weather, and local rules to choose.

Wading94/100

Wading is in play only where your chosen access has clear footing, legal entry, and no forced crossings.

Bank fishing94/100

Bank and edge fishing remains a practical low-commitment option if access is legal and footing is safe.

FloatingNot recommended

This report does not recommend floating this reach.

Full river report

Is Lamar River worth the trip today? Check flow, weather, hatches, access, and rules for Wyoming before you go.

This is one of the signature meadow rivers in Yellowstone, but the rules and the wildlife are part of the river, not side notes. Keep RiverReports open for trend context, confirm with USGS 06188000, and build the day around current park rules, open reaches, and what the valley is telling you in real time.

Fishing words used on this page
U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) gauge
A USGS gauge is an official river station that measures flow or water height.
Cubic feet per second (cfs)
Cubic feet per second, or cfs, shows how much water passes the gauge each second.
Nymph
A nymph is a young water insect. Anglers also use the word for a fly that copies it.
Presentation
Presentation means how you cast and move the fly so it looks natural to a fish.
Seam
A seam is the line where fast and slow water meet.
Blue-winged olive (BWO)
Blue-winged olives, or BWOs, are small mayflies that often hatch in cool or cloudy weather.
Caddis
Caddis are small water insects. The adults look a little like tiny moths.
Emerger
An emerger copies an insect as it rises from below the water toward the surface.
Midge
Midges are tiny flies and a common trout food, especially in cold water.
Pale morning dun (PMD)
Pale morning duns, or PMDs, are light-colored mayflies that often hatch in warmer months.
Why this call

Why this score

FlowHelps

USGS shows 169 cfs. The flow has been stable over about 6 hours. USGS marks this reading provisional and may revise it. USGS records for this date (1923-2025, 87 readings) show a typical middle range of 152 cfs to 252 cfs. Flow is within the typical range for this date, so weather, temperature, and access become the next checks.

SeasonHelps

Early fall: Excellent for cooler mornings, cleaner banks, and less thermal stress.

Water temperatureHelps

USGS water temperature is about 52.9F, and the rolling 24-hour high did not trigger a heat caution. USGS marks the temperature data provisional and may revise it.

Public alertsHelps

No active NWS alert was returned for this forecast point.

Fishing usefulnessHelps

Skip when high dirty water, thunderstorms, wildlife congestion, or park advisories make the day unsafe or low value.

Trip notes

Check these before you choose a reach.

Best flows

Best on clear dropping runoff or moderate summer flows that still let you see banks, seams, and fish movement.

When to leave

Skip when high dirty water, thunderstorms, wildlife congestion, or park advisories make the day unsafe or low value.

Local plan

Check the Tower office and current rules first, scout the gauge trend, then commit to one valley section and fish it with conservation first.

Backup water

Move to another open Yellowstone river if Lamar-specific rules, wildlife, or weather make the valley a poor choice.

Lamar River access and rules.

Use these places as starting points. Open the access link below and check posted signs before you park or enter.

Before you go

Check Yellowstone’s main fishing page, the northeast-region rules, and the current rule booklet before fishing because Lamar-specific native-fish and required-harvest rules matter here.

Where to access the river

Tower-area river area

The cleanest official access and permit anchor on the west side of the valley.

Roadside Lamar Valley pullouts

Useful for scouting banks and wildlife before you commit to a walk.

Meadow-bank walking stretches

Best when weather is stable and you already know where the safe exit is.

  • Use the Tower Backcountry Office as your official information and permit anchor for this part of the park.
  • Give wildlife more room than you think you need. The valley belongs to bison and bears before it belongs to anglers.
  • A pretty meadow bank is not automatically a safe wading bank when storms or soft edges show up.

If this water does not fit the day, check another report before you start the drive.

WyomingYellowstone River In Yellowstone Park fishing reportA broader park-river alternative with different access and closure details.WyomingMadison River In Yellowstone Park fishing reportA very different park fishery with its own thermal and seasonal decisions.WyomingSnake River fishing reportA Jackson-side Wyoming option when you want non-park logistics and a different access pattern.
See all Wyoming fly fishing reports

Sources and report details

Official agencies and primary river operators come first. Secondary tools are labeled so you know what carries the most weight.

Rules and closures

Check what is allowed, where the rule applies, and whether the river is open.

Flow and weather

Check the latest river reading and forecast before you leave.

Access and land

Check public entry points, land rules, and seasonal access changes.

More helpful links

Use these links for stocking, safety, and other local details.

See all 7 checked sources

Rules and closures

Check what is allowed, where the rule applies, and whether the river is open.

Flow and weather

Check the latest river reading and forecast before you leave.

Access and land

Check public entry points, land rules, and seasonal access changes.

More helpful links

Use these links for stocking, safety, and other local details.

Source check is old. Last checked . Open the official links now and check for changes.

See something wrong? Report a source problem. Please do not send private spots or private access notes.

How this report was checked

How this report was checked

Trip guidance checked

What was checked: This report starts with official regulation, access, flow, weather, and public-land sources, then adds practical planning guidance for fly anglers.

Live measurements and forecasts keep their provider timestamps. Rules, access, and trip guidance use the source-review date shown here. BlueStreamFly planning advice is editorial interpretation, not an agency notice.

First-hand experience: BlueStreamFly does not claim a first-hand visit or local field test for this report unless a real contributor is explicitly named and linked.

Quick questions

What is the biggest Lamar River rule I need to remember?

In the Lamar drainage, native fish are catch-and-release, while rainbow trout, brook trout, and identifiable cutthroat-rainbow hybrids must be killed under current Yellowstone rules.

Where should I start on the Lamar River?

Start with the Tower-area information and pullouts, check the current park rules and gauge, then choose a meadow walk only after wildlife and weather both look manageable.

When should I skip the Lamar River?

Skip when runoff is still dirty, when thunderstorms or wildlife make the valley unsafe, or when park advisories say the reach is not a good call.