Yellowstone River Fishing Report
This Yellowstone River fishing report is valid from mid-March until early April.
There’s no reason to start before 10:00 even on the warmest/sunniest days. Afternoon fishing will generally be best, especially if you’re hoping for any dry fly fishing.
The main draw now is the chance at a big pre-spawn rainbow trout. Fishing a stonefly nymph with an egg pattern is your best bet, possibly subbing the egg for an attractor nymph (Bead, Hare, and Copper) or San Juan Worm. You can also try swinging slinky, dark streamers. Out of a boat, streamers are a bit higher on the usability scale since you can often prompt a reaction bite from trout in smaller holding areas with them (including larger browns that usually aren’t found where rainbows are this time of year).
Hatches will be scattered and limited to BWO and midges. By far the best hatches will occur on calm, cloudy, warmer afternoons, with the east (sunny) side of the river more likely to host risers. In late winter and early spring you should not fish dries unless you are seeing fish rising.
Regardless of technique, look for walking-speed runs from waist to chest deep. The bigger the better for rainbows and cutt-bows, especially those near creek mouths. The browns may be in smaller corners and buckets.
Learn more about fishing the Yellowstone River (in Montana).
Info about our float trips, a majority of which take place on the Yellowstone.
Yellowstone River Fishing Report – Relevant Links
- Lamar River, Gardner River, and Shields River streamflow data: Sudden flow spikes in these waters will bring mud into the Yellowstone, the Gardner first.
- Corwin Springs streamflow data: Keep an eye on this graph. Sudden spikes the day before or even the morning you plan to fish can catch you on this section.
- Livingston Streamflow Data: Flows under 6000cfs on this graph mean this stretch is safe to float.
- Springdale and Big Timber streamflow data (east of Livingston): watch for water temps over 70 degrees on these waters.
- Gardiner, Corwin Springs, Emigrant, Livingston, Big Timber, and Columbus weather forecasts. Watch the wind speeds and avoid floating Livingston-Columbus when east winds are forecast.
- Gardiner Webcam This raft company webcam gives a good sense of Yellowstone River level and clarity for the Upper River.