Montana Fishing Report

This Montana fishing report was updated October 29, 2026, and is valid until about November 10.

Home Waters

Our Montana home waters include Yellowstone River between the YNP boundary near Gardiner and Laurel, the Boulder River, the Lower Madison River west of Bozeman, the Gallatin and East Gallatin Rivers near Bozeman, and other rivers, streams, and lakes within roughly 1hr 15min of Livingston.

Yellowstone River – Gardiner to Carbella (the Upper River & Yankee Jim Canyon)

You may still encounter some BWO and midge hatches on this stretch until late November. Brown trout are spawning in graveled areas, so watch where you step and do not fish over these areas. If you want to target browns, swing streamers in the big runs or nymph the slots downstream of spawning areas using stonefly nymphs and egg patterns. If you’re fishing water that has a dark (solid rock or algae-covered) bottom, rocks much larger than your fist, and depth over about four feet deep, you’re ethical. If you go shallower or more gravelly than that, may you mess your waders.

If matching a BWO/midge hatch (hatches will generally be mixed this time of year), fish a #18 Purple Hazy Cripple with a Griffith’s Gnat Emerger, Upbeat Baetis, or Triple Threat Baetis on the dropper.

Yellowstone River – Carbella to Mallard’s Rest (Paradise Valley)

Late fall until just before runoff is our least favorite period on this stretch of the Yellowstone. It’s very shallow and the trout become widely scattered. If you can access an obvious deep run near a wade access or float from spot to spot to fish the few deep areas, you might catch some fish. The shallows are basically devoid of trout for the winter. You might find a BWO hatch, but the more likely tactic is to swing streamers. We like long, snaky trout spey type flies this time of year.

Yellowstone River – Mallard’s Rest to Hwy 89 (Lower Paradise Valley & the Town Section)

Generally pretty similar to the Gardiner to Carbella section, but you’re less likely to run into spawning activity. Swinging streamers is the top bet here, but look for BWO and midges in the big eddies. Foam is home, and the colder it gets, the more likely the fish will be on the east or north side of the river, which is in the sun during the afternoons and thus gets warmer. We like Disco Midges as a nymph this time of year on this stretch.

Yellowstone River – Hwy 89 to Laurel (the Lower River)

Note: The above gauges only record water temperatures and operate seasonally.
Definitely streamer country now. Strip and swing unless you see risers. Hatches will be limited to midafternoon.

Gallatin River Below Gallatin Gateway and East Gallatin River

From Gateway to Four Corners, nymph the big runs. Beware of spawning browns. Downstream of the East Gallatin confluence, strip articulated streamers hoping for “the one” on a spawning migration from the headwaters of the Missouri. On the East Gallatin, nymph using BWO nymphs and maybe eggs (beware redds) while waiting for BWO and midge hatches.

Lower Madison River – Ennis Dam to Three Forks

Our best bet when it gets cold, probably. Fish streamers on a light tip (swing or strip) or nymph with a crayfish/egg combo, or swap the egg for a BWO. As noted elsewhere, watch out for spawners and let them be. BWO and midges are possible on calm afternoons.

Boulder River

Very low and cold. We won’t fish here again until May, but if we did, we’d be nymphing the big runs near or even downstream of Big Timber.

Area Small Streams

Too low and cold.

Area Lakes and Ponds

Note that this does not include hike-in lakes on the Beartooth Plateau.

Getting cold now, though if the wind is down you might try twitching leeches under an indicator. The private lakes are basically inaccessible until ice-out, since most private ranch properties are also used by commercial hunting outfitters and they don’t want fishermen roaming around spooking the game.

Paradise Valley Spring Creeks

Excellent bet whenever the wind isn’t blowing or it’s drastically below freezing, and now on their low(er) winter rates. BWO and midge hatches are possible through the winter. Absent a hatch, nymph the riffles and deeper runs with midge larvae/pupae, skinny BWO nymphs, and skinny San Juan Worms. We like them tied out of spandex floss (Sexi-Floss, Life Flex, Spanflex, etc.) instead of chenille. Brown trout will also be in from the Yellowstone River, so streamers and eggs are a reasonable bet. As always, beware of redds.

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Distant Waters

Distant Waters in Montana include waters more than roughly 1hr 15min from Livingston, but still within somewhat reasonable day trip range. These include the Stillwater River, the Gallatin River near Big Sky, the Madison River between West Yellowstone and Ennis, the Jefferson River, and the Missouri River, as well as various lakes and smaller rivers.

Stillwater River

The Stillwater is running 435cfs as I type this, which means it’s just barely high enough to scrape a raft down. Floating from pool to pool downstream of Absarokee (especially from Swinging Bridge to Itch-Kep-Pe on the Yellowstone) and wade-fishing the juiciest runs with streamers and nymph rigs sounds like a great way to spend a warmer afternoon. It’s too cold to bother with the fast water or to start before about 11:00. Some big fish in here this time of year, and not many competitors…

Upper Madison River

Probably best to wade fish most areas now due to the cold weather. Varney to Ennis and on down to Ennis Lake may be an exception, since there are some bigger pools. Look for BWO and midge hatches or swing/strip streamers. Between the lakes will be similar, but probably busier.

Missouri River

This is a good time to fish trout spey setups or heavy nymph rigs in the biggest runs between Toston Dam and Canyon Ferry Reservoir. Two brown trout a day is solid here, but the odds that 1/2 of these fish will exceed 20 inches (and maybe 24) are probably higher than anywhere else in the region. That said, numbers will not be good. Think of this almost like steelhead fishing and embrace the suck until you get one as long as your leg.

Other Rivers & Streams

The Jefferson might turn out big browns on streamers.

Low-Elevation Lakes & Reservoirs

The inlet areas of Hebgen, Ennis, and other large reservoirs might be worth a shot with streamers and leeches, as there could still be some brown trout staging to run up for the spawn. That said, it’s getting pretty late for that.

Beartooth Lakes

Already starting to freeze up, so that’s a no good buddy.