Livingston Montana Fishing Report

Detailed Reports

This NO BS Livingston Montana fishing report is valid from October 18 through October 31, 2025.

The transition from summer to late autumn took about five minutes this year. From 78 and sunny in the first few days of October to several fairly serious snow storms and people “skinning to win” on their rock skis at Bridger Bowl in ten days is a quick change.

We are now deep into late season fishing conditions. We’re due for some 60s this coming week, but water temps are unlikely to warm enough for this to change.

General Comments

Cold water, wind, rain, snow, fall-run browns, fall-run rainbows following the browns to eat their eggs in preparation for their own spawn in late winter, BWO, and dropping but by no means nonexistent crowds.

There’s no reason to start early unless you’re fishing the most-crowded brown trout waters: the Madison in YNP and the Lewis a mile downstream from Shoshone Lake. Otherwise, afternoon is best. We didn’t start fishing on yesterday’s full-day trip in YNP until 11:00AM.

Beware of spawning brown trout. The recent cold weather means the spawn is already well underway. We saw more spawners yesterday than I have ever seen prior to November 1. Leave them alone and for bleep’s sake don’t walk through spawning areas. If you see clean gravel in knee-deep (approx) water with steady current, steer clear. Only hooligans fish for active spawners, and only scum walk through redds.

The fish below came from 5ft of boulder-bottomed water right below a heavy rapid on October 17 (it ran us to the bottom of the pictured pool before landing). There will be plenty of fish a notch or two smaller (and a few the same size or bigger) in such water all the way until Thanksgiving, so there is NO reason to fish shallow for the big spawners.

kneeling angler holding large brown trout with river in background and clear water and aquatic plants in foreground

The Details

The Yellowstone River: Lots of murky water of late due to rain and snow, but it should clear this week. Fish streamers if there’s no hatch or match the BWO if there is. The hoppers are probably done now. Don’t hesitate to fish egg patterns behind stonefly nymphs in the boulder-bottomed water downstream of riffles, particularly in the upper third of pools and runs.

The Boulder River will fish similarly to the Yellowstone. Stick to the lower river, as up high it will be ice water.

The lower Madison River will fish with stripped streamers or crayfish trailing BWO nymphs. Look for BWO in the PM. It’s probably a bit early for eggs here.

The Stillwater River is too low to float except in an ultralight raft or a 10-foot whitewater boat, in other words something you can drag at every riffle without too much frustration. Fish similar flies as on the Yellowstone.

The Missouri River is a long way from here, but late fall can be very good. Above Canyon Ferry, use big nymphs or swing streamer for a 1 in 100 shot at a fish of a lifetime. Below Hauser, fish eggs, BWO nymphs, and streamers. The best shots at lots of rainbows will be downstream of spawning kokanee if you find them. Some BWO hatches are possible. They’ll be better below Holter Dam. Otherwise below Holter, nymph or swing skinny streamers.

Montana Small Streams are too low and cold now.

Local Lakes and Reservoirs have turned on in a big way, especially the private lakes. Beware of dying weeds. Fish leeches and streamers, maybe with a big soft hackle dropper.

The Paradise Valley spring creeks will see their BWO hatches get better and better through the remainder of the month, with the best hatches on calm, cloudy days. Midges may also hatch. Don’t hesitate to nymph or fish streamers below any obstructions such as culverts. The river browns are running into the creeks and are more aggressive than the pampered “locals.”

Yellowstone Park fishing is limited to warmer rivers and/or those that hold fall-run fish. Reminder that all fisheries in the park close at sunset on Halloween with the exception of the Gardner below Osprey Falls and the Madison below the MT/WY boundary line near West Yellowstone.

  • Lamar System, small streams, and in most cases lakes are all too cold to fish well.
  • The Yellowstone in the canyons will still fish on streamers and BWO on warmer afternoons, and won’t be crowded. The stretch below Yellowstone Lake has very few fish this late in the year, since most of them winter in the lake.
  • The Firehole will produce BWO hatches (several species/sizes) in the PM and should nymph well with BWO nymphs.
  • The Gibbon below the Falls and especially the Madison are fall-run central now. Swing big steelhead-style wets, strip streamers, or nymph. This water will be crowded, particularly the Madison near West Yellowstone. The Madison is your best choice in the region for 18-20+ inch browns now, but queuing up to fish the famous Barns Pools and Baker’s Hole area can feel like waiting in line at the DMV except at dawn and dusk.
  • The lower Gardner is producing lots of resident and run-up rainbows on stonefly nymphs and small streamers (or combos like the TJ Hooker) with egg or firebead nymph droppers. Probably the largest average rainbows I’ve ever seen on the Gardner, with many from 14-15 inches. Browns are spawning above Boiling River – let them be. There are some big browns in the pools both above and below Boiling River, but pressure on these fish has been heavy and likely will remain so through early November. Some BWO hatches on the calmer afternoons.

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