Livingston Montana Fishing Report

Detailed Reports

This Livingston Montana fishing report is valid from April 26 for a few days. It’s just a quick update on current conditions. No detailed report pages have changed.

Recent warm and damp weather has brought the Yellowstone River into runoff. Unfortunately. This is a near-record early start and it will not help our summer water levels one bit.

The Yellowstone River is muddy with an early surge of spring runoff. It might drop back into shape in a few days with cooler weather in the forecast, but it is also supposed to rain a bunch this weekend. If the snowline is low enough, the river will drop. If it’s over about 8000 feet, it won’t. For now, you need to fish elsewhere.

The Boulder River and Stillwater River now begin coming into play. Fish the larger pools using similar tactics as described for the Yellowstone. The Lower Stillwater in particular can see some big run-up rainbows this time of year.

The lower Madison River is the best nearby bet that doesn’t require a raft. BWO, March Browns, and midges may hatch. Caddis are probably two weeks out. If no hatch, fish San Juan Worms, crayfish, and BWO nymphs.

The Paradise Valley spring creeks are still producing, but will get shakier soon. BWO hatches are the stars of the show. BEWARE OF SPAWNING TROUT. It is best to avoid fishing or even wading almost all shallow, gravel areas for the next few weeks. Fish the deeper pools where trout aren’t spawning. If no hatch, fish midge pupae, BWO nymphs, and San Juan Worms, or strip streamers.

The Missouri River is a great bet now. Below Holter Dam you should avoid areas of shallow gravel, as the trout are spawning. Rising water temperatures have prompted good midge hatches on cloudy days. BWO are much heavier in early May here. Nymphing is centered on pink “junk flies” like the Rainbow or AMEX Czech, firebead scuds and sowbugs, pink Lightning Bugs, and similar. Also try midge pupae, worms, and BWO nymphs. The fish are still mostly in the deep inside bends, but particularly on warm afternoons, they will begin moving into slightly faster and shallower water. Streamers are good choices now, too. Either swing or strip. The area below Hauser Dam (aka Land of Giants aka Land of No Ethics) relies on trout stocked in Holter Reservoir for most of its population, so fishing shallow redds is not as dirty a tactic. Expect combat fishing here on nice weekends. Even 15yr ago, we didn’t fish this stretch on foot except during the week, and preferably during bad weather. Similar flies as below Holter, but much smaller shots at midge fishing on top.

Area Lakes and Reservoirs at low elevations are now ice-free. For now, look for fish on shallow, sunny, rocky areas exposed to the wind. Here the water is a bit warmer and the stocked trout may be attempting to spawn (they don’t succeed). Sight-casting is a great choice. Also look for warmer inflows such as springs. This is a particularly good tactic on the private lakes. Leeches and large San Juan Worms are the stars of the show right now, but egg patterns can also work well.

Yellowstone Park is closed to fishing. The park season has officially been switched to a year-round open season on the lower Gardner and a small portion of the Madison. This change takes place November 1, but in reality on May 25 this year when the general season opens parkwide (unless stated otherwise in the regulations). Here is the Park Service announcement. This is going to revolutionize winter and early spring fishing in Yellowstone Park; the Gardner River in particular might be the best fishery in the Rocky Mountains in March and April next year, and it’ll be great whenever it’s warm enough to tolerate even in the dead of winter. We are stoked!

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