Livingston Montana Fishing Report

Detailed Reports

This NO BS Livingston Montana fishing report is valid from August 3 until August 15 or so.

General Comments

Today and tomorrow are finally cool, the first time we’ve seen any below normal temps since a few days after July 4. While this is not enough of a break to completely remove the high water temps that mean bad times for both anglers and trout, they have reduced the strain somewhat. Widespread hoot-owl closures remain in place throughout our operations area, and the fishing will generally be better before 2:00 or 3:00PM everywhere except on days in the 70s, but there’s now nowhere we’re going to say is downright unethical to fish that you wouldn’t normally want to avoid in mid-late summer anyway, such as the Lower Madison or Jefferson, which always stink in July and August.

Here is the current list of hoot-owl and complete closures in the state of Montana. Note that this list lags by a few hours.

Here are YNP news releases. Closures will be noted in new or updated releases.

The Details

The Yellowstone River: is enjoying cooler water temps today (Monday Aug 3) than it has seen since roughly July 13. Tomorrow ought to be cooler yet. Then temps will start to ramp up again, though hopefully nighttime and morning low water temps will remain cooler than the sweltering 67-69F lows we’ve seen for the past couple weeks. Upstream of Livingston, we now expect the Yellowstone to remain below the 68F cutoff recommended by Trout Unlimited (which we follow) before 2:00PM on all but the hottest days. At the very least, you should be able to get in a half-day trip ending before noon, even on the hottest days. East of Hwy 89 Bridge, a 2:00 hoot owl closure remains in effect and we do not recommend fishing at all except on days when air temps don’t get over 75-80. As for flies, it’s hopper season. Fish pink, peach, or mustard Bob Hoppers or your favorite standard hopper. Small ones bring the most action. Great big ones might bring a monster. Behind your hopper, fish a small, flashy beadhead such as a Lightning Bug, or go double-dry with an ant, Triple Wing Caddis or Missing Link, or perhaps a Copper Hazy Cripple. All of these trailer dries should be #16.

The Boulder River: is too low below Natural Bridge. Above, fish hopper-dropper combos. This water may remain cool enough until late afternoon except on the hottest days.

The lower Madison River is under a complete fishing closure immediately below Ennis Dam and is under hoot owl restrictions further downstream. It should be completely closed, and even if you ignore that advice, your fly is more likely to hook a drunk floating along in an inner tube than a trout until the middle of September. The upper Madison is now under hoot-owls from 8 Mile down to Ennis Lake. It seems unlikely the river should crack 70 degrees upstream from 8-Mile except on the hottest afternoons moving forward. Even if it does, the Madison has much more amplitude to its “yo-yo” than the Yellowstone does (since it is much shallower and choppier), so it is okay to fish before 2:00PM on the entire upper Madison even on hot days. Above McAtee should also be okay in late evening. The “park boundary to Hebgen” section is also under hoot-owls, though this stretch SHOULD be closed 24hrs to match YNP’s closure just upstream. Note that this section is not good until autumn anyway. We are primarily floating the Madison in the McAtee stretch right now. Small Lightning Bugs, Bob Hoppers, and $3 Dips drew action on our last float.

The Stillwater River is starting to brush 70-degree water temps from the Rosebud down, but only in late afternoon. Above the Rosebud or before 2:00PM downstream is kosher to fish. Fish hopper/attractor-dropper rigs generally, but be prepared to get out of your raft to nymph the corners with attractor nymphs if the fish aren’t looking up.

The Missouri River is very far away and is coming out of Holter Dam at 64-70F, with lots of weeds, though water temps seem to be on the downslope. They will be much higher downstream of the (bathwater warm) Dearborn River on hot days. You pretty much have to stay up there and fish before 10:30 or so to be ethical on hot days.

Montana Small Streams: The East Gallatin is under hoot owl closure and ought to be completely closed. Other low elevation meadow streams like the Musselshell are in something of the same boat. Steep mountain creeks with wooded courses (Hyalite, Mill, Big) are among the better bets in the region as long as you get upstream of their irrigation withdrawals, generally in the National Forests. Fish small-medium hoppers or something like a #12 Coachman Trude with a #16 flashy dropper nymph of your choice.

Local Trout Lakes and Reservoirs: If you have a boat and the wind is calm, the lakes are a surprisingly decent option right now. We actually guided Dailey Lake one day a couple weeks ago and put rookies into a dozen trout running from 12 to 17 inches. The key is to get out to the sharpest drop-offs and run your flies just below the thermocline. Damsel nymphs and chironomid pupae/larvae are top choices. The Beartooth and other high alpine lakes require a much more aggressive commitment (all-day hikes at least for the good ones), but they will still be cool.

The Paradise Valley spring creeks are going to be tough due to the bright sun, high temps, and wind. Hatches will be fragmentary at best. That said, at least this water is cool. Nymphing will be the best option, but fragmentary PMD, Sulphur, and midge hatches are possible, and it’s worth throwing a tiny hopper or an ant or beetle.

Other Montana Waters: Other nearby rivers within about 90min of Livingston under hoot-owl restrictions include the following: most of the Shields River, all of the Smith River, the lower Gallatin River, the entire Jefferson River, all of the Big Hole River, and the lower Beaverhead River. We do not suggest fishing any of these waters right now at all.

Yellowstone Park: NOTE: Complete fishing closures are in place on the Firehole, Madison, and Gibbon downstream of Norris Geyser Basin, as well as on all tributaries of these waters in these sections. 2:00PM hoot-owls are now in place on all flowing water in YNP. There is no river, creek, crick, or stream that you can fish in the park after 2:00.

  • Gardner: Too warm below Boiling River. The best fishing will be from lower Sheepeater Canyon to Boiling River. Fish a Chubby/dropper combo or straight nymph with a stonefly/attractor combo. In the brookie headwaters, fish a #12-14 attractor of your choice with a Prince or Copper John dropper. The roadside areas near Indian Creek and Sheepeater Picnic Area get overfished this time of year, so hiking is a good idea.
  • Yellowstone River from the Lake to the Falls: Hope for PMD or other hatches from midmorning until the 2:00PM closure, but be prepared to nymph the obvious good runs (sight-fishing or structure-fishing) or to swing streamers.
  • Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone: Hopper-dropper rigs are the name of the game right now. Go big on your hopper until the fish tell you otherwise. This is a place a #8 Pink Pookie still works.
  • Black Canyon of the Yellowstone: The hikes out are dangerous in this heat, and the river below Knowles Falls is probably about the same temperature as it is outside the park boundary (that 69+ degree water as measured in the town of Gardiner is coming straight from the Black Canyon). Closer to the Lamar will still be okay until 2:00PM. Hopper/dropper rigs are a good bet.
  • Lamar River: Now exceeding 70 degrees in the lower canyon. Look for PMD and Flav hatches (#14 Green Drakes). Hoppers, ants, and beetles are also good choices. Beware of crowds and rutting bison.
  • Soda Butte Creek: Similar to Lamar, though temps will be slightly cooler. Some #12 Drakes will still be hatching upstream from Ice Box Canyon in particular. Also try spruce moths. The water in the trees will fish best from noon to 2:00PM most days. Downstream will be better in the morning.
  • Slough Creek: Similar to Lamar. Ants can be good bets here earlier in the season than most places, and I would already have some hoppers, too.
  • Gibbon River: Closed to fishing below the bridge adjacent to Norris Campground due to high water temps. Above, fish attractor dry/dropper combos in the rougher areas or match hatches in the Norris Meadow. The choppier water further from the road will offer better opportunities for decent numbers of cutthroat or grayling.
  • Firehole River: Closed due to high water temps.
  • Madison River: Closed due to high water temps.
  • Lakes: The grayling lakes (Cascade, Grebe, Wolf, Ice) may turn out damselfly and Callibaetis or chironomid hatches from midmorning until about 2:00PM. Otherwise, fish leech and nymph combos either on a sinking line or under an indicator. Areas where water flows in are best. Steep banks are the #2 option. Other lakes will be tough, though Trout may still turn out some, uh, trout in the mornings before the otter watchers and wind reach the lake. Sight-fish with scuds and BLM nymphs.
  • Small Creeks: Steep mountain creeks should still be nice and cold, with the possible exception of tiny trickles like [[[NAME REDACTED]]]. They still close at 2:00PM. The flatter streams on the park’s central plateau may be too warm on the hottest, brightest days. Firehole and Gibbon tributaries within these rivers’ closure zones are closed to fishing. On the larger mountain creeks like Hellroaring, fish midsize Chubby Chernobyls and #12-16 attractor nymph droppers. The smaller and flatter the creek, the more you want to size everything down from there. On the gentlest creeks on the central plateau, including and resembling the Gibbon River headwaters, a #14 Elk Hair Caddis or #16 Hazy Cripple might be required to avoid spooking the fish.

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