Fishing Report Updated September 5, 2021
This Stillwater River fishing report is valid from September 5 through the first cold snap.
The powers that be have SLASHED flows from the dams on the forks of the Stillwater’s primary tributary, the Rosebud. These flow cuts have reduced the Stillwater from a floatable and excellent-fishing 500-600cfs flow to under 400cfs, which is too low to float. The flow cut was abrupt, basically taking place over 12hrs, which may have left some Stillwater fish stranded on the bank. Not ideal.
That said, the fish that didn’t get stranded should be adjusted to their new reality and back to eating hoppers, ants, various mayflies, and slender, flashy mayfly-type attractors (we like Gold Delektable Spankers this time of year). Walk away from the public accesses to get on good fishing; the public accesses get fished pretty hard here.
Learn more about fishing the Stillwater River.
Learn more about our float trips, including those on the Stillwater.
Stillwater River Fishing Report Relevant Links
- Absarokee Streamflows: Flows over 4000cfs get sketchy above Absarokee. Flows 4000-2000 are best floated above Absarokee. 2000-1200 are good everywhere. 1200-800 are best below Absarokee but doable above. 800-450 are doable downstream of Absarokee, with the precise cutoff between 500 and 450 depending on how much weight is in your raft and how willing you are to drag the boat through shallow areas.
- Absarokee Weather