Stillwater River Fishing Report

This Stillwater River fishing report is valid from July 22 through about August 10.

With the Boulder too low, the Stillwater is now our preferred “alternative” float river to the Yellowstone. Right now, flows are best from Absarokee to the Yellowstone River, though the Yellowstone itself is too warm to fish ethically at the confluence, so we’re pulling out at Fireman’s Point.

Water temps are running 58 to 69 degrees at Absarokee and higher further down. Upstream of Absarokee (mostly wade fishing), expect decent water temps until 3:00 or 4:00. Downstream, best to quit around 2:00. There has been a good window of low-60s temps from roughly 9:00AM until 1:00, which is when the best fishing will occur.

Anyhow, fish a big Chubby Chernobyl with a modest-sized stonefly or attractor nymph. This is also a decent streamer river, especially while it’s high. Look for caddis, PMD, and Yellow Sally hatches.

Flows are now better for floating downstream of Absarokee, though if you don’t mind dragging the raft from time to time they remain high enough from Nye to the Rosebud Confluence, as well. When flows dropp below about 800cfs, best leave the upper Stillwater to kayakers and wade anglers.

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. 800-425 are doable downstream of Absarokee, with the precise cutoff between 500 and 425 depending on how much weight is in your raft and how willing you are to drag the boat through shallow areas. If you have an ultralight or 2-person whitewater raft rather than a full-size one, go crazy. If you’re willing to drag, you can fish this river as low as it ever gets.
• Absarokee Weather