Yellowstone Park Fishing Report

This report was updated November 1, 2026 and is valid until mid-November.

General Report

The park general season is now closed, which means the only open fisheries are the lower Gardner River near Mammoth and the Madison downstream of the first MT/WY border crossing, near the Barns Pools near West Yellowstone. The latter is about 3hr from here since the interior park roads are now also closed.

Even with the limited options, fishing can be good on the Lower Gardner all winter. We won’t say much about the Madison given the drive time.

Home Waters in YNP

Home waters are those within roughly 1hr 15min of Livingston, Montana, not counting hiking time.

Gardner River

Gardner River Gauge

Gardner River Headwaters: Closed
Osprey Falls to Boiling River: Too cold and low for numbers in the pocket water, but nymphing the deep runs is a good way of getting into some big browns on warmer afternoons as long as water temps remain 40+. Don’t bother once it starts getting really cold. DO NOT fish the shallow gravel until spring. The browns are now spawning in these areas and it is unethical to target them once they’re over the gravel making the next generation. Stonefly nymphs trailing attractor nymphs or eggs will be the best options for the pre-spawn fish in the deep pools on this stretch. The only legal way to access this water is via the High Bridge near Mammoth. The “Boneyard” is not available to the public anymore, even though I know people still park there illegally, including guides. I’d lose my commercial use permit if I parked there, so I don’t want anybody else doing it, either.
Boiling River to Yellowstone River Confluence: Probably your best public water option within 3hr, due to warm water. Use a stonefly or stonefly/streamer combo fly (TJ Hooker) trailing an egg, attractor nymph, or BWO nymph, generally with Euro-style techniques. Have a BWO ready in case you find a spot hatch in one of the bigger pools. Reminder that the only legal ways to access this water are to hike up from the confluence with the Yellowstone in Gardiner, hike over from the North Entrance Road from the first pullout about 1/3 mile inside the gate (just after the road curves onto the new alignment), or to hike down the hill from the Mammoth Campground.

Other Waters

All are closed until the Saturday of Memorial Day Weekend.

Yellowstone River – Lower Black Canyon (Knowles Falls to Gardner Confluence):
Small Streams Near Mammoth:
Lakes Near Mammoth:

Distant Waters in YNP

Distant water are those more than about 1hr 15min of Livingston, MT, not counting hiking time. Most waters in YNP qualify.

Except for the Madison immediately inside the park boundary near West Yellowstone, all distant waters in YNP are closed. The Firehole, lower Gibbon, and remainder of the Madison open May 1. Everything else is closed until the Saturday of Memorial Day Weekend or later.

Yellowstone River System in YNP

Yellowstone @ Lake Gauge

Headwaters & Lake to Falls:
Grand Canyon (Falls to Lamar Confluence):
Upper Black Canyon (Lamar Confluence to Knowles Falls):
Yellowstone Tributary Creeks:
Lakes & Ponds in the Yellowstone System:

Lamar River System

Lamar Gauge

Soda Butte Gauge

Lamar River:
Soda Butte Creek:
Slough Creek:
Other Waters in Lamar System:

Madison River System in YNP

Madison in YNP Gauge

Firehole Gauge

Gibbon Gauge

Madison River in YNP: Open year-round from the furthest-upstream MT/WY border crossing in this twisty-turny stretch. Fall-run browns and some rainbows are the main targets in this stretch, really the only targets. The traditional method is to swing large soft hackles and streamers. It is often more effective to nymph with a stonefly nymph trailing an egg, attractor nymph, or San Juan Worm. It is conceivable this water may still be crowded, despite the late date. If so, follow the etiquette if there are others in the same pool: Wade in at the top, take a cast, then take a step downstream. Wash, rinse, and repeat until you’re at the tailout, then go back up to the top. If you catch one, you lose your turn. Sadly, not even a lot of younger guides still keep up with this traditional method of fishing these crowded pools, which is a shame since this is the only way everybody gets to play in this crowded water.
Firehole River:
Gibbon River:
Grebe, Cascade, and Wolf Lakes:
Other Waters in the Madison System:

Other Waters in YNP (All 2.5+ Hours from Livingston)

Closed until Memorial Day Weekend.