Yellowstone River Fishing Report

This Yellowstone River fishing report is valid from November 1 until roughly Thanksgiving, 2025.

We’re in deep fall mode. This means sticking to slow walking-pace water and afternoon fishing. If you float, plan to run and gun, treating the boat as transportation rather than doing much of your fishing from it.

• Hatches: A few midges and BWO, especially on the east side of the river on calm afternoons.
• Dry Flies: #16-18 Hazy Cripples (copper and purple are both working), #18 Parachute Adams, various #18-20 grayish Baetis patterns, Griffith’s Gnat, Parachute Midge Emergers.
• Nymphs & Wets: #18 Radiation Baetis, #18 PT Little Green Machine, #18 Lightning Bug, #18 Frenchie, #18 Prince Albert, #18 Sunkist Baetis. You might be noticing a trend with the pattern size. #16 pink or apricot eggs trailing #6 or #8 TJ Hookers or Girdle Bugs are a good bet if you’re targeting pre/post spawn browns or egg-eating rainbows in the bouldery runs downstream of spawning gravel
• Streamers: “Yes.” Which streamers will work depending on the day. We have had action on #4 Kreelex, Rusty Trombones and Goldies (articulated patterns – look them up), big Prince Alberts (which are probably taken as fry patterns), Woolly Buggers, etc. Fish streamers on slow swings now.

Learn more about fishing the Yellowstone River (in Montana).

Info about our float trips, a majority of which take place on the Yellowstone.

Info about our Montana walk & wade trips, which in winter and early spring take place on the Yellowstone.

Yellowstone River Streamflow Data

Sudden spikes on the Corwin Spring gauge suggest mud is on the way. Fish further downstream. Also check the gauges on the Yellowstone Park page for the Lamar River and Gardner River, as these also show mud coming into the Yellowstone. When water temps are peaking over 22 degrees Celsius (a bit over 70F), we suggest quitting by 2:00PM. Mandatory closures begin when flows are hitting 73F (22.75C).

The graphs are presented from upstream to down. For more granular data, check out the new USGS Montana Streamflow Data pages. It is not possible to embed this more in-depth information on external websites.

Also keep an eye on the following water temperature gauges. These areas are downstream of Livingston and are more prone to getting too warm in late summer. Flow data is not available at these sites, but there’s not a lot of change downstream of Livingston during fishing season, since all tributaries on this reach are pretty small.

Yellowstone River Webcam

This camera (courtesy Montana Whitewater) is prone to failure and may operate intermittently.

Yellowstone River Fishing Report – Links

• Lamar River, Gardner River, and Shields River streamflow data: Sudden flow spikes in these waters will bring mud into the Yellowstone, the Gardner first.
• Gardiner, Corwin Springs, Emigrant, Livingston, Big Timber, and Columbus weather forecasts. Watch the wind speeds and avoid floating Livingston-Columbus when east winds are forecast.
• Gardiner Webcam This raft company webcam gives a good sense of Yellowstone River level and clarity for the Upper River.

Note: We update our general fishing report far more often than our fishery-specific reports like this one, especially between November and April.