Yellowstone River Fishing Report

This Yellowstone River fishing report is valid from October 5 until about October 15, 2025.

Fishing changed with the big cooldown in the past couple days. We are now stripping streamers in the morning, then hoping for a BWO hatch in the afternoons. There will not be many other tactics we use for the life of this part, though nymphing will produce some good trout mixed in with the whitefish.

No reason to start early unless you’re swinging or stripping streamers. We won’t be meeting average clients until at least 10:00 from now on, which is one reason our fall float trip rates are lower.

• Hatches: A few midges in the AM, but the main hatch is now BWO. A few Tan Drakes (aka Drake Mackeral aka Hecuba) may join them, but only a few. Not a bad idea to fish an imitation ahead of your BWO anyway, to serve as a strike indicator.
• Dry Flies: #16-18 Hazy Cripples (copper and purple are both working), cinnamon and bicolor ants (both parachute and flying), #12 and #18 Parachute Adams, various #18-20 grayish Baetis patterns, #12-14 Royal Wulff Cripple, #12-14 Brindle Chute and Brindle Cripple, small oddball hoppers like Bob Hoppers.
• 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. Trail these behind a #12-14 brown Quill Jig, orange-beaded Soft Hackle Hare’s Ear, or a small stonefly nymph. We like our Frenchie Stone in #10-12 this time of year. Eggs soon!
• 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.

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.