Yellowstone River Fishing Report

This Yellowstone River fishing report is valid from mid-March until early April.

There’s no reason to start before 10:00 even on the warmest/sunniest days. Afternoon fishing will generally be best, especially if you’re hoping for any dry fly fishing.

The main draw now is the chance at a big pre-spawn rainbow trout. Fishing a stonefly nymph with an egg pattern is your best bet, possibly subbing the egg for an attractor nymph (Bead, Hare, and Copper) or San Juan Worm. You can also try swinging slinky, dark streamers. Out of a boat, streamers are a bit higher on the usability scale since you can often prompt a reaction bite from trout in smaller holding areas with them (including larger browns that usually aren’t found where rainbows are this time of year).

Hatches will be scattered and limited to BWO and midges. By far the best hatches will occur on calm, cloudy, warmer afternoons, with the east (sunny) side of the river more likely to host risers. In late winter and early spring you should not fish dries unless you are seeing fish rising.

Regardless of technique, look for walking-speed runs from waist to chest deep. The bigger the better for rainbows and cutt-bows, especially those near creek mouths. The browns may be in smaller corners and buckets.

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 Fishing Report – Relevant Links