Yellowstone River Fishing Report

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This Yellowstone River fishing report is valid from February 15 through early March, 2026

Because of the record-warm winter, the Yellowstone River is far more fishable than it usually is at this time. While some ice is present, most stretches are entirely floatable if you feel the itch on a warm day. Float a short stretch and do most of your fishing on foot in the big pools.

With water temps regularly exceeding 40 degrees and plenty of sunlight getting into the water, larger flies (including stonefly nymphs and streamers) and some dry fly fishing are possible almost any day. You should still carry your midge box, but I would not start there. Your big fish in particular are going to want meat, and this preference will only strengthen as we get firmly into prespawn season for the rainbows. If I was walking up to a favorite walking-speed run about chest-deep, I’d tie on a tan/black Jig Girdle Bug trailing a pale pink egg to start with, and I might never change.

Hatches: Midges and BWO on warmer, calmer afternoons, especially when it’s cloudy. Look for the best emergences near warm water sources like the Gardner River. Midges might cluster up in the foamy eddies on the east (sunny and thus warmer) side of the river.
Dry Flies: #18-20 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: #4 to #10 Girdle Bugs and other stoneflies, big pink or tricolor San Juan Worms (most effective when the water gets slightly off-color), #16 pink egg flies, #18 Radiation Baetis, #18 PT Little Green Machine, #18 Sunkist Baetis, #18 WD-40.
Streamers: Woolly Buggers and other generic, buggy flies that look good fished on a slow drag. It’s still a bit early for the big, slinky streamers to work, but I would have some olive and black Scleeches or Baby Gongas.

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

The following links provide streamflow data for the Yellowstone River outside of the park. In general, flows under 8000cfs are at least marginally fishable except in Yankee Jim Canyon and between Pine Creek and Laurel. In Yankee Jim, flows of under 4000cfs on the Corwin gauge near Gardiner (upstream) are required, while flows under 6000 to 7000cfs on the Carter’s Bridge gauge are best for water downstream of Pine Creek.

Corwin Springs Gauge, 7mi north of Gardiner
Carter’s Bridge Gauge, just south of Livingston

Sudden spikes on the Corwin Springs gauge suggest mud is on the way. Fish 30+ miles downstream to stay ahead of this mud. Also check the gauges for the Lamar River and Gardner River, as these also show mud coming into the Yellowstone.

These gauges also include temperature data. 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 following links provide water temperature data east (downstream) of Livingston. These stretches 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.