Yellowstone River Fishing Report
This Yellowstone River fishing report is valid from October 16 through early November.
We’re now fully into late fall mode (at least after tonight): afternoon BWO hatches, covering water with streamers, and soon nymphing the deep slots with eggs and stoneflies. Only so-and-sos target fall-run browns directly on the gravel. Don’t be a so-and-so.
The dry fly fishing will be better after lunch moving forward. Some midges are possible, but BWO dominate until early November. It’s late in the season, so we will now avoid fishing dries unless we’re seeing some rising trout.
Nymphing for trout rather than whitefish will improve as the water gets cold. BWO nymphs are the bread and butter, but stoneflies and eggs are also good choices. Don’t hesitate to “nymph” with olive and black Woolly Buggers as well. We like TJ Hookers this time of year, since it combines a Girdle Bug with a Woolly Bugger tail, making it a “twofer” pattern. A little pink or orange on your nymphs of any size is a good bet. Eggs should be small and pink or apricot unless the water is dirty, in which case chartreuse can work.
Streamer fishing is ramping up. The water is getting cold enough that swinging is a good option. Run Sculpzillas or Skiddish Smolts or similar snaky flies. If stripping, don’t hesitate to try Kreelexes or Sparkle Minnows as well as the usual olive fare like Zonkers. On bright days and/or cold mornings, fish your streamers under an indicator rather than with an aggressive retrieve. Articulated monstrosities are coming into their own again as pressure declines and the browns get frisky. We like Double Buggers and our Scleech.
- Hatches: Both #16–18 and #22 BWO (aka Pseudos) and midges.
- Dry Flies: #16–20 mayfly-style attractor dries, in many cases standing in for match-the-hatch bugs: purple and copper Hazy Cripples, purple Upbeat Baetis, May-Midges, and similar skinny stuff. If the fish really get picky, fish a #18–20 Hi-Viz Gray Baetis Parachute or gray Sparkle Dun or Upright Baetis. It is getting late enough in the year the fish will sometimes eat midge dries in the morning.
- Nymphs & Wets: Various #16–18 mayfly-type attractors. Delektable Spankers, Lightning Bugs, red Copper Johns, CDC Rainbow Warriors, green or brown Perdigons, Frenchies, Holo Frenchies, larger Baetis nymphs with some flash, CDC Pheasant Tails. Smaller BWO nymphs will be more productive than the largest attractors, but we often fish a somewhat larger attractor nymph (#12–14) instead of a jig streamer as our bigger fly in indicator rigs this time of year. Egg patterns can work, especially on foot, and flies with pink or orange beads are good bets now, such as pink-headed TJ Hookers or the Sunkist Baetis nymph. Brown or tan/brown Girdle Bugs and TJ Hookers are good choices as the water gets colder and colder.
- Streamers: It’s edging into silly season for streamers on the Yellowstone. Swingers like Skiddish Smolts, Sculpzillas, and similar buggy stuff. Strippers should go with somewhat flashy and/or olive Sparkle Minnows, Zonkers, etc. We’ve been getting some tail nips from chasers lately, so a fly with a trailing hook isn’t a bad idea. Sex Dungeons, Double Buggers, Scleeches, and the like can work for strippers.
Learn more about fishing the Yellowstone River (in Montana).
Info about our float trips, a majority of which take place on the Yellowstone.
Yellowstone River Fishing Report – Relevant 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.
- Corwin Springs streamflow data: Keep an eye on this graph. Sudden spikes the day before or even the morning you plan to fish can catch you on this section.
- Livingston Streamflow Data: Flows under 6000cfs on this graph mean this stretch is safe to float.
- Springdale and Big Timber streamflow data (east of Livingston): watch for water temps over 70 degrees on these waters.
- 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.