Livingston Montana Fishing Report

Detailed Reports

This NO BS Livingston Montana fishing report is valid from May 24 until runoff begins to recede seriously in about ten days.

While it has finally started to warm up, an extended run of generally cool weather for most of April and a few shots of cold weather in May substantially slowed down our runoff and should make a huge difference in avoiding drought-related fishing closures in late July and August. The water will still be low, but not record-low as we were expecting a month ago. Sigh of relief by all fishing guides and outfitters in the region. Daddy needs a new car and to recondition the drift boat this fall…

General Comments

After a bit of a break last week due to generally cool and unsettled weather (which wasn’t forecast and which seriously screwed up my pike fishing trip to northern Montana), runoff is now accelerating again. With 80+ temperatures forecast and snowpack limited to the highest elevations, this will begin the last big push of snowmelt. It may also lead to some tough fishing this week. It’s actually possible given the low flows that geothermal waters may get too warm in the afternoons, while the Lower Madison might just see the fish spooky and lockjawed under bright skies. We’ll se…

Runoff is now basically complete in the Madison River Basin inside YNP. It will conclude in other basins between early June and June 20-25. The Yellowstone River is likely to begin leaving runoff around June 10, maybe even sooner.

The Details

The Yellowstone River: Unexpected cool weather led to “green is good” water this past week. Perfect streamer conditions. That’s coming to an end now due to the increasing temps. The Yellowstone may have already peaked (at only around 12,000cfs at Corwin Springs), but it will come up again before dropping out of runoff for real sometime around roughly June 10.

The Boulder River: is running at far below normal flows that are almost too low to float. While it’s now coming back up, it does not seem likely it will ever get too high/dirty to fish again this spring. It peaked during the last hot spell at just over 2000cfs, which is still a fishable flow. If you’re floating, we suggest getting on it sooner rather than later, because this is likely to be quite a short season for the Boulder. Fish streamers and stonefly nymphs for now.

The lower Madison River may see some mud below Cherry Creek, but it will be fading and intermittent now, and there’s likely not enough water coming down the creek to dirty the main river too badly even on the Cherry Creek side. Hope for PMD and maybe caddis and Yellow Sally hatches, but expect nymphing to be the primary ticket. Fish some combo of caddis pupae, San Juan Worms, crayfish, PMD and Yellow Sally nymphs. The crays and worms will be more important below Cherry Creek if it’s bringing in any mud at all. Hatches will be limited at best except on cloudy days.

The Stillwater River is similar to the Boulder, but it’s just high enough to float between Absarokee and the Yellowstone. Check locally to learn about any downed trees or other obstructions.

The Missouri River is the most consistent and most crowded river in Montana right now (unless the Bighorn takes the crown, that is). The spawn is now complete everywhere, though you should still watch where you wade below Holter. Fish PMD nymphs, sowbugs, worms, and eggs for the best consistency. Maybe some caddis, too. The dry fly bite will be best when it’s calm and cloudy. PMD, a few remaining BWO, and caddis are the most likely suspects.

Montana Small Streams are too high and cold now.

Local Trout Lakes and Reservoirs are a great choice now as long as it’s not windy, though the lowest/warmest like Dailey Lake may get tough for trout over the next week with the warming temps. Callibaetis and chironomid hatches will occur on all lakes, but on some lakes the trout don’t much care to rise. Damsels may even start to pop this week.

Warmwater Lakes & Reservoirs: This is a good time to get your warmwater fix. We’ve probably got a month or so before the warmwater fish start going a bit deep for fly tackle. Nearby, play with bluegill in the Bozeman Pond or Trout Meadows Pond in Bozeman or in the Three Forks Ponds. The latter have a few decent bass and some big carp. A small boat is helpful on the middle (best) of the Three Forks ponds. A drift boat with a trolling motor is ideal. Further afield, look for pike and bass as well as panfish at Castle Rock Lake in Colstrip. #10 olive and black Woolly Worms with bead chain eyes and four rubber legs out the back seem to work for everything except pike there (I think they look like little frogs). For the pike and bigger bass, fish fire tiger Murdich Minnows in about 1/0. A boat is really helpful here; I can get places with my drift boat that neither larger aluminum boats nor bank anglers can. I went up to the Havre area in northern Montana and had good action for small pike regardless of the weather and decent success when the wind didn’t blow me off the lake for pike up to about 35 inches. A gear fisherman caught a 38-incher the same day. Red and white and perch pattern streamers about 8″ long were the tickets.

The Paradise Valley spring creeks are in a bit of a hole from now until mid-June. Look at Depuy’s availability calendar to know when the fishing is likely to be good. Fourteen of sixteen rod slots are available tomorrow (the 25th of May). Not a single slot is available between June 13 and July 12, and only a few are available the week after. Since the creeks are between hatch cycles until the PMD begin, expect to either nymph with PMD and midge nymphs or walk up and down the creeks throwing smallish Woolly Buggers more often than not. Fragmentary midge, late BWO, or early PMD hatches are also possible.

Yellowstone Park: The general season opened yesterday, though the upper Yellowstone River above Chittenden Bridge and a few other odds and ends remain closed until July. Check regulations for precise details. We updated the detailed park report as well as wrote this synopsis, so click that link for a lot more detail.

  • Firehole River: Already flirting with 70 degrees on hot afternoons, so the upcoming week of 80s might be tough. On the other hand, most of the bear attack closure has been rescinded. Soft hackles will be the bread and butter flies except below the falls. A #14 White Miller with a #16 Glasshead Soft Hackle PT is a good place to start. I often never change from this combo. White Miller and PMD hatches will intensify over the next week or so, while BWO and Mother’s Day Caddis fade out. Mornings are likely to be better if it is hot and sunny, or maybe the hour or two before dark. Some Salmonflies are possible in the canyon below the Falls, but small attractor nymphs like Princes tend to be the best bet there.
  • Gibbon River: Low enough top to bottom, though still cold above Norris. Streamers in the meadows or the big pools below the Falls will produce bigger fish, but attractor dry/dropper combos in the canyon both above and below the Falls will produce good numbers of smaller trout. Westslope cutthroat numbers are increasing downstream of Norris, which is great to see.
  • Madison River: Some PMD and caddis hatches are possible, and Salmonflies may hatch soon in the bouldery areas.
  • Lakes: Most or all are now ice free. On Yellowstone Lake, fish Buggers and baitfish imitations hoping to whack skinny lakers or maybe the biggest cutthroat you’ll ever see. On the grayling lakes, fish a tiny bugger or leech with a soft hackle or flashy little beadhead dropper. Try to sight-fish to cruisers on Trout Lake using those same soft hackles and lil’ flashies, or scuds. Blacktail is closed until early July.
  • Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone: Should not become unfishably dirty again this year. For now, fish stonefly and attractor nymphs or a pair of Woolly Buggers. Limited caddis hatches are also possible.
  • Lamar System: Muddy.
  • Small Creeks: Too cold.
  • Gardner: If it’s “green is good” from the High Bridge down to Gardiner, fish stonefly and attractor nymphs.

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