Livingston Montana Fishing Report

Detailed Reports

This NO BS Livingston Montana fishing report is valid from April 11 through April.

General Comments

We are seeing a record-early start to the spring melt and thus somewhat limited fishing opportunities for the time of year due to mud. A substantial cooldown next week should “chill out” the runoff for a few days and lead to good streamer and BWO fishing on the Yellowstone River.

Planning a summer trip? Please plan to come early if at all possible. We anticipate substantial limitations to our operations and even general fishing opportunities due to low, warm water after about July 20. June will almost certainly offer our best fishing this season. Check out our summer fishing forecast for details.

The Details

The Yellowstone River: Is muddy right now. When it’s green rather than brown (it will not be crystal clear/blue again until sometime in June), fish stonefly nymphs, BWO and other mayfly nymphs, Mother’s Day caddis larvae, and streamers. BWO and March Browns are possible as well. The Mother’s day caddis will likely hatch with the next warmup after next week’s cooldown.

The Boulder River: No recent reports.

The lower Madison River is a good early spring bet. Crayfish trailing eggs or BWO nymphs and caddis pupae are good options. So is swinging a light but very flowy and mobile streamer on an intermediate or floating tip. Look for BWO hatching on warm afternoons on the steep banks with eddies. Expect dirty water downstream of Cherry Creek until the cooldown.

The Stillwater River is still running too low to float comfortably, but otherwise should fish similarly to the Yellowstone.

The Missouri River is definitely the best winter public water option within about 3.5 hours. Both the Hauser (Land of Giants) and Holter tailwaters are worth hitting. BWO nymphs, San Juan Worms, sowbugs, midge larvae, and potentially still “pink stuff” are good subsurface choices, as are many streamers. BWO, midge, and March Browns are possible, particularly below Holter, while below Hauser they mostly still like nymphs. Beware of spawning areas and leave them alone, especially below Holter where the fish are all wild. Below Hauser where 90% of the rainbows are stockers coming up from Holter Lake, you’ll see why this area is called “Land of No Ethics” and “Land of Crowds” as often as it’s called “Land of Giants.”

Montana Small Streams are too low and cold now.

Local Lakes and Reservoirs are generally ice-free now. Look for false-spawning stocked rainbows along the windswept, rocky shorelines. Fish streamers, eggs, and a variety of junky nymphs.

The Paradise Valley spring creeks are generally very good through April. BWO and midge hatches are what you want to see. They are most likely on gray afternoons. Next week’s cooldown is likely to have great hatches as long as it isn’t too windy or pouring rain. Absent a hatch, fish San Juan Worms, eggs, midge pupae/larvae, and BWO nymphs in the deeper pools. Stay away from spawning gravel; it’s not ethical to fish these areas, and DEVASTATING to wade them. If you see trout over shallow gravel, leave them alone.

Yellowstone Park fishing is closed except on the Gardner River below Osprey Falls and on the Madison downstream of the MT/WY boundary near the Barns Pools. The park interior roads that allow easier access to the Madison open the 17th of April.

  • The Gardner will fish best below Boiling River, provided it is clear. Either hike down from Mammoth or up from Gardiner. The passage through the Chutes where the road was wrecked in 2022’s floods is only for mountain goats, so you really can’t fish the “Gardiner Beat” and “Boiling River Beat” from the same access point. Trust us here; for most people, getting through the heart of the Gardner Canyon will be impossible, and it’s dangerous for everybody.
  • The Gardner below Boiling River will fish best on stonefly nymphs or multi-role flies like TJ Hookers trailing eggs, midge pupae, or skinny mayfly nymphs. BWO and March Brown hatches are possible on warmer days, but will be fragmentary for another week or two. Mother’s Day Caddis may already be hatching right below Boiling River, but the heavy hatch here will occur with the next warmup. Beware spawning rainbow trout: fish only the pocket water and deep pools, not the shallow gravel.
  • Off the “high bridge” east of Mammoth, stick to afternoon fishing only and expect to find the fish only in the largest pools, since the conditions are still winter-like above Boiling River’s warm influence. Fish nymphs. You might also see midge, BWO, March Brown, or Skwala stonefly hatches.

Note: Montana Outdoor‘s website is the only commercial external site authorized to use this content. Please let us know if you see it anywhere else.

Relevant Montana Fishing Report Links

Do you find these reports helpful? We don't sell flies or otherwise make money off of them, so we humbly ask that you consider Buying Us a Coffee. Also, if you've got the funds, you can...

Book a Trip