Yellowstone National Park Fishing Report
Yellowstone National Park Fishing Report
6/6/2025
You can buy a Yellowstone National Park Fishing License
HERE.
Remember that you CANNOT have felt boots, barbed hooks, or lead in the park. Keep your wits about you when fishing in the park and carry bear spray. It is common to see Bison and Bears while fishing in the park.
Firehole River: The Firehole River has been on the drop recently and should fish spectacularly. Water temps have been getting all the way up into the 60s already so be prepared for caddis, salmonflies, PMDs, and a good time if you head here. Focus on trying to get some dry fly action or swinging some soft hackles.
Gibbon River: The Gibbon River is going to be a great place to check out for the weekend, keep an eye out for rising fish as the water temps in Yellowstone National Park tend to be a lot warmer than anywhere else this time of year. Expect action from Caddis to be the primary source for risers. In the mornings you will likely see some good midge, BWO, and possibly PMD hatches.
Madison River: This winter, the section of the Madison River below the confluence of the Firehole and Gibbon remained open to fishing for the first time. The water temps in this section are looking like they could produce some awesome fishing. Flows recently dropped and the fish here should be pretty happy. Focus on either nymphing or looking for heads poking up to sip mayflies.
Gallatin River: All sections of the Gallatin have been fishing great as of late. Heading into the park will get you into some of the clearest freestone river water in the state during this time of year. Fish numbers in this section of the Gallatin are low and when the water level is elevated the willows can eat more flies than the fish sometimes. If you do venture into the park there is not much by the way of dry fly fishing currently, but streamers, and nymphs should produce great results.
Dries: Chubby Chernnobyl #8-10 (gold, royal, purple), Parachute Adams #12-16 (para-wulff, sparkle, natural, and copper haze are variations we like to have in the box), Double Vision PMD #16-18, Sparkle Flag PMD #16-18, Hi-Vis Elk Hair Caddis #16-18, X Caddis #16-18 (tan, olive)
Nymphs: Pat's Rubberlegs #8-12(olive, tan, coffee), Nitro Caddis Pupa #14-16, Chewy Caddis #14-16, Perdigons(lite brite, green, pearl, black), Little Green Machine #14-18 (pheasant tail, green, gray), Lil Spanker #16-20 (purple, green, silver)
Park Fishing Licenses: Yellowstone National Park has implemented an online licensing service this year. You can buy a YNP license here.
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