Yellowstone River Fishing Report
Yellowstone River Fishing Report
9/26/2025
Always be cautious when floating the Yellowstone River. Flows are at low levels and some side channels can be hard to navigate, be sure to only take routes downriver that you are familiar with and if you are doing any exploring do it on foot before deciding to take your boat down a new channel.
The Yellowstone River has been a really solid option when it comes to fishing right now. Low water has restricted a lot of these fish and you don't have to work too hard to find where they are sitting. You can find a lot of fish sitting in fast riffle water on gravel bars, above pools, and in front of, behind and beside large boulders in the current.
Nymphs rigs and streamers have been the best ways to find fish. During the warm afternoons you can usually get a few eats on the surface, but most your action will be from sub surface patterns. Start the day off by stripping some streamers, focus on heavy cover like riprap walls, gravels bars, and fast depth transitions. This time of year the tailouts of the long slower moving pools can hold a surprising amount of fish. This water type will start to hold more and more fish as it gets cooler.
Dries: Chubby Chernobyl Royal #12-18, Carlson's Olive Haze #16-18, Dornan's Water Walker Peanut #10-12, Skater Tot (Purple, Olive, Black) #12-14 , Cornfed Caddis #14-16, Elk Hair Caddis (Olive, tan, Pearl) #16
Nymphs: Pat's Rubber Legs (black/brown, coffee, olive, black) #8-12, Prince Nymph #8-16, Perdigon (hollow point, pearl, any color lite brite) #16-18, Soft Hackle Lightning Bug (silver, gold) #14-16, Galloup's UV Pupa (Olive, Tan) #16, Primetime Pupa (Tan) #16, BH Pheasant Tail CDC #14-16, Tung Jig Yellow Hotspot #16-18, Duracell (Black, Brown) #16
Streamers: Kill Whitey's, Barely Legal's, Sex Dungeon's, Silk Kitty's, Sculpzilla, Sparkle Minnows and Li'l Kim
New to the Yellowstone?Head over to our shop in Big Sky or reach out to us for information about trips with our experienced guide staff, up to date fishing advice, and the right tips to get you on the water and finding fish.
Want to fish the Yellowstone summer 2023? We're ready to book trips for 2023, just give us a call at the shop. 406-995-2290
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Thanks for checking out our Montana fly fishing report for the Yellowstone River Fishing Report brought to you from beautiful Big Sky, Montana. Also serving Bozeman, Ennis, West Yellowstone, Belgrade, and Livingston, Montana.
