Jefferson River Fishing Report
Date: 11/17/2025
Posted by: Toby SwankCurrent Conditions
The Jefferson River has been fishing well this week, especially once the day warms up. Mornings remain chilly, and early action has been slow, but by midday through the afternoon has been the best. The water clarity is good and flows are steady.
Nymphing continues to be your most reliable method right now. Lead flies like zirdles, small crayfish patterns, and stonefly nymphs are working well, with droppers such as zebra midges, prince nymphs, or small perdigons like the spanish bullet or duracell trailing behind. A 9-foot fluorocarbon leader of 3X or 4X is a good all-around setup for most stretches.
Streamer fishing has its moments too, particularly during cloudy afternoons. Natural-toned flies in olive, tan, or black—such as sculpzillas, zonkers, or mini dungeons—are catching attention when fished through deeper runs or along structure. Use a 5- to 6-foot leader of heavier fluorocarbon (1X or 0X) for these larger patterns to get the proper turnover.
Dry-fly activity remains limited but not gone. On afternoons with some cloud cover, blue‐winged olives and midges have been appearing in light numbers, and trout have been taking advantage in slower water segments. Carry a few size 18–20 emerger or parachute patterns for those brief surface windows.
If you’re considering a late-season outing, the Jefferson is worth your time. Plan on fishing from late morning into the afternoon, rely on your nymph rig for the bulk of the action, keep a streamer in play for those cloudy windows—and don’t overlook the discreet dry-fly chances when they show up.
Additional Resources:
- Bozeman Fly Fishing In November
- 7 Tips for Streamer Fishing around Bozeman
Recommended Flies
Red San Juan Worm
Olive Mini Peanut Envy
Dead Drift Crayfish
Gold Lightning Bug
White Zonker
Rainbow Warrior Jig
Jig Zirdle
Butano Lite Brite Perdigon
Jefferson River Fishing
The Jefferson River is a unique Montana fly fishing destination. It runs for around 80 miles, surrounded by the rugged landscapes of the Tobacco Root and Highland Mountain Ranges.
Our "Jefferson River Fishing Guide" is a comprehensive introduction to fly fishing in Montana on the Jefferson River from the Bozeman fly fishing guides with Fins and Feathers.
Additional Jefferson River Fly Fishing Resources
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