October 1, 2023 Yellowstone River Fishing Report
Date: 10/01/2023
Posted by: Toby SwankCurrent Conditions
The last week has been a "head-scratcher" for us on the Yellowstone River as we had some pretty tough fishing, despite the improving conditions. We are getting the occasional fish to eat a streamer, but they are typically very close to a bank or in very shallow water, above the riffles. A few large Brown Trout were found in this type of water last week, but we moved very few fish out of deep water or mid-speed water next to structure. Our best results were with light-weighted, articulated streamers with some yellow or white on them.
The most consistent Yellowstone River fly-fishing, the past few days, has been nymphing with small flies about 5' below an indicator (or less) under foam lines in back eddies. Slow-moving seams next to Boulders and along riffle drop-offs are also holding some active fish.
Blue-Winged Olives are not too far away now, we just need a few days with consistent cloud cover to get them hatching along most of the Montana Rivers in the Bozeman region. That said, we did get a few fish to eat Hoppers last week on the Yellowstone - but that was inconsistent as well.
Yellowstone River fly fishing trips are available year-round to anglers of all skill levels with our Bozeman fly fishing guide service. Reservations can be placed online or via e-mail for any of our Montana fly fishing guided trips. Reach out to us with any questions regarding fly fishing the Yellowstone River using our Contact Form.
The Yellowstone River can go off-color quite quickly during the summer months following heavy rains in Yellowstone National Park and Paradise Valley. You can check current water clarity through handful of webcams in the area, here is a link to one that we check regularly.
Stream Flows
Flows
Recommended Flies
White Peanut Envy
Butano Lite Brite Perdigon
Black Quill Bomb
Brown/Yellow Barely Legal
Yellowstone River Fishing
The Yellowstone River is a 600-mile-long river in Montana that originates in Yellowstone National Park. The river offers world-class trout fishing opportunities and flows through breathtaking mountain landscapes with cottonwood-lined banks. Anglers can enjoy diverse fishing experiences, ranging from the whitewater of Yankee Jim Canyon to the peaceful glides near Livingston and the broad riffles near Big Timber.
Read our "Yellowstone River Fishing Guide" for a detailed overview of fly fishing the Yellowstone River in Montana. This is a great resource for anglers fishing near Bozeman Montana and details the various river stretches and seasonal hatches with tips from our Bozeman fly fishing guides on Yellowstone River fly fishing.