September 16, 2023 Yellowstone River Fishing Report
Date: 09/16/2023
Posted by: Toby SwankCurrent Conditions
The upper river is fishing ok with a variety of small attractor dries, fished over shallow water flats and along bank seams throughout the day. The Whitefish bite is starting to get "really good" as they are preparing to spawn in the near future - so expect lots of them if you end up with a nymph under a dry or indicator. We have mostly been fishing the river east of Livingston the past week with mixed results as we are still finding fish willing to come up to a hopper, but it has been less consistent and is starting to wind down. We did have some boats throwing streamers this past week with some good results in the water just below long riffles and fished back towards the bank, even in the bright sun. Streamer fishing should get better and better the next few weeks!
We offer Yellowstone River guided fly-fishing trips throughout the year and float the river from the top of Paradise Valley, all the way to Columbus, Montana at different times of the year. You can book with us online or through e-mail.
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
Tan and Yellow Double Gonga
White Peanut Envy
Sweetgrass Hopper
Orange Morningwood Hopper
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.