Yellowstone River Fishing Report
Date: 02/25/2026
Posted by: Toby SwankCurrent Conditions
The Yellowstone River has been challenging. Cold weather and lingering shelf ice are still limiting consistent access, and conditions can change overnight. Some stretches have more open water than they did a few weeks ago, but it hasn’t turned into reliable fishing.
Midday has been the only window with any real opportunity. Mornings have been slow, and wind has made already difficult conditions harder to manage.
Nymphing is the only approach that makes sense. Pat’s rubberlegs, wire worms, zebra midges, and small perdigons have been the flies anglers are leaning on. Getting down has mattered more than anything else. When fish are hooked, it’s coming from being in the right depth rather than changing patterns constantly.
Streamer fishing hasn’t produced much in these temperatures. Fish aren’t moving far.
There hasn’t been any consistent dry fly activity.
Anglers considering the Yellowstone River should expect winter conditions and limited opportunity. It’s not out of the question, but it’s not the river carrying things right now.
Additional Resources:
- Yellowstone River Fly Fishing In Winter
- Fly Fishing Bozeman In Winter
Stream Flows
Flows
Recommended Flies
Butano Lite Brite Perdigon
Tan and Yellow Double Gonga
Prince Nymph
Brown Pat's Rubberleg
Coffee/Black Restless Stone
Tungsten Jigged Prince
Olive Double Gonga
Olive Mini Dungeon
Yellowstone River Fishing
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.
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