The Yellowstone River has been fishing steady this week through Paradise Valley and down toward Livingston. Flows are right where they should be for late October, and the water looks great.
Nymphing with rubberlegs, stonefly attractors, and sculpin patterns have been solid lead flies, followed by smaller droppers like perdigons, lightning bugs, or zebra midges. Working these rigs through the deeper runs, seams, and slower water has been productive throughout the week.
Streamer fishing has been good with the mix of clouds and cooler days. Patterns like the mini dungeon, goldie, and swim coach in olive, tan, or black have been turning fish when fished slow through deeper structure and off the banks. These fish are starting to move with the colder weather, and bigger flies are getting more attention each day.
We’re starting to see more blue-winged olives across the river, especially in the afternoons when the wind settles down. Fish have been rising in slower water and back eddies, and small emergers or parachutes have been effective when the hatch gets going.
Overall, the Yellowstone River is in great shape for late October. Nymphing has been reliable, streamers are producing, and BWO activity is building with each passing day. It’s a great time to be on the Yellowstone, with steady fall fishing and light pressure throughout the valley.
Additional Resources:
- Yellowstone River Fly Fishing in the Fall
- Bozeman Fly Fishing in October
Tungsten Jigged Prince
Tan and Yellow Double Gonga
Butano Lite Brite Perdigon
Olive Double Gonga
Brown Pat's Rubberleg
Coffee/Black Restless Stone
Olive Mini Dungeon
Prince Nymph
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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