Yellowstone River Fishing Report

Date: 07/16/2026

Posted by: Toby Swank

Current Conditions

The Yellowstone River has been fishing well and is still one of the better options around. With the river carrying some color in the stretches through town, streamer fishing has been worthwhile this past week.

The hot weather has made getting an early start more important than ever. Not only are the mornings offering the best fishing, but you'll also stay ahead of the recreational float traffic that builds through Paradise Valley and down toward Livingston by the afternoon.

Dry-dropper fishing has been the best way to cover water. Fish have been more than willing to eat a chubby chernobyl during the morning, and that's been a great way to pick apart the banks and faster riffles. As the day goes on, we've been seeing more and more fish start looking for hoppers. If you're fishing into the afternoon, don't be afraid to switch over to a hopper and keep covering water.

There's no reason to overthink the fly selection right now. A chubby in the morning, a hopper once things warm up, and a simple attractor nymph underneath will cover just about everything you'll need.

The Yellowstone is fishing the way it should this time of year. Get on the water early, keep moving, and don't let the afternoon float traffic catch you by surprise.

Additional Resources:

- The Best Bozeman Fly Fishing in July

Stream Flows

View stream flow graph on USGS

Recommended Flies