Yellowstone River Fishing Report
Date: 09/04/2026
Posted by: Toby SwankCurrent Conditions
The Yellowstone River has been changing every day with the recent weather. Rain has pushed random mud into the river, but there has still been plenty of clean, fishable water. If the first stretch you check is off color, don't be afraid to drive a few miles. The river has been clearing quickly between storms, and the Livingston stretch has been the most consistent.
The overcast skies and wind have made for some excellent streamer fishing. Olive, black, and white streamers have been moving good fish, especially early in the day and whenever the clouds stick around. When the water is clear enough to fish dries, hoppers are still worth trying, but nymphing has been more consistent lately. A beadhead pat's rubberlegs with a Prince nymph underneath has been a solid combination.
The Yellowstone is worth fishing right now, but be willing to adjust to the conditions. A little extra driving to find clean water has been paying off, and anglers carrying both streamers and nymphs have been getting the most out of the changing weather.
Additional Resources:
Stream Flows
View stream flow graph on USGS
Recommended Flies
White Circus Peanut
Sweetgrass Hopper
Tungsten Jigged Prince
Prince Nymph
Golden Morrish Hopper
Coffee/Black Restless Stone
Rainbow Warrior Jig
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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