Yellowstone River Fishing Report
Date: 10/16/2025
Posted by: Toby SwankCurrent Conditions
The Yellowstone River is a decent option right now. The rain and cold weather have kept fish moving and feeding, but colored up the system pretty good. Fishing is still worthwhile just be prepared for some off colored water. Over the next few days, as the river drops, fishing should improve.
Nymphing has been the most consistent way to find fish. Large stonefly attractors and rubberlegs have been good lead flies, followed by smaller droppers like perdigons, lightning bugs, or zebra midges. Fishing these setups through deeper runs and softer water has been reliable.
Streamer fishing has been solid and should stay good with the cloud cover and cooler weather ahead. Fishing deeper runs and structure with heavier lines has been key. Goldies, mini dungeons, and rusty trombones have all been getting attention, especially in olive, tan, and brown.
Dry fly fishing has been improving with the recent stretch of cool, overcast days. BWOs have been showing up more regularly in the afternoons, and fish have been rising in softer seams and back eddies. It’s not a full-on hatch yet, but those windows are becoming more consistent.
Overall, the Yellowstone River is in great shape. Nymphing is steady, streamer fishing is producing, and dry fly opportunities are starting to show up more often. With cool weather, steady flows, and fewer anglers on the water, it’s a great time to be out on the Yellowstone.
Additional Resources:
- Yellowstone River Fly Fishing in the Fall
- Bozeman Fly Fishing in October
Stream Flows
Flows
Recommended Flies
Tan and Yellow Double Gonga
Butano Lite Brite Perdigon
Brown Pat's Rubberleg
Coffee/Black Restless Stone
Olive Mini Dungeon
Tungsten Jigged Prince
Olive Double Gonga
Prince Nymph
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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