Yellowstone River Fishing Report

Date: 11/06/2026

Posted by: Toby Swank

Current Conditions

The Yellowstone River has been fishing decent, and there are still some good opportunities for anglers willing to get out this time of year. The river has a little more color following the recent rain, but overall visibility remains good. Nymphing has been producing the most consistent action, particularly around the deeper runs and slower water throughout Paradise Valley.

Stonefly nymphs, rubberlegs, and smaller baetis patterns are good flies to have right now. A larger rubberlegs followed by a smaller perdigon or pheasant tail is a good combination. There are plenty of fish holding in the deeper buckets, but don't overlook the slower water along the banks.

Streamer fishing is worth spending some time on, especially for anglers looking to find a larger brown trout. Olive and black sculpin patterns and sparkle minnows are good options. Cloudy weather is generally when streamer fishing gets more interesting, so take advantage of those days when they come around.

There are still some afternoon BWO and midge hatches, and a few fish have been coming up in the slower water. Small dries in sizes 16–18 are worth having, particularly on calmer afternoons.

Additional Resources:

- Fly Fishing Bozeman in November

Stream Flows

View stream flow graph on USGS

Recommended Flies