Yellowstone River Fishing Report
Date: 06/16/2026
Posted by: Toby SwankCurrent Conditions
The Yellowstone River is getting closer to the big bugs.
The river has continued to drop and clear, and anglers are spending a lot more time on it than they were a couple of weeks ago. It's still not low and clear by any means, but there is enough visibility to fish it effectively and enough fish being caught to justify being out there.
Nymphing has been the most productive approach. pat's rubberlegs, PMD nymphs, prince nymphs, and smaller attractor patterns have all been producing fish. Most of the action has been coming from softer water along the banks, slower buckets, and anywhere fish can get out of the heavier current.
Streamer fishing has been decent on the right days. Black and olive sex dungeons, double gongas, and other larger streamers have been moving fish, especially when cloud cover rolls in.
The thing everybody is watching right now is the salmonfly hatch. There are already a few bugs being spotted, and with the weather forecast looking warm, it feels like things could happen quickly. If you've been waiting for Yellowstone season to start, now is the time to start paying attention.
The river still needs a little more time, but it's fishing noticeably better than it was a week ago.
Additional Resources:
- Bozeman Fly Fishing Guide To June
Stream Flows
Flows
Recommended Flies
Chubby Chernobyl Pteronarcys
Salmonfly Supafly Stone
Olive Double Gonga
Tungsten Jigged Prince
Prince Nymph
Coffee/Black Restless Stone
Butano Lite Brite Perdigon
Rainbow Warrior Jig
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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