Yellowstone River Fishing Report
Date: 12/18/2024
Posted by: Toby Swank
The Yellowstone river around Livingston Montana should be fishing good this week with a nice warm weather window. Anglers have been having the most luck nymphing the deep slow runs. The warm temps have also made for some decent winter streamer fishing.
Set up your favorite nymph stick with a red worm or a small Stonefly pattern followed by a small flashy Perdigon style nymph. Inside bends have been the most productive runs lately. It’s very important to fish deep when water temps are down so add some split shot above your lead fly to make sure you're getting in the zone quickly.
We have been able to pick up a nice fish or two fishing olive and grey/white streamers. Use a heavy sinking line and fish the slow moving water. Make sure to let your fly close to the bottom before slowly stripping it back.
Once winter takes its full grip on the Yellowstone River it becomes extremely difficult to fish so get out there while we still can!
You can check current water clarity through a handful of webcams in the area, here is a link to one that our Bozeman fly fishing guides watch.
Click to enlarge
Flows
USGS CFS Data is not available for this date.
Red San Juan Worm
Olive Mini Dungeon
Black Pat's Rubberleg
Rainbow Spanish Bullet
Experience Yellowstone River fishing with our team of Bozeman fly fishing guides. We have been outfitting Montana fly fishing trips on the river between Yankee Jim Canyon and Columbus MT for over two decades.
Experienced anglers fishing with our guides can expect to cover a diverse range of water types using a variety of fly fishing techniques on day trips tailored to their skills and interests.
The novice or first-time angler will quickly improve their skills with patient instruction while immersed in the spectacle of Big Sky Country.
- $695 for 1 or 2 Anglers Per Guide
- Float Trips With Wading Opportunities
- Use of All Fishing Equipment Is Included
- Single And Multi-Day Trip Bookings Available
- Meet In Bozeman, Livingston, Emigrant, Or Big Timber
- Book Online or Contact Us To Learn More
Yellowstone River Fishing
The Yellowstone River is a 600-mile-long river in Montana that originates in Yellowstone National Park. The river offers world-class trout fishing opportunities and flows through breathtaking mountain landscapes with cottonwood-lined banks. Anglers can enjoy diverse fishing experiences, ranging from the whitewater of Yankee Jim Canyon to the peaceful glides near Livingston and the broad riffles near Big Timber.
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.
