Yellowstone River Fishing Report
Date: 09/24/2025
Posted by: Toby SwankCurrent Conditions
The Yellowstone River is fishing well. Recent rain pushed flows up a bit, but clarity has held and anglers are still finding steady action across most stretches.
Nymphing has been the most productive. Dark stonefly nymphs and smaller beadhead patterns are moving fish in seams and deeper runs. Pairing a larger fly with a smaller dropper has been effective, with pheasant tails, perdigons, and blowtorches all worth fishing.
Dry fly fishing has been slow overall. A few BWOs and small mayflies have been spotted on overcast afternoons, but nothing strong enough to bring widespread surface activity. hecubas are mainly on the upper Yellowstone, and anglers fishing through Paradise Valley have been finding a few fish mid-river when little else is happening. They are worth prospecting with during quiet periods. Hoppers, beetles, and ants are still an option in the afternoons.
Streamer fishing has shown improvement with cooler weather. sparkle minnows, mini dungeons, and baby gongas in olive, black, and yellow are producing fish, especially in the mornings or under cloudy skies. Working streamers tight to structure and soft seams has been most effective.
Overall, the Yellowstone is in good shape and offering solid fishing. Anglers fly fishing Bozeman who want big water and a chance at quality trout should be ready with nymph rigs, prospecting dries, and streamers for changing conditions.
Additional Resources:
Yellowstone River Fly Fishing in September
Bozeman Fly Fishing Guide to September
Livingston Fly Fishing Guide to September
Stream Flows
Flows
Recommended Flies
Tan and Yellow Double Gonga
Butano Lite Brite Perdigon
Coffee/Black Restless Stone
Golden Thunder Thigh Hopper
Golden Morrish Hopper
Olive Mini Dungeon
Brown Pat's Rubberleg
Royal Chubby Chernobyl
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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