Yellowstone River Fly Fishing in Fall

Yellowstone River Fly Fishing in the Fall

Paradise Valley comes alive with autumn colors as cottonwoods and aspens along the Yellowstone River and surrounding mountains ignite with shades of gold.

Bugling elk echo in the distance while anglers anticipate another day on this iconic Montana fishing river.

Cooler weather and longer nights rejuvenate the river, awakening trout from their summer slumber. The stunning scenery, peaceful solitude, and wild Montana trout make fall an incredible time to experience Yellowstone River fly fishing.

Yellowstone River Fly Fishing Hatches in Fall

Blue-winged olives hatch in abundance near Livingston and throughout Paradise Valley on cloudy September and October days. Blanket hatches draw pods of rising rainbow, Yellowstone cutthroat, and brown trout to the surface for hours at a time under ideal conditions.

Anglers may encounter blanket hatches of Pseudocleon mayflies on sunny days, though trout rarely show much interest in them on the surface. However, their nymphs are worth imitating with small patterns as trout actively feed on this life stage during emergences.

Expect occasional hatches of Western Red Quill, Yellow Drake, and Hecuba mayflies on calm, overcast days. These hatches are sparse, so general attractor dry fly patterns like a Parachute Adams or Royal Wulff usually suffice.

Yellowstone River Fly Fishing Techniques in Fall

Experienced anglers can expect to find trout eager to rise to a well-presented dry fly on the Yellowstone River. The combination of terrestrial and aquatic insects, low water, and clear conditions keeps fish looking up well into early November most years.

Delicate presentations using 9-12-foot leaders with fine 5x tippets often make a bigger difference than fly selection, except during prolific blue-winged olive hatches between Livingston and Emigrant. Success in these hatches demands keen hatch-matching skills as trout rise form reveals whether adults or emergers are preferred, and these hatches are typically short-lived.

Nymph fishing is a reliable fall technique on the Yellowstone. Remember, trout move around the river system in autumn, congregating in deeper holes as water cools. The most productive nymphing occurs along current seams with a few feet of depth near structures like points, bends, inlets, and boulders. Small mayfly nymphs fished a few feet below a strike indicator with precision can be highly effective.

Ask any Montana fishing guide about their fall days off, and the answer is likely streamer fishing the Yellowstone River. The legendary brown trout of the Yellowstone start moving from summer holding areas in mid-September, becoming increasingly aggressive and territorial as autumn progresses. Large, articulated streamers on sinking lines are never more effective than in October and early November.

Bozeman Fly Fishing Guide Pro-Tip:

Floating the Yellowstone River sections between Pine Creek and HWY 89 while fly fishing the streamers throughout October is a local guide favorite. Big brown trout move around a lot this time of the year and become increasingly territorial as they settle into new lies during the prespawn weeks. These sections of the river have diverse holding areas and a multitude of creek mouths where these behemoths congregate during the fall.

Yellowstone River Fly Box for Fall