Yellowstone River Fly Fishing in July
July brings a smorgasbord of insects to the surface of the Yellowstone River. Caddis continue to be a steady food source for opportunistic trout. Salmonflies, golden stones, and green drakes offer the chance for fishing big bugs. Pale morning duns (PMDs), and yellow sallies round out the party and become more important as the month wears on, the water warms, and flows drop.
Grasshoppers and nocturnal stoneflies begin to appear in late July and into August.
July Techniques for Yellowstone River Fly Fishing
The river will be high and off-color in early July but rainbow, brown, and cutthroat trout aggressively feed on insects and other forage caught in the flow. Hungry fish will jump on flies presented tight to the banks during these conditions. The trick is maintaining a drag-free drift amidst the swirling current and avoiding the various snags hidden below the surface.
Advanced anglers can expect dry fly opportunities while fishing Paradise Valley between Carbella and Loch Leven in early July. Salmonflies and golden stone hatches can be thick at this time, but demand precision casting.
Nymphing and streamer fishing are productive throughout the river, but fish tend to congregate in the slower water next to the bank. Flies need to be presented accurately and drifts managed effectively. Accurate casts and reach mends will give the flies a few seconds to sink and settle in soft water seams. Floating the Yellowstone River in high water is a great opportunity to master this essential fly fishing technique.
Dry fly fishing is the name of the game by mid-July when the river clears. Attractor dries imitating yellow sallies or caddis can be effective all day throughout much of the river. Dry/dropper rigs using large stonefly dry imitations and weighted searching nymphs are productive as well.
Anglers fishing single, large dries through skinny riffles in late July can hook into some of the largest Yellowstone River brown trout of the season.
Bozeman Fly Fishing Guide Pro-Tip:
As flows drop in July on the Yellowstone River, many braided channels that normally don't have enough water to hold fish will be fantastic areas to explore. Some of the larger brown and rainbow trout move into these temporary areas to feed. Fish a dry-dropper through drop-offs or along foam line banks. Try a pink Chubby Chernobyl with a Kyle’s Yellow Sally or PMD nymph 4-4.5 feet off the hook bend.
Our Yellowstone River Fly Box for July
Yellowstone River Fly Fishing Trips in July
After more than two decades of guiding the Yellowstone River, our Montana fishing guides anticipate daily and seasonal changes in this intricate watershed. Afternoon thundershowers throughout the region can quickly change water conditions over the 120 miles of the river where we operate.
We check water and weather conditions frequently to ensure that our guests are set for success on their Montana fishing trip to the Yellowstone River. If conditions deteriorate following a summer storm, we have several other Montana rivers nearby to choose from.
Floating the Yellowstone River offers the best fly-fishing experience throughout July. Our experienced guests enjoy wading productive runs and riffles during a float trip. Novice anglers will quickly improve their fly fishing skills, learning and practicing a variety of techniques in this diverse, wild trout fishery.
We’ve specialized in creating customized Montana fly fishing trips since 2000. Each Yellowstone River day trip is tailored to the skills, preferences, and expectations of our guests.
Join us for a day on the river or let us craft a unique, multi-day Montana fishing itinerary so you can experience the diverse fly fishing opportunities of the Yellowstone River.
Reservations can be secured online, via e-mail, or by calling us at 1-406-468-5019. Contact Us to customize your Bozeman, Montana fly fishing tour or with any Yellowstone River fishing questions.