Yellowstone River Fishing Report: Midday Magic for Hungry Browns and Rainbows

Artificial Lure with your Yellowstone River fishing report for Saturday, November 8, 2025.

Clear, cold air and golden cottonwoods made for a postcard morning out here on the Yellowstone. Locals woke to a sunrise just past 7:09 a.m., and we’ll see sunset wrapping things up around 5:00 p.m. Temps hit the upper 30s early, climbing toward the low 40s with only a light breeze—prime for that late fall swing according to MountainWeather and Don Day’s Wyoming Forecast. There’s no tide in these mountain rivers, so anglers are letting water temp and bug activity set the rhythm.

Recent rains last week raised flows just a tick. Water clarity is good, with those famed Yellowstone hues shining against the rocky runs. With night temperatures dipping toward the teens, expect the morning bite a bit sluggish, but things liven up as the water warms midday. According to Montana Outdoor’s fishing report from October 27, it’s all about cold mornings, clear water—and hungry browns on the move.

Now to the action: The fall BWO (Blue Wing Olive) hatch is in its twilight, but midges are showing, especially late morning into early afternoon. Browns are off their major spawn push but still fired up, taking streamers and nymphs aggressively. Rainbows remain active in deeper pools. Recent reports up by Livingston say streamer anglers are moving solid browns—16-20 inch fish have been caught in the float stretch between Pine Creek and Carter’s Bridge. Swinging olive or black articulated streamers got hits, while double nymph rigs with smaller rubber-legs, CDC pheasant tails, and zebra midges turned up rainbows consistently. Word from Montana Angler suggests fall-run browns are leaving the lakes and coming on strong in these river stretches.

No official creel checks this week, but guides report a mixed bag: “Steady eats” on both nymphs and streamers, especially as the sun pops out midday. A few cutthroat trout have been caught below Yankee Jim, and an occasional late-season whitefish puts a bend in the rod before winter sets in. Walleye action downstream near Big Timber is slow but steady for the patient—slow-rolling jigs or tossing a fathead minnow might do the trick.

Local wisdom puts the day’s “hot spot” at the Paradise Valley stretch between Mill Creek and Mallard’s Rest—here, the river bends slow and deep, perfect for float fishing or swinging big buggers tight to the bank. Another spot coming alive is the Shields River confluence, where colder water pulls big predators out from the main current.

Best lures today: For fly anglers, go with a size 8-10 olive or black woolly bugger, white streamer for flash, or small tungsten bead-head nymphs like zebra midges in size 16-18. If you’re tackling gear, small silver or gold spinners, Rapala Countdowns, or even soft plastics on a light jig head have all tricked trout this week. Natural bait is restricted in many upper stretches, but downriver, nightcrawlers and fathead minnows still produce for spin anglers targeting deeper holes.

Stick to midday for peak activity. Approaching weather systems Sunday may amp up the bite this evening, so keep an eye on the clouds—moving water just before a front comes in is a classic big-fish window on the Yellowstone.

That’s the buzz for November 8th. Thanks for tuning in to the Yellowstone River report with Artificial Lure. Don’t forget to subscribe for daily updates, tips, and more local secrets. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.

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