Yellowstone River Winter Fishing Report - Late Mornings and Afternoons Best for Nymphing and Streamer Action

# Yellowstone River Fishing Report - December 3rd, 2025

Well hey there, folks, Artificial Lure here with your Wednesday morning report on the Yellowstone River.

We're sitting at around 1,500 CFS at Livingston, and I gotta tell you, we've transitioned fully into winter mode now. The water temps are dropping, especially in those shaded canyon sections, so your best fishing window is going to be late morning through mid-afternoon when the sun actually warms things up a bit.

**What's Working Right Now**

Nymphing is absolutely the name of the game. I'm talking Pat's Rubberlegs in sizes 10 to 14, Perdigon in 16 to 18, and Zebra Midges down to size 20. You want to pair those with a stonefly nymph or an attractor pattern. Focus on the deep buckets, soft inside bends, and those mellow troughs where the river's broad structure gives the trout plenty of winter holding water.

If you get a calm, milder afternoon—especially in Paradise Valley—you might see some isolated midge activity. Extended Body BWOs and Griffith's Gnats in 18 to 20 will get you in the game for those brief dry-fly windows. Streamer fishing is spotty but can pay off during the warmest part of the day. Mini Dungeon, Sparkle Minnow, and Sculpzilla in olive and black are your go-tos. Keep those presentations slow, low, and tight.

**Where to Find Them**

Early in the day, work those classic winter waters—deep runs, soft edges, and slower seams. As temps rise through the afternoon, start probing soft riffles and mid-depth structure. For streamers, think slow retrieves with long pauses, tight to the bank.

The Yellowstone's long free-flowing structure means you've got plenty of real estate to explore. Head to the classic winter holding zones around Livingston and work those deeper pockets.

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This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI