Autumn Browns and Cutthroat Await on the Frosty Yellowstone River

This is Artificial Lure coming to you with the Yellowstone River report for November 4, 2025. Pull on that fleece and let’s hit the bank—autumn fishing is hanging on and the big browns and cutthroat are fattening up before winter locks in.

The weather this morning along the Yellowstone is crisp, with sunrise right around 7:09 a.m. and sunset close to 5:03 p.m. The day started near freezing and by noon we’re looking at highs climbing into the upper 40s, maybe a touch warmer if those clouds break. Winds are light but could freshen up through the afternoon out of the southwest, around 10 mph, just enough to make casting a little sporty without being a hassle. There’s no tidal influence on these mountain rivers, so you can focus on water temp and flow—right now, the Yellowstone’s running clear and cold, making for prime fall conditions.

The river below the lake at Fishing Bridge is at about 645 CFS and in fantastic shape according to North Fork Anglers. Visibility is excellent, water temps are hovering in that chilly mid-40s range, and bug life is waking up whenever the clouds linger. Look for blue-winged olives drifting mid-mornings—those small gray mayflies are drawing steady attention, especially from rainbows and cutthroat getting their last easy meals. On calm afternoons, you’ll spot midges and the rare terrestrial still skipping around. Hopper-dropper rigs aren’t finished yet, especially closer to Livingston.

Hot spots today include the stretch near Pine Creek and farther downstream at Emigrant. Both are seeing consistent action, with good bank access and gravel bars perfect for dead-drifting nymphs. The “town stretch” through Livingston itself is another favorite—especially those deeper bends near Carter’s Bridge and the mouth of Deep Creek, where browns are staging up.

Recent catches reported by Montana Outdoor include healthy browns in the 18–22" range and some feisty cutthroat pushing 20" landed by anglers swinging small streamers at first light. Rainbows are mixed in—look for them in faster riffles and below structure. The crowd’s thinned out compared to September, so these fish are moving into their favorite feeding lanes undisturbed.

Best flies and lures right now:
- Nymphs: North Fork Specials, pheasant tails, hare’s ears, prince nymphs, and the ever-deadly rust-colored beadhead.
- Dries: small BWO patterns, parachute Adams, and Griffith’s gnats for midging fish.
- Streamers: small sculpin patterns, Slump Busters, and white or olive buggers stripped near the bottom will entice those late-season predatory strikes.
- For the spinning crowd, stick to small spoons, Panther Martins, or a brown trout-patterned Rapala—work them slow along the seams.

Bait anglers: a chunk of nightcrawler or a salmon egg cluster fished under a split shot will still do work in the deeper pools, especially if flows stay low.

Casting tip: Stay mobile. Pick a run apart, but don’t wait for the fish to come to you—these November trout are built for efficiency and will pod up in deeper water, especially during chilly mornings. As the day warms, look for them sliding into current seams searching for drifting nymphs.

A quick reminder—bear activity is still a concern along the upper river and inside the Park boundary, so keep that bear spray handy and travel smart if you’re fishing remote spots.

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