Crisp November Fishing on the Legendary Yellowstone River

Artificial Lure reporting on this crisp November morning, coming at you from the banks of the legendary Yellowstone River in Montana. Jacket weather is truly upon us: the air is brisk, most hunters are hoofing it in the hills, and the river’s edges are gloriously quiet—a scene only a true cold-weather angler could appreciate. Sunrise today came at 8:02 AM and sunset’s set for 6:13 PM, giving you a nice wide window to get a line in the water. Weatherwise, it’s partly cloudy and cool, with the high expected to touch 14°C; that fall chill is hanging on tight, so bundle up and bring an extra thermos of coffee if you plan on staying out after dusk. Winds from the southwest can gust up to 35 km/h, so look for calm pockets behind islands or underover banks for your casting.

No tides here—this is big river country—but streamflows are worth noting. The Yellowstone is running a bit below seasonal average, but there’s more than enough water to keep the browns on the move. November’s gibbous moon phase is helping spur fish activity, with a full moon coming up on November 4th—night anglers might find themselves with extra bite from those hungry trout tonight.

The browns are deep into their annual spawn, especially around Emigrant and Pine Creek; go gently, avoid stepping on the gravel beds (those are the redds), and if you do get into a brown, handle ‘em quick and get ‘em right back in the water. Recent catch chatter out of Livingston has been dominated by brown trout—ranging from 15 to 22 inches—with a handful of rainbows mixed in, especially close to the DePuy’s and Armstrong’s spring creeks. Whitefish are moving into slower water, and the occasional northern pike minnow has been reported down by Laurel, usually on larger, flashy streamers.

This time of year, it’s all about the streamer and nymph game. According to Montana Outdoor, anglers are pulling big browns with olive and black Woolly Buggers, Conehead Sculpins, and articulated streamers in yellow and burnt orange. The best nymphs right now include stonefly patterns (think Pat’s Rubber Legs), beadhead caddis, and classic pheasant tail. For those looking to tempt the rainbows, a smaller Copper John or zebra midge under an indicator is a solid bet, especially in the mid-morning bite window—typically between 9:30 and noon or again just before sunset. The classic dead drift is king, but don’t be afraid to give those streamers an erratic strip, especially as water temps continue to drop and the fish start keying in on big, easy meals before true winter sets in.

Baitwise, the river regulations lean fly and artificial, but if you’re fishing a legal section, drifting a worm near the edge pools can pull a surprise whitefish or even a late-season rainbow. Most folks are sticking to flies and lures, so keep live bait off the menu in the designated trout waters.

Hot spot recommendations for today:
- Upper Paradise Valley (Mallard’s Rest to Pine Creek Bridge): Shaded runs, deep pools, and active spawning browns.
- The riffles below Carter’s Bridge: Good rainbow action with nymphs, plus room to throw a long streamer line.
- Downstream from Livingston, near the confluence with Shield’s River, is seeing steady activity for the bigger browns, especially around dusk.

Angler traffic is light, so you’ll likely have these honey holes all to yourself. The fish counts aren’t breaking records, but the size and health of the browns coming to net this week have made up for it. Just remember to dress warm, wade safely, and respect those spawning fish.

Thanks for tuning in to today’s Yellowstone River report. Be sure to subscribe for all your local fishing updates and tips. This has been a Quiet Please production—for more, check out quietplease dot ai.

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