"Fishing the Yellowstone: A Fall Day on the River"

Good morning from the banks of the Yellowstone—this is Artificial Lure with your fishing report for September 27th, 2025.

It’s a brisk start today with temps overnight dropping into the mid-30s, but things are shaping up for a beautiful fall day on the river. According to the National Weather Service, we’re looking at sunny skies and highs in the mid-60s, with a steady southwest breeze picking up some gusts later in the afternoon. Sunrise has just come up at 7:13 AM, and you’ll have daylight stretching until sunset at 7:12 PM. No tides to track here, so it’s all about the flow and water temps.

Wildfire smoke could be drifting in on that afternoon breeze, so keep an eye on the air quality, especially if you’re sensitive. It’s still moderate most places nearby, but the breeze might stir up some haze by midday, especially downwind of recent fires according to Montana DEQ's Friday outlook. Visibility on the water is good this morning, but bring sunglasses: both for the sun and potential haze later.

Now, the river itself—flows are at seasonal lows, which means some side channels are tough to navigate if you’re floating. Stick to the main runs you know or scout on foot before taking a boat through unfamiliar water. Wading anglers will have easy access to drop-offs, gravel bars, and those classic Yellowstone inside corners.

Fishing activity has picked up as the water cools and angling pressure drops. Yellowstone Angler and Gallatin River Guides both report that dry fly fishing has been solid, and nymphing is still kicking out numbers. The insect menu today: Baetis mayflies, mahogany duns, and caddis are coming off steadily with the cloudy spells, and terrestrials like hoppers are still catching fish—try a Heneberry Hopper, Thunder Thighs, or a Chubby Chernobyl in sizes 8 to 14. For the mayfly eaters, grey Wulff, Adams, and Carlson’s Olive Haze in sizes 12 to 18 are getting looks.

For nymphs, expect action on Pat’s Rubber Legs, Prince Nymphs, Perdigons, and soft hackle bugs—run a big stonefly pattern up front and trail a small attractor behind for the best of both worlds. Streamer junkies, fall’s coming and bite windows are opening up: Sculpzillas, Sparkle Minnows, Silk Kittys, and Kill Whiteys have pulled in some solid browns lately, especially early and late. Try a sinking line if you’re after one of those Yellowstone hogs lurking deep.

Catch reports suggest a mixed bag of browns, rainbows, and cutthroat—some big fish this year, including several browns pushing two feet that came on streamers and foam dry-dropper combos in the riffles and tailouts near Emigrant and Point of Rocks. Most fish are running in the 12 to 18-inch range but don’t be surprised by something bigger as the fall migration picks up steam.

Best hot spots right now:
- The water around **Pine Creek** is fishing consistently with dries and nymphs, especially in the mornings.
- The stretch between **Emigrant and Mallard’s Rest** has given up some impressive browns, especially under clouds with streamers.
- **Paradise Valley spring creek confluences** are also worth a look for rising fish on small dries.

A quick gear tip: keep a few foam hoppers or Chubby Chernobyls in your box for afternoons, and double-check tippet—these low flows can mean spooky trout, so 4X or even 5X is the move for smaller dries.

No bait is permitted here; it’s artificial lures and flies only, so leave the worms at home.

Thanks for tuning in to today’s Yellowstone River fishing report. Don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss a hatch or hotspot update.

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