"Yellowstone River Fishing Report: Late Fall Bite and Shifting Patterns"

Artificial Lure here with your Yellowstone River fishing report for November 19th, 2025.

No tides on Montana’s Yellowstone, but water flows are steady and clarity’s decent after recent blustery days in Livingston, according to Montana Outdoor’s latest report. The unseasonably **mild temps continue**, with afternoons in the high 40s and 50s and lows dipping to near freezing. Early mornings see some patchy fog but expect partly sunny skies as the day wears on. *Sunrise is clocking in at 7:27 a.m., sunset around 4:44 p.m.*, giving you a short but workable window for chasing trout and whitefish.

River conditions feel more like early fall than deep November, and that’s having a real effect on fish patterns. Fish are holding deeper as we transition into late autumn—prime time for nymphs and streamers. The bite’s a little slow thanks to sunny stretches warming the water, but those sticking with it are still finding action.

Recent catches have included good numbers of **brown trout**, a handful of rainbows, some feisty cutthroats, and, as usual this time of year, plenty of whitefish. Most browns coming in are in the 15 to 20-inch class, with lucky folks getting into bigger post-spawn browns from deeper, slower water. Rainbows have been caught mainly in faster riffles at mid-day, sizing from 12 to 15 inches. Anglers from Livingston to Big Timber report steady if not spectacular fishing—anglers in the know are switching up to bigger streamers for those aggressive takes, especially later in the afternoon.

With the colder weather holding off, river traffic is a little lighter, meaning less pressured fish at classic winter spots. That said, **the best action’s been reported near the Pine Creek access and through Paradise Valley around Mallard’s Rest**—slow seams, deep bends, and below gravel riffles are your go-to. The town stretch near Carter’s Bridge is also a safe bet, especially on a quick afternoon session.

**Best lures and flies right now:**
- Olive or black woolly buggers, size 4–8
- Articulated streamers in white, gold, or brown—think Sex Dungeon and Dirty Hippie patterns
- Big, buggy stonefly nymphs like Pat’s Rubber Legs, size 8–10
- Small beadhead Pheasant Tails and Zebra Midges for whitefish
- Don’t be shy about drifting a brightly colored egg pattern—whitefish are taking them, and the occasional trout as well

**For bait anglers**—if you’re lucky enough to have permission, stonefly nymphs and nightcrawlers are producing below undercut banks. Remember most of the river is artificial lures only, so double-check regs.

No big hatches this week, but keep an eye out for midges late in the day if the wind drops. Drift those small patterns under an indicator in slower back eddies and tailouts for a few bonus bites.

Anglers are reporting the bite turns on just after noon with water warming ever so slightly, especially after a sunny stretch. Fish activity slows toward evening as cold sets in, so plan your day for late morning through mid-afternoon.

In short: classic late fall Montana weather, with fish feeding less aggressively, but rewards for those working deep, slow water with streamers and nymphs. Watch for changing weather and dropping temps as Thanksgiving week approaches—could be the last mild days before winter truly lands.

Thanks for tuning in to Artificial Lure’s Yellowstone River fishing report. Don’t forget to subscribe for more local insight and hot-spot updates.
This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.

Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn

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