Yellowstone River Fishing Report: Late Fall Rainbows and Browns on the Swing

Yellowstone River anglers, Artificial Lure checking in from Paradise Valley to Billings with your November 24, 2025, fishing report. It’s late fall on the Yellowstone—air is crisp, mornings start below freezing, but the water’s still open and fishing pressure’s light with most folks focused on hunting. Sunrise was right at 7:35 AM and you’ll see sunset around 4:38 PM today, so plan those outings accordingly.

Today’s weather feels surprisingly mild for Thanksgiving week. Forecasts from Ventusky and the National Weather Service in Billings show early morning temps around 4°C (39°F), peaking at 20°C (68°F) midafternoon. Winds stay easy, mostly from the southwest at 8–14 km/h, skies are clear, and there’s no precipitation in the cards. No tidal swings here on the Yellowstone, so flows stay consistent—though always keep an eye for late season releases or ground ice early in the day.

Recent reports from Montana Outdoor Radio Show and local guides say anglers willing to brave icy guides are still getting into fish. Rainbows are the stars right now with steady action on the stretches near Livingston and up towards Emigrant; a few browns are still hanging out in deeper tailouts post-spawn. Nymphing is the most productive tactic—think small stoneflies (size 10–14), and classic winter fare like zebra midges and pheasant tails under an indicator. Folks swinging streamers—especially smaller olive or black buggers—are picking up fish when the overcast rolls in, mostly during midafternoon warmups.

Numbers-wise, it’s not lights-out, but dedicated anglers are putting half a dozen good rainbows in the net on a half-day trip. Most are 10-16 inches but there’s always bigger fish lurking in deeper holding water below riffles. Don’t overlook long, slow seams—a few browns up to 18 inches have been reported by persistent streamer anglers earlier this week. Whitefish are also active, and on the right day they’ll stack up behind riffles, so if you’re after numbers, it’s hard to beat a beadhead nymph.

Best bait right now? Go with subsurface patterns—definitely nymphs. European-style jig nymphs in pink and gold are seeing steady grabs. If you’re dead-set on conventional tackle, ultra-light spinners in silver or gold can move a surprise brown, especially near undercut banks around Big Timber and the Pine Creek access point.

For fly anglers, your hot fly list: small rubberlegs stone, zebra midge, pheasant tail, and squirmy worm patterns in red or pink. Streamer junkies: black-and-olive or white buggers with a bit of flash, retrieved slow and deep, are the ticket.

Local hot spots right now include:

- “The Mayor’s Landing” just east of Livingston — classic gravel bars and deep bends where rainbows are stacked.
- Emigrant Fishing Access — long runs and nobody else around, perfect for nymphing or swinging streamers in the afternoon sun.
- Down near Big Timber, the islands and slower channels have been money for late fall browns.

Keep in mind, the mornings are frigid—expect frozen guides and numbed-up hands. But by late morning, the sun thaws things enough to make casting pleasant. Big tip: Bring a Thermos and some hand warmers, you’ll thank me.

That’s your Yellowstone River update from Artificial Lure. Thanks for tuning in, folks—tight lines and don’t forget to subscribe for more. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.

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