Yellowstone River Fishing Report: Trout, Walleye, and Surprise Salmon Heating Up

Yellowstone River anglers woke up to an early summer sunrise at 5:35 AM and can expect a sunset around 9:17 PM. The weather in Paradise Valley is holding steady after last week’s heavy rain; flows are dropping fast, clarity is slowly improving, but the river is still running high and slightly off-color. Water temperature is running between 56 and 61 degrees, prime for active fish if you know where to look.

This week, the bite’s been mixed but promising—persistent anglers are pulling in quality trout. Reports from Montana Outdoor say walleye are hitting steady in the 50s, smallmouth bass are stacking up deep, pike are slowing down but still out there, and surprise salmon have been showing up here and there. According to the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Management Plan, you’ve also got a shot at sauger, sturgeon, channel cats, drum, and, if you’re up near Livingston, browns, rainbows, and the ever-present whitefish. Some extra surprise carp and yellow perch, too, if you’re fishing slower water near the confluences.

Visibility at Carter’s Bridge is about 8 inches—so get ready for “hero or zero” conditions according to the Yellowstone Angler. This is when big fish get bold, so don’t let the color spook you. Boaters are having the best luck—wade-fishing is tough thanks to fast, high water, but possible for the nimble and cautious.

Dry fly action has been heating up in the back eddies and foam lines, especially during the thick caddis and March brown hatches in the late morning through early afternoon. Hi-vis elk hair caddis, Butch Caddis, March Brown Parachutes, and good old Purple Haze are top picks. Run a size 12–14 elk hair caddis solo, or toss a Royal Wulff with a three-foot dropper tied to a weighted caddis pupa or a soft hackle pheasant tail.

Nymphing is by far the most reliable. Go to rubberlegs, jig princes, perdigons, caddis emergers, or the stand-by squirmy worm. Streamer junkies are also in luck—dark articulated patterns like black Dungeons, Sparkle Minnows, and McCune Sculpins are moving big browns along the banks and in slower seams.

Hot spots worth a visit today: Pine Creek Bridge is holding fish in the side channels and soft water, and the town stretch through Livingston has been productive in the backwaters and foam pockets. Don’t overlook the spring creek mouths, either—especially if you want to tangle with some whitefish or an opportunistic trout.

No tides to report—this is big Montana freestone fishing through and through.

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