Yellowstone River Runoff Report - High Water, Emerging Hatches, and Fishing Hotspots

Good morning anglers, this is Artificial Lure bringing you today's fishing report from the mighty Yellowstone River in Montana.

The Stone is dropping fast with the cold weather, but the fishing prospects are looking up. We're still deep in runoff season, with conditions shifting daily. Water levels remain high and murky in spots, but windows of fishability are appearing as temperatures have cooled slightly since the start of the week.

Weather-wise, we're seeing cloudy skies early with a chance for afternoon sun and mild winds through Paradise Valley today. Sunrise was at 5:45 am and sunset will be about 8:45 pm—giving you plenty of daylight for working those gravel bars.

Fish activity has been picking up whenever the river settles. Anglers have been landing browns and rainbows with a few cutthroats mixed in, especially in stretches from Livingston through Yankee Jim Canyon. Most catches are running 12 to 18 inches, with occasional bigger browns lurking around deeper runs and boulders.

For tackle, big stonefly nymphs are your best bet right now—think Girdle Bugs, Minch Stones, or 20-Inchers in sizes 4-10. Try trailing these with #10-12 attractor nymphs like Princes or Bead, Hare, and Copper patterns. Streamers are working well too, with Woolly Buggers tied on jig hooks producing strikes. Keep your eyes peeled for stonefly hatches—we might see some dry fly action soon if conditions continue to improve.

If you're looking for alternatives while the Yellowstone settles, Dailey Lake has been fishing well in the early mornings before the wind kicks up—you can catch fish right from shore. Hyalite offers spectacular scenery and good fishing using lake midge larva imitations under an indicator.

Hot spots today include the Lower Gardner between Mammoth Hot Springs and Gardiner, which is running clearer than usual for early June. Fit anglers with strong wading skills can pull fish from bankside pockets where there's at least a foot of visibility.

Remember, spring flows can be dangerous even on smaller creeks, so exercise caution when wading. Current flow in Livingston was around 14,500 CFS last week but has been dropping with the cooler weather.

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