Troutline

Yellowstone River

Montana·Southwest Montana·45.40° N, 110.55° W

The Yellowstone is the longest undammed river in the lower 48 — 692 miles from the headwaters in Yellowstone National Park through Paradise Valley, Livingston, Big Timber, Columbus, and Billings to its confluence with the Missouri in North Dakota. For fly fishermen, the trout water is the first 200 miles. Inside the Park, the river fishes for native Yellowstone cutthroat and runs Atlantic-salmon style through Hayden Valley and the Black Canyon. From the Park boundary at Gardiner downstream to Big Timber the river runs through Paradise Valley between the Absaroka and Gallatin ranges — wide, gravel-bottomed, mile after mile of riffles and runs. Wild rainbows and browns averaging 14-18 inches with regular fish over 20, plus a remnant Yellowstone cutthroat fishery in the upper reaches that requires immediate release if hooked. Below Big Timber the river warms quickly in summer and the trout fishery thins; from Columbus to Billings smallmouth bass become more common than trout.

Timing on the Yellowstone is unusual for a Western river: runoff is late and big. The Yellowstone is the only major Montana river with no dam to clip the snowmelt, so peak runoff typically lasts from mid-May through mid-July depending on snowpack, and the river is essentially unfishable during this window — clarity drops to inches and flows can hit 25,000 CFS in big water years. Post-runoff in mid-July through October is when the river comes into its own. Salmon flies (Pteronarcys californica) hatch in the canyon between Gardiner and Mallards Rest from the last week of June through the first 10 days of July depending on water year — anglers chase the hatch upstream day by day. After that: golden stoneflies and caddis into August, hopper fishing through the Paradise Valley meadows, and a strong fall BWO and brown drake run on cool overcast October afternoons. The mid-October streamer fishing for pre-spawn browns is among the best on the planet.

Gardiner and Livingston are the corridor towns — Livingston in particular is fly fishing infrastructure central, with Dan Bailey's, Sweetwater Fly Shop, and Yellowstone Angler all on the river. Float fishing is the standard — drift boats, rafts, even cataraft for the upper reaches. Walk-and-wade access is good at FWP fishing access sites every few miles between Gardiner and Big Timber. Weather changes fast — the wind on Paradise Valley can be brutal, and a sunny morning can turn into 40°F rain by lunch. The river crosses through Yellowstone Park inside its upper reaches (different regulations apply — see Park fishing permit requirements). Whirling disease has cycled in the cutthroat population; spawning closures apply in the upper reaches between mid-May and the third Saturday in July.

Flow
8,640 CFS
Yellowstone R at Corwin Springs
Water Temp
51°F
Yellowstone R at Corwin Springs
Condition
Above Normal
Weather
44°F
Partly Cloudy

Insights

Flow
8,640 CFS — higher than typical
Push to the banks and softer water. Heavier flies.
Pressure
Pressure rising
Feeding may slow as fish sit tight.
Wind
Wind 17 mph — strong
Shorter casts and heavier flies. Find a bank with cover.
Snowpack
Snowpack 53% of normal
Yellowstone River basin snowpack is at 53% of normal — expect an early runoff and low summer flows, with tailwaters and spring creeks holding up best. The May–July runoff forecast for Yellowstone R at Livingston is 84% of average.
Water Temp
Water 51°F — prime
Active-feeding window.

Species

SpeciesAbundanceBest SeasonSizeNotes
Rainbow TroutAbundantJul-Oct12-20"Wild population through Paradise Valley and below. Average 14-18 inches with regulars over 20.
Brown TroutCommonSep-Nov14-26"Higher concentrations in the canyon section near Gardiner and from Livingston downstream. Fall pre-spawn streamer fishery.
Cutthroat TroutUncommonJul-Sep12-20"Native Yellowstone cutthroat. Strongest population inside Yellowstone NP. Outside the Park, populations are stressed by hybridization with rainbows.
Mountain WhitefishAbundantYear-round10-18"Native and prolific. Often hammer nymphs in the deeper runs.
Ideal wading flow2,000–7,000 CFS
Blow-out>12,000 CFS
Ideal water temp50–65°F

Mid-July through October. Salmon flies late Jun-early Jul in the canyon. Avoid the runoff window (mid-May through mid-July). Fall BWO and streamer fishing in October is exceptional.

Sections

7 sections on this river

Livingston to Big Timber

Wade & FloatBrown Trout · Rainbow Trout · Whitefish

Below Livingston the river widens and slows. Side channels and gravel bars throughout. Sheep Mountain and Grey Owl FWP sites provide ramps. Brown trout become more common; rainbow numbers thin. Best fished in fall when water cools.

Best for: Brown trout and rainbow trout, with mountain whitefish abundant. Streamer fishing in fall is the deal. Skip in July-August (hoot owl).

Big Timber to Columbus

Wade & FloatBrown Trout · Rainbow Trout · Smallmouth

Transitional water where the trout fishery thins and warmwater species appear. Larger river with longer slow pools between riffles. Smallmouth bass become common from Reed Point downstream. Worth fishing in fall for browns; not a destination trout fishery.

Best for: Brown trout and smallmouth bass. Best Sep-Nov for trout. Smallmouth fishing in summer with poppers and streamers.

Mallard's Rest to Livingston (Carter's Bridge)

Wade & FloatBrown Trout · Rainbow Trout

The lower Paradise Valley float — bigger water, gravel bars, more islands. Mayors Landing is the standard takeout at Livingston. Heaviest float traffic of the river. Carter's Bridge marks the boundary for hoot-owl restrictions in hot summers.

Best for: Wild rainbow trout and brown trout on streamers, nymphs, hopper-dropper. Best Jul-Oct. Float fishing is the norm.

Paradise Valley — Point of Rocks to Mallard's Rest

Wade & FloatSalmon · Brown Trout · Rainbow Trout

Roughly 25 miles of textbook Paradise Valley water through the wide valley between the Absaroka and Gallatin ranges. Continuous riffles, runs, and gravel-bottomed pools. FWP fishing access sites every few miles (Pine Creek, Loch Leven, Mallards Rest). This is the most-fished section of the river.

Best for: Wild rainbow trout and brown trout. Salmon fly hatch in late June. Hopper fishing through August. Fall BWO and streamer in October.

Yankee Jim Canyon

FloatSalmon · Brown Trout · Rainbow Trout

Short canyon with the river squeezed between basalt cliffs. Class III whitewater at high flows — skip during runoff. Big pocket water, deep slots, holds the largest trout in the upper river. Boat ramp at Carbella on the upstream end and Point of Rocks below.

Best for: Wild rainbow trout and brown trout on streamers and big dries. Salmon fly fishing in late June. Best Jul-Oct.

Gardiner to Yankee Jim Canyon

Wade & FloatSalmon · Cutthroat · Brown Trout · Rainbow Trout

From the Park boundary at Gardiner through the town of Corwin Springs and into Yankee Jim Canyon. Faster water with big boulder pockets and deep runs. Outside the Park so MT regulations apply. Productive salmon fly water in late June and early July — the hatch starts here and works upstream into the Park.

Best for: Wild rainbow trout, brown trout, and cutthroat trout. Salmon flies in late June. Best Jul-Oct.

Black Canyon (Park boundary to Gardiner)

WadeCutthroat · Rainbow Trout

Roughly 8 miles inside Yellowstone NP between the upper plateau and the Park boundary at Gardiner. Big steep canyon water with deep pools and boulder pockets. Foot access only via the Black Canyon trail. Native Yellowstone cutthroat and rainbow trout fishery — but a Park permit is required, not the MT state license.

Best for: Yellowstone cutthroat trout and rainbow trout. C&R only on cutthroat. Park permit required. Best Jul-Sep when YNP water is open.

Regulations

Current fishing rules and restrictions

Open year-round below Gardiner. Yellowstone cutthroat must be released. Catch-and-release on rainbows and browns in some sections. Hoot owl (afternoon closure) restrictions apply in hot/low summers between Carter's Bridge and Pompey's Pillar.

  • Yellowstone NP boundary at Gardiner to MT-89 bridge at Carbella: open year-round; trout 5 daily but only 1 over 18 inches
  • Carbella to Big Timber: standard MT regulations; check for hoot-owl restrictions in summer
  • Big Timber to Laurel: warmwater zone; smallmouth bass become common; trout limits relaxed
  • Within Yellowstone NP: Park fishing permit required; flies/lures only; Yellowstone cutthroat C&R
  • Spawning closures: portions of the upper river closed mid-May through 3rd Saturday in July to protect cutthroat spawning

Yellowstone cutthroat are a species of concern — release immediately. Yellowstone NP requires a separate Park permit (not the MT state license). Always check the FWP Hoot Owl page during July-August.

Source: Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks — Fishing Regulations. Regulations change annually — verify before fishing.

Access & Logistics

Getting there, fly shops, and lodging

Getting There

Livingston, MT

30 min from Bozeman, 2.5 hrs from Billings, 5.5 hrs from Salt Lake City

Fly Shops

Camping & Lodging

Pine Creek, Loch Leven, Mallard's Rest, and Dailey Lake FWP sites in Paradise Valley. Streamside ranches and B&Bs through the valley. Hotels and motels in Livingston, Gardiner, and Big Timber.

FWP fishing access sites every few miles from Gardiner to Big Timber. US-89 parallels the river through Paradise Valley. Boat ramps at Carbella, Mallard's Rest, Pine Creek, Carter's Bridge, Mayors Landing, Sheep Mountain. Float trips run 8-12 miles between ramps.

Conditions data is live from public monitoring networks. Regulations change annually — always verify current rules with your state fish & wildlife agency before fishing.

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The Gallatin runs through Yellowstone NP and the Gallatin Canyon along Highway 191 — wadeable freestone water for rainbows, browns, cutthroat, and whitefish, with a strong salmon fly hatch in late June and excellent post-runoff dry-fly fishing into October.

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