Fly fishing report · West

Stillwater River

A Stillwater River report for anglers deciding whether the Absarokee-Columbus freestone has safe flows, useful clarity, and enough public access to fish well.

Check flow & weather

Today's river scoreHigh source confidence

Caution

Best option: Float.

A float can fit better than wading only if launches, shuttle, boat skill, wind, and local rules all check out.

Updated Jul 13, 11:17 PM UTCUsually refreshes about every 45 minutes

Recommended approachFloat

Mode scores adjust the river-wide score for the risks of wading, bank fishing, or floating.

WadeCheck

This report does not describe this as a primary mode. Verify legal access, depth, launches, and retreat options before planning around it.

Bank / edgeCheck

This report does not describe this as a primary mode. Verify legal access, depth, launches, and retreat options before planning around it.

Float · Best fit60/100

A float can fit better than wading only if launches, shuttle, boat skill, wind, and local rules all check out.

Confirm before you leave

Flow and weather right now.

Use the flow trend to confirm the score before you leave. Weather can change the safest and most productive fishing window.

River strategy

Fish the Stillwater when the freestone has dropped into shape, not when runoff or heat tells you to wait.

The Stillwater is a fast, bouldery Yellowstone-tributary trout river that rewards good timing. The best days have enough flow to keep fish comfortable, enough clarity to read seams, and enough caution to avoid treating a pushy freestone like an easy park-and-cast creek.

RiverReports is used for the quick visual chart, with USGS 06205000 near Absarokee as the official flow reference.
Montana FWP lists fishing access resources and current regulations that should be checked before using public sites.
High spring runoff can make the river unsafe to wade and difficult to fish, while hot low water requires trout-safe timing.
Public access is good by Montana standards, but individual sites can have closures, repairs, fees, or seasonal limits.

Why this score moved

Water temperatureUse caution

USGS water temperature is about 69F. Fish early and stop if handling stress is likely.

Public alertUse caution

A Flood Watch is active near this forecast point, so the score is capped until runoff, clarity, crossings, and road access are checked. NWS alert: Flood Watch issued July 13 at 3:12PM MDT until July 15 at 12:00AM MDT by NWS Billings MT.

Best mode nowUse caution

Float: A float can fit better than wading only if launches, shuttle, boat skill, wind, and local rules all check out.

FlowHelps score

USGS shows 1,830 cfs with a stable over about 6 hours trend. same-date USGS history (1935-2024, 90 readings) puts the normal middle range around 1,580 cfs-3,330 cfs. Flow is inside the same-date normal range, so weather, temperature, and access become the next checks.

SeasonHelps score

Early summer: Strong after the river drops into shape and before full heat dominates.

Read the water

What changes the plan.

The Stillwater usually improves after peak runoff when flows remain strong but clearer. Summer mornings, fall streamer days, and post-runoff dry-dropper windows are the main targets. Skip it when the river is too high to wade, too dirty to read, or too warm to handle trout well.

Dropping post-runoff flow

Often the best large-fly and nymph window when clarity returns but the river still has power.

Clear summer flow

Fish early, use dry-dropper rigs, and watch temperature during bright afternoons.

High spring runoff

Usually a safety and clarity problem. Wait for the river to drop and define softer edges.

Cool fall water

Good for streamers, baetis, and nymphing deeper slots with less recreational pressure.

Field plan

Fish it with intention.

Best flows

Dropping, clearing flows after runoff and moderate summer levels that leave pocket water readable without warming the river too much.

When to skip

Skip during heavy runoff, muddy water, dangerous wading, active closures, or hot afternoons that stress trout.

Local plan

Start with the Absarokee gauge, confirm access-site status, then pick either a short pocket-water wade or a conservative float based on the flow.

Backup water

Shift to the Yellowstone or another lower-elevation option when Stillwater runoff is too high, or to cooler mountain water when summer heat becomes the limiter.

Hatches & flies

Bring a flexible box.

TimingWhat to watchUseful flies

SpringMidges, BWOs, early stonefliesZebra midge, BWO emerger, stonefly nymph

Reviewed pattern · report says “Zebra midge”Zebra MidgeLook for a very slim tapered thread body, evenly spaced contrasting wire rib, a small bead, and no tail or wing. The reviewed classic is black with silver wire and a silver bead. Red, olive, brown, glass-bead, jig-hook, resin-coated, or tailed forms must remain labeled variations rather than replacing the classic identity.See photos & how to fish it

Reviewed family · report says “BWO emerger”Blue-Winged Olive PatternsBWO describes a hatch group, not one fly. Nymph, emerger, dry, cripple, and spinner profiles must stay separate because they occupy different parts of the water column.See family guide + 1 more reviewed guide in the Fly Box

Post-runoffSalmonflies, golden stones, caddisChubby, pat's rubber legs, elk hair caddis

Reviewed pattern · report says “Chubby”Chubby ChernobylIdentify the construction, not the color: a long foam overbody over a segmented dubbed underside, rubber legs at two tie-in stations, two distinct buoyant synthetic-yarn wing sections, and a short flash tail. The paired wing stations and layered foam-and-dubbing body separate the reviewed Chubby from the original Chernobyl Ant and from generic foam hoppers or beetles.See photos & how to fish it

Reviewed pattern · report says “pat's rubber legs”Pat's Rubber LegsA weighted long-shank nymph, variegated chenille body, two tails, and multiple pairs of long rubber legs identify the core form. Generic rubber-leg stoneflies remain a broader family, not automatic Pat's Rubber Legs matches.See photos & how to fish it + 1 more reviewed guide in the Fly Box

SummerCaddis, PMDs, terrestrialsHopper-dropper, PMD cripple, ant, beetle

Reviewed family · report says “PMD cripple”Pale Morning Dun PatternsPMD names an insect group, not one fly. Pale nymphs, trailing-shuck emergers, upright or low-riding duns, cripples, and spent-wing spinners stay visibly separate.See family guide

Reviewed family · report says “ant”Ant PatternsAnt patterns can be foam, fur-bodied, winged, or sunken. The narrow waist and paired body lobes matter more than one material recipe.See family guide + 1 more reviewed guide in the Fly Box

FallBWOs, midges, streamer windowsParachute BWO, zebra midge, olive bugger

Reviewed family · report says “Parachute BWO”Blue-Winged Olive PatternsBWO describes a hatch group, not one fly. Nymph, emerger, dry, cripple, and spinner profiles must stay separate because they occupy different parts of the water column.See family guide

Reviewed pattern · report says “zebra midge”Zebra MidgeLook for a very slim tapered thread body, evenly spaced contrasting wire rib, a small bead, and no tail or wing. The reviewed classic is black with silver wire and a silver bead. Red, olive, brown, glass-bead, jig-hook, resin-coated, or tailed forms must remain labeled variations rather than replacing the classic identity.See photos & how to fish it + 1 more reviewed guide in the Fly Box

Start with flow and clarity. If you cannot safely wade or read the pocket water, wait for the river to settle.

Fish short accurate casts through boulder pockets, shelf edges, and softer banks instead of blind-casting the heaviest current.

On float days, plan around public access and boat handling. The river can be technical when flows are pushy.

During summer, fish early and stop when water temperature or closure guidance makes continued trout fishing a bad idea.

Access & responsibility

Know the entry. Know the exit.

Check Montana fishing regulations and current waterbody closures before fishing. The Stillwater can be affected by runoff, warm-water stress, site closures, and changing access conditions.

Absarokee area

The best planning anchor for the USGS gauge and lower Stillwater access decisions.

Montana FWP fishing access sites

Use the current FWP map and site details because conditions, fees, or repairs can change.

Columbus lower-river corridor

A downstream option when flows and public access line up for a longer float plan.

Transparent sources

Check the facts behind the plan.

Last material review: 2026-06-02

flowRiverReports: Stillwater River near Absarokee flowUSGS Stillwater River near Absarokee regulationMontana FWP fishing regulations safetyMontana FWP current waterbody closures accessMontana FWP fishing access accessMontana stream access law safetyNational Weather Service forecast point near Absarokee

Common questions

Before you leave.

When is the Stillwater River best for fly fishing?+

It is usually best after runoff drops into shape, during cool summer mornings, and through fall when water temperatures and clarity are favorable.

Is the Stillwater River safe to wade?+

It can be safe at moderate flows, but it is a fast bouldery freestone. High water, slick rocks, and pushy pockets make wading risky.

What should I check before fishing the Stillwater?+

Check RiverReports, USGS 06205000 near Absarokee, Montana regulations, current closure notices, access site status, and the weather forecast.