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Yellowstone River at Sidney Montana
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Yellowstone River Fishing Report — Montana

Photo: Tim Evanson Opens in a new tab. · CC BY-SA 2.0

Should I go fishing?

Yes — worth going.

No single best way to fish. Wading, Bank fishing, and Floating have the same top score. Use current access, footing, weather, and local rules to choose.

Rating updatedRiver local time:

Why this recommendation?

USGS shows 1,720 cfs. The flow has been stable over about 6 hours. USGS marks this reading provisional and may revise it. USGS records for this date (1897-2025, 102 readings) show a median near 2,260 cfs and the lower quartile near 1,850 cfs; today's flow is below normal for the date. This is below normal, so edge depth, temperature, and pressure matter.

Available live dataHighHow much of the live flow, weather, and alert data came back.
Confidence in this recommendationHighCurrent flow, weather, alerts, and trip-critical signals support this decision.
Usually checks again about every 45 minutes

Restrictions and advisories

Check Yellowstone River before fishing.

These notices match this river report. No notice here does not mean the river is open. Always check the agency before you fish.

Last known active — check nowOfficial restrictionLegal closure

Hoot-owl fishing restriction on the Yellowstone River

Area
Highway 89 bridge at Livingston downstream to the Highway 310/212 bridge at Laurel
Link checked
Link status
Check the agency now
Check again by
Starts
Daily hours
Daily, 14:00–24:00 (America/Denver)
Repeats
Daily from 2:00 p.m. to midnight
What to know about this notice

The BlueStreamFly report includes Livingston and Paradise Valley; this notice begins at Livingston and does not apply upstream.

The report includes Paradise Valley upstream of Livingston; only Livingston downstream is restricted.

Open the official notice: Montana FWP current waterbody closures and restrictions Opens in a new tab.

If you go

Check first
Use the Livingston gauge for Paradise Valley and town-section planning.
Try
Start with the Livingston gauge, then decide whether the day is better for floating, careful wading, or skipping the river.
Leave when
Skip or pivot when runoff is rising, FWP restrictions are active, water temperatures make trout handling poor, wind makes boat control unsafe, or the public access and takeout plan is not clear.

Flow and weather

Showing server-checked river conditions while current readings refresh.
Flow
1,720 cfs
From the latest stored river check. Open the official source for the newest reading.Water 57.7°F · 24h high 60.6°F · USGS provisional
Air forecast
47°F
Next 24h high
65.0°F

NWS air forecast near

Rain chance
28%
Latest stored weather check

Chance Rain Showers

Wind
10 mph
Weather checked
More forecast and source details

Chance Rain Showers

National Weather Service

Yellowstone River near Livingston

The National Weather Service forecast is temporarily unavailable.

Live data

Where these readings come from

RiverReports gauge: Yellowstone River near Livingston

Water 57.7°F · provisional · 24h high 60.6°F provisionalWater observed · high observed
Official USGS station Opens in a new tab.RiverReports gauge Opens in a new tab.Official NWS forecast Opens in a new tab.

Flies for this time of year

Seasonal starting points, not a live hatch report. Match what you see on the water.

See flies for every season
SeasonWhat to look forFlies to try

Each fly name opens its matching Fly Box guide.

More fishing tips

Methods, fish species and trip notes

How to fish Yellowstone River today.

Best bets are stable post-runoff flows, cool mornings, and days with enough clarity to fish dry-droppers or streamers along edges. If the river is rising, dirty, restricted, or too warm, move to a colder smaller stream or fish early and stop.

Stable and clear

Fish dry-droppers, caddis, PMDs, terrestrials, and streamer edges.

High or rising

Avoid aggressive wading and look for protected banks only if safe.

Runoff stain

Use large dark streamers or wait until clarity returns.

Warm water

Check restrictions, fish early, and stop trout fishing before handling becomes risky.

Wading, bank fishing or floating?
Access choicesNo single best option

Wading, Bank fishing, and Floating have the same top score. Use current access, footing, weather, and local rules to choose.

Wading76/100

Wading is in play only where your chosen access has clear footing, legal entry, and no forced crossings.

Bank fishing76/100

Bank and edge fishing remains a practical low-commitment option if access is legal and footing is safe.

Floating76/100

A float is in play where this report supports boat access and wind, releases, and shuttle logistics are manageable.

Full river report

Is Yellowstone River worth the trip today? Check flow, weather, hatches, access, and rules for Montana before you go.

The Yellowstone is a large, free-flowing river. It can be excellent when flow is stable and temperatures are safe, but runoff, wind, or warm summer water can turn a good plan into a poor one quickly.

Fishing words used on this page
U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) gauge
A USGS gauge is an official river station that measures flow or water height.
Cubic feet per second (cfs)
Cubic feet per second, or cfs, shows how much water passes the gauge each second.
Nymph
A nymph is a young water insect. Anglers also use the word for a fly that copies it.
Riffle
A riffle is shallow, fast water broken by rocks.
Seam
A seam is the line where fast and slow water meet.
Blue-winged olive (BWO)
Blue-winged olives, or BWOs, are small mayflies that often hatch in cool or cloudy weather.
Caddis
Caddis are small water insects. The adults look a little like tiny moths.
Dry-dropper
A dry-dropper rig has a floating fly with an underwater fly tied below it.
Emerger
An emerger copies an insect as it rises from below the water toward the surface.
Midge
Midges are tiny flies and a common trout food, especially in cold water.
Why this call

Why this score

FlowUse caution

USGS shows 1,720 cfs. The flow has been stable over about 6 hours. USGS marks this reading provisional and may revise it. USGS records for this date (1897-2025, 102 readings) show a median near 2,260 cfs and the lower quartile near 1,850 cfs; today's flow is below normal for the date. This is below normal, so edge depth, temperature, and pressure matter.

SeasonHelps

Fall: BWOs, October caddis, and streamer days improve as water cools.

Water temperatureHelps

USGS water temperature is about 57.7F, and the rolling 24-hour high did not trigger a heat caution. USGS marks the temperature data provisional and may revise it.

Public alertsHelps

No active NWS alert was returned for this forecast point.

Fishing usefulnessHelps

Skip or pivot when runoff is rising, FWP restrictions are active, water temperatures make trout handling poor, wind makes boat control unsafe, or the public access and takeout plan is not clear.

Trip notes

Check these before you choose a reach.

Best flows

Use RiverReports and USGS 06192500 near Livingston together. Dropping post-runoff water and cool stable mornings are the cleanest windows. Rising dirty water or hot low conditions should move the plan to another river or a shorter safe edge.

When to leave

Skip or pivot when runoff is rising, FWP restrictions are active, water temperatures make trout handling poor, wind makes boat control unsafe, or the public access and takeout plan is not clear.

Local plan

Start with the Livingston gauge, current restrictions, and one access pair such as a Livingston-area or Mallard's Rest plan. Then decide whether the day is a nymph, dry-dropper, hopper, or streamer window.

Backup water

If the Yellowstone is high, dirty, hot, windy, or crowded, compare the Gallatin for canyon wading, the Madison for a different west-side freestone, or the Missouri for steadier tailwater conditions.

Yellowstone River access and rules.

Use these places as starting points. Open the access link below and check posted signs before you park or enter.

Before you go

Montana FWP rules include section-by-section trout and smallmouth bass rules on the Yellowstone. Check FWP rules, restrictions, and access information before fishing.

Where to access the river

Mallard's Rest FAS

Popular Paradise Valley access with boat and wade planning.

Pine Creek Bridge area

Important upper-river rule and access reference point.

Carter's Bridge and Mayor's Landing

Livingston-area access points for town-section planning.

  • Montana stream access law allows public use below the ordinary high-water mark, but it does not allow crossing private land without permission.
  • Boat traffic, wind, and high water make this a poor beginner wade river at many flows.
  • Yellowstone National Park water has separate rules and permits upstream of the Montana reach.

If this water does not fit the day, check another report before you start the drive.

MontanaGallatin River fishing reportA canyon freestone option when Yellowstone wind or runoff is poor.MontanaMadison River fishing reportA nearby famous trout river with different flow and access timing.MontanaMissouri River fishing reportA tailwater backup when freestones are high, dirty, or too warm.
See all Montana fly fishing reports

Sources and report details

Official agencies and primary river operators come first. Secondary tools are labeled so you know what carries the most weight.

Rules and closures

Check what is allowed, where the rule applies, and whether the river is open.

Flow and weather

Check the latest river reading and forecast before you leave.

Access and land

Check public entry points, land rules, and seasonal access changes.

More helpful links

Use these links for stocking, safety, and other local details.

See all 10 checked sources

Rules and closures

Check what is allowed, where the rule applies, and whether the river is open.

Flow and weather

Check the latest river reading and forecast before you leave.

Access and land

Check public entry points, land rules, and seasonal access changes.

More helpful links

Use these links for stocking, safety, and other local details.

Source check is old. Last checked . Open the official links now and check for changes.

See something wrong? Report a source problem. Please do not send private spots or private access notes.

How this report was checked

How this report was checked

Trip guidance checked

What was checked: This Yellowstone River report is maintained from RiverReports and USGS Livingston flow data, Montana FWP fishing regulations, central district rules, current closure and restriction sources, stream-access law, FishMT and Mallard's Rest access information, Yellowstone National Park fishing context, weather, media-credit, and Paradise Valley freestone planning guidance.

Live measurements and forecasts keep their provider timestamps. Rules, access, and trip guidance use the source-review date shown here. BlueStreamFly planning advice is editorial interpretation, not an agency notice.

First-hand experience: BlueStreamFly does not claim a first-hand visit or local field test for this report unless a real contributor is explicitly named and linked.

Quick questions

What should I check first before fishing the Yellowstone River?

Check RiverReports or USGS at Livingston, FWP restrictions, water temperature, wind, clarity, and the exact reach rules.

Are there special fishing rules on the Yellowstone River?

Yes. Rules differ by reach, especially for cutthroat and smallmouth bass. Use current Montana FWP rules.

What flies should I bring for the Yellowstone River?

Bring the hatch-chart flies, a few confidence nymphs, and a streamer or warmwater box that matches the river's species. Then adjust for water temperature, clarity, and the insects or baitfish you actually see.

Can I wade the Yellowstone River?

Yes in public reaches, but it is big water. Wade conservatively and respect private-land boundaries.

When should I skip the Yellowstone River?

Skip it when flows are unsafe, water is too warm for trout, emergency closures are active, or legal access for the reach is not clear.