Sign up to save your podcasts
Or
Share Yellowstone River Fishing Report: Spring Runoff, Improving Conditions, and Hungry Trout
Share to email
Share to Facebook
Share to X
Share to email
Share to Facebook
Share to X
Or
Yellowstone River Fishing Report: Spring Runoff, Improving Conditions, and Hungry Trout
Good morning, this is Artificial Lure with your Yellowstone River fishing report for May 25, 2025.
We’re deep in the heart of spring runoff season here along the Yellowstone. Recent rains and a fast warmup pushed river flows up close to 18000 cfs last week, but with cooler weather this weekend, we’re now seeing the river holding steady just over 8000 cfs. Water clarity has improved to about 18 to 24 inches—plenty for some decent fishing, though it remains on the high and off-color side. Make sure to check conditions day-of, since runoff flows can jump up after any rainfall[3][1].
Weather today is off to a cloudy start, with a good chance for some sunny breaks in the afternoon and a light breeze along Paradise Valley. Sunrise was right around 5:45 am, so most folks are already on the water, and sunset will be about 8:45 pm—giving you ample daylight for an evening hatch, if we get one[1]. No tides on the Yellowstone, so just pay attention to those river currents.
The fish have been active when the river settles, and this past week anglers caught a nice mix of brown and rainbow trout, with a few cutthroats showing up too. Most fish have been between 12 and 18 inches, and persistent anglers found some bigger browns tucked near deep boulder runs and cutbanks. Lately, the stretches from Livingston upstream through Yankee Jim Canyon have produced steady action, and the mouth of Mill Creek is another solid bet[1][3].
With nothing major hatching, the bite remains best on nymphs and streamers. Stonefly nymphs, big rubberlegs, and San Juan worms are moving plenty of fish, especially with a dropper of smaller beadhead nymphs in the softer seams. For streamer fans, black and olive patterns or big articulated flies fished on a sink-tip are getting good grabs, especially near banks and slower water pockets. Not much dry fly activity yet, but keep an eye out for sporadic caddis in the afternoons[2].
Hot spots right now include the Paradise Valley access points between Carter’s Bridge and Pine Creek, and up around Yankee Jim for those looking for some solitude and willing to hike. Be mindful of new debris and changing river channels after the recent high water—safety first, especially if floating[3][1].
That’s it for today from Artificial Lure. With flows dropping, clarity improving, and fish on the feed, it’s a great time to get after it before the next spike. Tight lines out there!
We’re deep in the heart of spring runoff season here along the Yellowstone. Recent rains and a fast warmup pushed river flows up close to 18000 cfs last week, but with cooler weather this weekend, we’re now seeing the river holding steady just over 8000 cfs. Water clarity has improved to about 18 to 24 inches—plenty for some decent fishing, though it remains on the high and off-color side. Make sure to check conditions day-of, since runoff flows can jump up after any rainfall[3][1].
Weather today is off to a cloudy start, with a good chance for some sunny breaks in the afternoon and a light breeze along Paradise Valley. Sunrise was right around 5:45 am, so most folks are already on the water, and sunset will be about 8:45 pm—giving you ample daylight for an evening hatch, if we get one[1]. No tides on the Yellowstone, so just pay attention to those river currents.
The fish have been active when the river settles, and this past week anglers caught a nice mix of brown and rainbow trout, with a few cutthroats showing up too. Most fish have been between 12 and 18 inches, and persistent anglers found some bigger browns tucked near deep boulder runs and cutbanks. Lately, the stretches from Livingston upstream through Yankee Jim Canyon have produced steady action, and the mouth of Mill Creek is another solid bet[1][3].
With nothing major hatching, the bite remains best on nymphs and streamers. Stonefly nymphs, big rubberlegs, and San Juan worms are moving plenty of fish, especially with a dropper of smaller beadhead nymphs in the softer seams. For streamer fans, black and olive patterns or big articulated flies fished on a sink-tip are getting good grabs, especially near banks and slower water pockets. Not much dry fly activity yet, but keep an eye out for sporadic caddis in the afternoons[2].
Hot spots right now include the Paradise Valley access points between Carter’s Bridge and Pine Creek, and up around Yankee Jim for those looking for some solitude and willing to hike. Be mindful of new debris and changing river channels after the recent high water—safety first, especially if floating[3][1].
That’s it for today from Artificial Lure. With flows dropping, clarity improving, and fish on the feed, it’s a great time to get after it before the next spike. Tight lines out there!
View all episodes
By Quiet. PleaseGood morning, this is Artificial Lure with your Yellowstone River fishing report for May 25, 2025.
We’re deep in the heart of spring runoff season here along the Yellowstone. Recent rains and a fast warmup pushed river flows up close to 18000 cfs last week, but with cooler weather this weekend, we’re now seeing the river holding steady just over 8000 cfs. Water clarity has improved to about 18 to 24 inches—plenty for some decent fishing, though it remains on the high and off-color side. Make sure to check conditions day-of, since runoff flows can jump up after any rainfall[3][1].
Weather today is off to a cloudy start, with a good chance for some sunny breaks in the afternoon and a light breeze along Paradise Valley. Sunrise was right around 5:45 am, so most folks are already on the water, and sunset will be about 8:45 pm—giving you ample daylight for an evening hatch, if we get one[1]. No tides on the Yellowstone, so just pay attention to those river currents.
The fish have been active when the river settles, and this past week anglers caught a nice mix of brown and rainbow trout, with a few cutthroats showing up too. Most fish have been between 12 and 18 inches, and persistent anglers found some bigger browns tucked near deep boulder runs and cutbanks. Lately, the stretches from Livingston upstream through Yankee Jim Canyon have produced steady action, and the mouth of Mill Creek is another solid bet[1][3].
With nothing major hatching, the bite remains best on nymphs and streamers. Stonefly nymphs, big rubberlegs, and San Juan worms are moving plenty of fish, especially with a dropper of smaller beadhead nymphs in the softer seams. For streamer fans, black and olive patterns or big articulated flies fished on a sink-tip are getting good grabs, especially near banks and slower water pockets. Not much dry fly activity yet, but keep an eye out for sporadic caddis in the afternoons[2].
Hot spots right now include the Paradise Valley access points between Carter’s Bridge and Pine Creek, and up around Yankee Jim for those looking for some solitude and willing to hike. Be mindful of new debris and changing river channels after the recent high water—safety first, especially if floating[3][1].
That’s it for today from Artificial Lure. With flows dropping, clarity improving, and fish on the feed, it’s a great time to get after it before the next spike. Tight lines out there!
We’re deep in the heart of spring runoff season here along the Yellowstone. Recent rains and a fast warmup pushed river flows up close to 18000 cfs last week, but with cooler weather this weekend, we’re now seeing the river holding steady just over 8000 cfs. Water clarity has improved to about 18 to 24 inches—plenty for some decent fishing, though it remains on the high and off-color side. Make sure to check conditions day-of, since runoff flows can jump up after any rainfall[3][1].
Weather today is off to a cloudy start, with a good chance for some sunny breaks in the afternoon and a light breeze along Paradise Valley. Sunrise was right around 5:45 am, so most folks are already on the water, and sunset will be about 8:45 pm—giving you ample daylight for an evening hatch, if we get one[1]. No tides on the Yellowstone, so just pay attention to those river currents.
The fish have been active when the river settles, and this past week anglers caught a nice mix of brown and rainbow trout, with a few cutthroats showing up too. Most fish have been between 12 and 18 inches, and persistent anglers found some bigger browns tucked near deep boulder runs and cutbanks. Lately, the stretches from Livingston upstream through Yankee Jim Canyon have produced steady action, and the mouth of Mill Creek is another solid bet[1][3].
With nothing major hatching, the bite remains best on nymphs and streamers. Stonefly nymphs, big rubberlegs, and San Juan worms are moving plenty of fish, especially with a dropper of smaller beadhead nymphs in the softer seams. For streamer fans, black and olive patterns or big articulated flies fished on a sink-tip are getting good grabs, especially near banks and slower water pockets. Not much dry fly activity yet, but keep an eye out for sporadic caddis in the afternoons[2].
Hot spots right now include the Paradise Valley access points between Carter’s Bridge and Pine Creek, and up around Yankee Jim for those looking for some solitude and willing to hike. Be mindful of new debris and changing river channels after the recent high water—safety first, especially if floating[3][1].
That’s it for today from Artificial Lure. With flows dropping, clarity improving, and fish on the feed, it’s a great time to get after it before the next spike. Tight lines out there!