Yellowstone River, Montana Fishing Report Today

Artificial Lure here with your Yellowstone River fishing report out of south‑central Montana, talking the stretch from Gardiner down through Livingston and into the valley.

First off, no tides to worry about on this inland river, just flows and weather. Overnight we’ve had cool temps in the low 40s with clear skies. Afternoon highs are pushing into the upper 70s to low 80s with low humidity, light west winds 5–10 mph, and only a slight chance of a pop‑up shower over the higher ground. Sunrise is right around 5:30 a.m., sunset close to 9:15 p.m., giving us a long daylight window.

River levels are dropping out of peak runoff and finally getting into shape. The upper river above Livingston is still carrying some color, but visibility has improved enough that fish are feeding off the banks and in the softer seams. Below Livingston, the water’s a touch clearer with that good green tint we like to see this time of year.

Fish activity has picked up nicely the last few days. Anglers have been reporting steady numbers of **brown trout** in the 14–18 inch range, a mix of **rainbows** from 12–16, and the occasional larger fish nudging 20 inches. A few **whitefish** are still showing up in deeper runs, especially where the current slows and the bottom is cobbly. Boats working the mid‑day window are finding fewer but larger fish, while wade anglers getting out at first light are seeing the best numbers.

On the bug front, we’re in that shoulder period between heavy runoff and true summer hatches. Expect scattered **caddis** in the evenings and a few straggler **PMDs** and **yellow sallies** midday. Terrestrial action is just starting—small **ants** and **hoppers** will get looks, especially on the banks with good grass and overhanging brush.

Best bets for fly anglers:

- **Nymphs:** Size 12–14 beadhead Pheasant Tails, Prince Nymphs, and smaller stonefly nymphs in size 8–10 under an indicator. Add a bit of weight to punch through the chop.

- **Dries:** Elk Hair Caddis in olive or tan size 14–16 toward evening, parachute Adams size 14 for picky risers, and small black ants when the sun’s high.

- **Streamers:** Olive or black articulated patterns and smaller sculpin imitations on a sink tip early and late; swing them off the bank and through inside corners.

Gear anglers are doing well with:

- **Lures:** 1/8–1/4 oz **spinners** in gold or copper, small **crankbaits** in brown trout or rainbow patterns, and **spoons** in the deeper slots.

- **Bait:** Where legal and appropriate, nightcrawlers drifted under a small float or on a light bottom rig are taking both trout and whitefish. Check local regulations carefully—some sections are artificial‑only and barbless.

A couple of local hot spots to keep in mind:

- The **Pine Creek to Carter’s Bridge** stretch below Livingston: good mix of riffles, buckets, and soft banks, with browns holding tight to structure as the water drops.

- The **Yankee Jim Canyon tailout** down toward Gardiner: tricky rowing but excellent holding water when clarity is right—this is where those better‑than‑average browns have been coming from on streamers.

Fishing is best from **first light to about 11 a.m.**, then again after **7 p.m.** when the sun drops behind the hills and the caddis start popping. Midday can still produce if you go deep with nymphs or slow‑roll streamers along the bottom, but expect to work a bit harder for each grab.

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This is Artificial Lure with your Yellowstone River fishing report out of Montana.

We’re in that sweet early‑summer window right now. The river is dropping out of runoff but still carrying some color, so you’ve got a nice mix of visibility and cover to work with. Tides aren’t a factor here, so it’s all about flows and daylight. First light is early, with sunrise just after five and sunset pushing past nine, giving you a long stretch of prime time, but the best bite has been early and late with a definite midday lull on bright skies.

Weather-wise, expect cool mornings in the 40s warming into the 70s by afternoon, light to moderate west winds, and mostly clear to partly cloudy skies. Stable barometric pressure and gradual warming have the trout looking up in the softer seams and along the grassy banks.

Fish activity has picked up nicely the last few days. Local shop chatter out of Livingston and Big Timber has been all about solid numbers of wild browns in the 12–18 inch class, plenty of strong rainbows to match, and the odd cutthroat showing up in the slower inside bends. Anglers have been reporting pods of fish rising in the evenings to caddis and smaller mayflies, with a few bigger noses up on the foam lines.

On the hardware side, spin anglers drifting from Carter’s Bridge down have been doing well with small gold and silver spoons, 1/8‑ounce Panther Martin–style spinners in black and gold, and shallow‑running minnow plugs in brown trout or rainbow patterns. A touch of chartreuse has been money in that slightly off‑color water. If you’re bait fishing where it’s legal, nightcrawlers drifted under a small float or bounced along the bottom in the softer buckets have been putting up good numbers, especially in the early morning.

Fly folks are in prime season. Think caddis and PMDs: elk hair caddis in tan and olive, size 14–16, and parachute PMDs in 16–18 have been consistent producers. A tan or olive Chubby Chernobyl riding high with a small beadhead dropper—pheasant tail, hare’s ear, or a slim perdigon—has been a great search rig when the hatch isn’t fully rolling. Streamer junkies are still finding a few larger browns on olive or white sculpin patterns and articulated streamers swung off the bank in low light.

As for hot spots, keep an eye on:

- The stretch from Yellowstone National Park downstream toward Gardiner. Cooler water sliding out of the park, classic riffle‑run structure, and plenty of bank access pull in both wading anglers and boaters. Look for softer edges just off the main current, especially where side channels rejoin the mainstem.

- The Livingston reach, especially around Carter’s Bridge and downstream. Deep outside bends with visible seams, drop‑offs, and any woody structure have been holding good numbers of fish. Late‑evening caddis flights here can be phenomenal—stick it out past sunset and work those foam lines carefully.

Water’s still pushy in spots, so wade with a staff, respect private property, and keep fish wet as temps climb in the afternoon. Target mornings and evenings to keep those trout happy.

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This is Artificial Lure with your Yellowstone River fishing report out of south‑central Montana.

We’re sitting on a cool, clear early‑summer pattern. Overnight lows dipped into the 40s, and we’re headed for the low to mid 70s by afternoon with light west winds around 5–10 miles an hour and just a slight chance of a shower late day. Skies are mostly sunny to partly cloudy, classic big‑sky weather. Sunrise came just after 5:30 this morning, and you’ll lose the light a little after 9:00 tonight, so there’s a long window to work the water.

No tides on the Yellowstone, of course, but flows are still on the high side from snowmelt, slowly dropping and clearing. Figure a pushy, cold river with a greenish tint. That’s got the trout hugging the softer seams, inside bends, back eddies, and those classic foam lines below riffles. Water temps are still cool enough that the best bite has been mid‑morning through early afternoon once the sun warms things a bit, then again in the last two hours of light.

Recent reports from local shops along the Valley say anglers are finding good numbers of **rainbow** and **brown trout** in the 12–18 inch range, with a few bigger browns pushing 20–22 inches for folks who stick with it. Whitefish are mixed in deep runs, and an occasional cutthroat is showing up, mostly higher in the system. Boats are putting more fish in the net than bank anglers right now just because they can cover water, but there are plenty of wade spots if you pick your side channels and slower banks carefully.

Bug‑wise, we’re in that early‑summer grab bag. Expect scattered caddis in the evenings, a few lingering blue‑wing olives on cloudy stretches, and some yellow sallies starting to poke around. Fish have been more keyed to subsurface than dries most days, but when the caddis pop late, it can get pretty lively up top.

Best producers lately:

- For fly anglers: a **rubber‑legs stonefly nymph** in coffee or black, dead‑drifted under an indicator with a small **pheasant tail**, **hare’s ear**, or **caddis pupa** dropper. Streamer folks are moving bigger browns on olive or sculpin‑colored patterns, stripped tight to the bank or swung through deeper buckets. In the last light, an elk‑hair caddis or X‑caddis in tan has been enough to bring a few nice heads up.

- For spin and conventional gear: small **spinners** in gold or copper, 1/8‑ounce range, have been hot in riffle tails. **Panther Martin**, **Mepps**, and similar blades are all working. Small **jointed minnows** or **Rapala‑style stickbaits** in rainbow or brown trout patterns are taking better‑than‑average fish along undercut banks and deeper outside bends. If you’re bait fishing where it’s legal, a few split shot and **nightcrawlers** drifted just off the bottom in slower seams are hard to beat, with a mix of trout and whitefish keeping rods bent.

A couple of local hot spots to consider:

- The stretch around **Livingston**: plenty of good seams, islands, and side channels. Walk‑in access below town can be excellent in the morning before boat traffic picks up. Work the soft inside turns and any deep, green buckets.

- Downstream toward **Big Timber**: as the river spreads and warms a touch, you get some nice structure—long glides broken by mid‑river boulders and gravel bars. Great place to throw streamers at first and last light, and a solid bet for a bigger brown.

High flows mean wading can be tricky, so pick your spots and don’t push it. Focus on slower edges instead of charging into the main current. If the sun gets high and the bite slows, bump up your weight, fish deeper, or switch to a darker streamer to show a stronger profile.

That’s the Yellowstone River rundown for today from Artificial Lure. Thanks for tuning in, and don’t forget to subscribe so you don’t miss the next report.

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This is Artificial Lure with your Yellowstone River fishing report.

We’ll start with conditions. The Yellowstone is running a bit high but steadily dropping, with good clarity in the upper reaches near Gardiner and more color as you move downstream toward Livingston and Big Timber. Flows are still pushy on the main channel, but side seams, inside bends, and back eddies are shaping up nicely. Being a freestone river, there’s no tide to worry about here, just snowmelt and afternoon bump from warm temps.

Weather today is classic early-summer Montana. Expect cool, crisp temps in the low 40s at first light, warming into the low 70s by afternoon with a light west to southwest breeze. Skies should be mostly clear to partly cloudy, with a small chance of a quick afternoon shower. Sunrise is right around 5:30 a.m., with sunset just before 9:15 p.m., so you’ve got a long window to work those prime light periods.

Fish activity has been best early and late. Mornings have been producing strong nymph and streamer bites, with a decent dry-fly window mid-morning when the bugs get moving. Evenings bring fish back into the riffles and slicks, especially where there’s a little chop and shade.

Recent catches reported by local anglers and shops up and down the valley include solid numbers of **rainbow trout** in the 12–16 inch class, plenty of **browns** from 14–18 with an occasional 20-inch kicker, and a mix of **whitefish** when you’re nymphing deep. Down lower, around Big Timber and beyond, folks are also picking up some **smallmouth bass** and the odd **channel cat** where the water warms and slows, especially in deeper bends and around rock structure.

Best producers right now:

- For trout on the fly: stonefly nymphs, small mayfly nymphs, and caddis pupae under an indicator. A size 8–10 rubber-leg stone with a size 16–18 mayfly dropper has been money. When fish look up, smaller caddis dries and parachute mayflies are doing work, with the occasional bigger attractor dry along the banks.

- For spinning gear: small to medium **spinners** in gold or copper, **panther-martin style blades**, and 1/8–1/4 oz **marabou or bucktail jigs** in olive, black, or brown. A 3–4 inch **minnow-imitating crankbait** in natural colors has been turning heads, especially around structure in the softer pockets.

- Best bait (where legal and outside fly-only stretches): nightcrawlers drifted along the bottom, and leeches or minnows for those targeting warmwater species lower down. Check the regs carefully—this river has a patchwork of special rules.

Two local hot spots to circle on the map:

- **Gardiner to Yankee Jim Canyon**: Cooler water, plenty of pocket water and choppy riffles. Great for nymphs and smaller streamers, and as the day warms you’ll see action on caddis and attractor dries tight to the bank.

- **Livingston town stretch and just downstream**: Classic big-river structure—long riffles dropping into deep runs, plus inside corners with softer seams. Work nymph rigs through the heads of runs in the morning, then throw streamers or hardware tight to the banks and around mid-river boulders as light gets higher. Evening dry-fly activity here can be sneaky good when the wind lays down.

Given current flows, wade carefully and don’t push it; there’s plenty of fishable water close to the bank. A 4X leader for dries and 3X for nymphs and streamers will cover most of what you’ll encounter.

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Name’s Artificial Lure, checking in with your Yellowstone River fishing report out of south‑central Montana.

We’re under a classic early‑summer pattern on the upper Yellowstone. First light comes early, with sunrise right around a quarter past 5 and sunset close to 9 in the evening, so you’ve got a long window to work with. No tides to worry about on this freestone; it’s all about flow and water temp.

Snowmelt is easing, and the river’s dropping into better shape. Clarity is still a bit off‑color in the main stem, but that green‑brown two‑foot visibility can actually fish great for bigger trout. Overnight temps are cool, daytime highs running mild to warm with light winds in the morning and a typical afternoon breeze. Watch for those quick mountain thunderstorms later in the day; they can dirty up feeder creeks fast.

Fish activity has picked up nicely. Mornings are seeing solid nymph and streamer bites, with the dry‑fly game turning on late afternoon into evening. Anglers between Livingston and Big Timber have been into healthy browns and rainbows in the 12–18 inch class, with an occasional 20‑plus inch bruiser reported the last few days. A few cutthroat are showing in the cooler side channels, and there are plenty of whitefish hanging deep for anyone nymphing.

On bugs, we’re in that crossover window. You’ll still find some late caddis and assorted mayflies, with PMDs and yellow sallies starting to play. Terrestrials are just beginning to matter on the warmer banks in the afternoon.

Best producers right now:

- For fly anglers:

• Nymphs: size 14–18 Pheasant Tails, Hare’s Ears, and a smaller Lightning Bug or Perdigon as a dropper.

• Streamers: olive or black sculpin patterns, small to medium, stripped tight to the bank and around structure.

• Dries: Parachute Adams, PMD cripples, and tan or olive caddis in 14–18; toss in a small Chubby or foam hopper later in the day as a searching pattern.

- For gear anglers:

• Hard baits: small silver or gold spoons, brown or rainbow‑patterned crankbaits, and in‑line spinners with a touch of red or orange.

• Bait: nightcrawlers drifted under a float or bounced along the bottom in slower runs are putting up steady numbers of trout and whitefish.

A couple of local hot spots to consider:

- The Paradise Valley stretch between Yankee Jim Canyon and Carter’s Bridge: softer edges and mid‑river buckets are holding nice browns; work the seams early, then move to riffle tails as the sun climbs.

- Downstream of Livingston toward Big Timber: islands and braided channels are fishing well, especially where cooler side water slides back into the main flow—great spots to find rainbows stacked up.

Boat anglers are doing well pounding the banks and seams with streamers and big foam dries, while wade anglers are finding success working methodically through knee‑deep runs and pocket water. With the long daylight, plan on a split day: early morning till mid‑day, break through the heat, then back out for the golden hour and those last couple of magic casts.

That’s the word from the Yellowstone for now. Thanks for tuning in, and don’t forget to subscribe so you don’t miss the next report.

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This is Artificial Lure with your Yellowstone River fishing report for today in south‑central Montana.

We’re sitting under a classic early‑summer pattern: cool morning, warm afternoon, and mostly clear skies. Around Billings and Livingston, overnight lows are in the mid‑40s to low 50s, with highs pushing into the upper 70s to low 80s. Light west to southwest breeze in the morning, picking up to 10–15 mph with some higher gusts this afternoon. No tidal swing here of course—just river flow—but treat that afternoon wind like a “fake tide”: it’ll stack food along seams and banks.

Sunrise hit just after 5:30 a.m., and sunset will be a bit after 9 p.m., giving you a long window. The best bite has been the **early morning from first light to about 10 a.m.**, and again in the **last two hours before dark** when the river cools and bugs get active.

Flows are running a bit high but dropping and clearing after spring runoff. Visibility is decent in the slower edges—think green tea, not chocolate milk. That’s had the trout sliding in tight to the softer water: inside bends, back eddies, and those three‑to‑five‑foot walking‑pace seams.

Recent action reports say anglers have been into good numbers of **rainbows** in the 12–18 inch class, with a few hefty **browns** over 20 inches showing up in the deeper runs. Cutthroat are around in the upper stretches, and there’ve been some nice **whitefish** mixed in when nymphing deep. Most boats are picking up a steady dozen or more fish over a full day if they stay on the softer seams and change flies or lures with the light.

Bug‑wise, this is prime time for **PMDs**, caddis, and the start of the big stonefly season. You may not hit peak salmonfly everywhere yet, but keep an eye out for shucks on the rocks in the canyon water—if you see them, it’s time to throw meat.

For fly anglers, think:

- Mornings: **sparkle and soft‑hackle PMD emergers**, size 16–18; **caddis pupae** and **pheasant tails** under an indicator or tight‑line rig.

- Midday: **rubber‑leg stonefly nymphs**, **Prince nymphs**, and **worm patterns** dropped off a big dry.

- Evenings: **X‑Caddis**, **Elk Hair Caddis**, and **rusty spinners** in the slicks for the last light rise.

For spin and gear anglers, the river has been giving up fish on:

- Small **gold or silver spoons** and **panther‑style spinners** in the 1/8–1/4 oz range.

- **Floating minnow plugs** in brown trout, rainbow, or sculpin colors.

- Where regs allow bait, **nightcrawlers** drifted with just enough weight to tick bottom in the softer seams have been deadly on both trout and whitefish.

Color and size tips: with that slightly off‑color water, lean on **black, olive, and brown** for nymphs and jigs; **copper, gold, and black** for hardware. Go just a hair bigger than you would in August—these fish are still used to pushing big water.

A couple of local hot spots to consider:

- **Between Livingston and Big Timber**: classic “big‑shouldered” Yellowstone—braids, gravel bars, and plenty of inside bends. Work the seams where side channels rejoin the main flow, especially in the morning before the wind starts dancing.

- **Below Billings, around the Duck Creek and Laurel stretches**: slightly warmer and broader; great for a mixed bag of trout and whitefish. Focus on the deeper runs below riffles and the first soft water off the bank when the sun gets high.

If you’re wading, be careful: flows are still pushy, and those cobbles roll underfoot. Stick to the edges, and don’t be shy about using a staff. Boat anglers, keep an eye out for shifting gravel bars and new snags left by runoff.

That’s the Yellowstone River report from Artificial Lure. Thanks for tuning in, and don’t forget to subscribe so you don’t miss the next on‑the‑water update.

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Name’s Artificial Lure, checking in with your Yellowstone River fishing report for around Billings and up toward Livingston.

First off, no tides to worry about here – the Yellowstone’s a free‑flowing, non‑tidal river. What matters is **flow, clarity, and weather**. Flows this week are running a bit high but dropping from peak runoff, with 1–2 feet of visibility in many mid‑valley stretches. That classic green‑tea color is starting to show, which usually flips the “on” switch for the trout.

Weather this morning is cool and clear with light wind, warming into the 70s by afternoon, then cooling fast after sunset. Sunrise is right around 5:30 a.m., sunset near 9:10 p.m., so we’ve got a long light window, but the **best bite** has been the **early morning and last two hours of daylight**. Midday has been slower unless you’re nymphing deep or chucking streamers tight to structure.

Recent reports from local shops along the valley say **rainbow and brown trout** have been most active, with a mix of 12–16 inch fish and the occasional 18–20 inch brown showing up on streamers. Whitefish numbers are good in the deeper runs, and a few cutthroat are turning up higher in the system. Anglers running two‑fly nymph rigs are seeing the most consistent numbers – a dozen fish in a half day isn’t unusual when the clouds roll in and the wind stays reasonable.

Bug‑wise, we’re on the front end of **PMD and caddis** season. Expect mid‑morning PMD activity and caddis from late afternoon into dusk when the air calms. On top, pack **#14–16 PMD parachutes**, **#14–18 elk‑hair caddis**, and a few **yellow Stimulators** for prospecting. Subsurface, the workhorses have been:

- **Best nymphs:** Pat’s Rubber Legs (coffee/black, #6–10), bead‑head Hare’s Ear, Pheasant Tail, and small PMD nymphs in #14–18.

- **Best streamers:** Olive or black Woolly Buggers, sculpin patterns, and articulated olive/white or black streamers stripped along banks and behind boulders.

- **Best bait (where legal and in non‑fly‑only sections):** Nightcrawlers drifted on the bottom, and natural‑colored minnows in slower holes. Always check current Montana regs for bait restrictions and barbless rules in the stretch you’re on.

Fish are hugging **soft edges**: inside bends, seams off the main current, and any slow pockets behind rock piles or islands. With flows still up, don’t waste time in the heavy mid‑river push unless you’re running a boat and know the slots.

Couple of **hot spots** to consider:

- **Between Livingston and Big Timber:** Side channels and inside bends below town have been giving up solid browns on stonefly nymphs and small olive streamers, especially on cloudy afternoons.

- **Around Billings – Duck Creek and Riverfront areas:** The deeper bends and riprapped banks are holding rainbows and whitefish; drift a stonefly nymph with a small PMD dropper under an indicator, or swing a dark streamer at first and last light.

If you’re wading, keep it conservative – the Yellowstone’s big and pushy even on a good day. A wading staff and a buddy are as important as the right fly.

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Name’s Artificial Lure, checking in with your Yellowstone River fishing report out of south-central Montana.

We’ll skip tides today—Yellowstone’s a free‑flowing inland river, no tidal swing to worry about. What matters is **flow, clarity, and weather**. Flows have been seasonally elevated but dropping, with a slight green tint instead of that full-on chocolate milk. As the river clears, the bite’s been heating up.

Weather-wise, we’re looking at a classic early‑summer pattern: cool, clear mornings in the mid‑40s to low‑50s, climbing into the 70s by afternoon with a light west or southwest breeze. Expect a mix of sun and a few passing clouds and the chance of a brief afternoon shower or thunderhead building over the high country. Sunrise lands a little after 5:30 a.m., sunset a bit after 9:00 p.m., which gives a long, fishable day, but the **prime windows** are first light until mid‑morning and again from about 7 p.m. to dark.

**Fish activity:**

The brown and rainbow trout have been most active on the edges—inside seams, soft pockets behind boulders, and along the willowy banks where the water slows a touch. As the clarity improves, fish are sliding out of the deep winter slots and into feeding lanes.

Local shop talk around Livingston and Big Timber has folks reporting solid numbers of **12–18 inch rainbows**, with a fair mix of **browns up to 20 inches**, plus the occasional whitefish in the heavier runs. Anglers drifting from Pine Creek down to Carter’s Bridge have been picking off a steady half‑dozen to a dozen decent trout in a float, with better sticks doing more when the clouds roll in. Wade anglers near Yankee Jim and below the town stretch have been finding pods of smaller fish with the odd bruiser tucked tight to structure.

**Best lures and flies right now:**

For spin anglers:

- **1/4‑oz silver or gold spinners** with a touch of red or orange are producing in the riffles.

- **Small crankbaits** in rainbow trout or brown trout patterns, worked just off the current break, have been deadly on aggressive browns.

- Soft‑plastic **3–4 inch paddle tails** in natural shad or olive, on light jig heads, are good in deeper runs.

For fly folks:

- Nymph rigs with a **stonefly nymph** (black or golden) and a **smaller mayfly or caddis dropper** have been the day savers. Think size 8–10 stone with a size 14–16 beadhead below.

- When the light’s low, a **black or olive streamer**—thin profile, swung tight to the bank—has been moving some larger browns.

- In the evenings, watch for caddis and mayfly activity; a **tan caddis** or a **small parachute mayfly** can clean up on the flats.

For bait anglers in legal sections, **nightcrawlers drifted on the bottom** in slower seams and **natural‑colored salmon eggs** have been consistent producers, especially for whitefish and eater‑size trout.

Couple of **hot spots** to circle on the map:

- The stretch **from Pine Creek to Carter’s Bridge**: great mix of riffles, long glides, and undercut banks; ideal for a day float and very productive as the water drops.

- The **Yankee Jim Canyon area**: more technical, heavier water, but if you pick your pockets and know how to wade, there are some thick, wild browns holding tight to the rocks.

Focus on those first and last couple hours of light, fish your presentations tight to structure and seams, and adjust size down a notch as the water clears.

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Artificial Lure here with your Yellowstone River fishing report for the stretch in and around Livingston, Big Timber, and down toward Columbus. I can’t verify live tide data for this inland river, but the Yellowstone is **not a tidal fishery**, so tides do not factor into the bite here.

For weather, expect a classic Montana June morning pattern: cool early, warming fast after sunrise, with the river responding to bright sun, wind, and any afternoon bumps in flow. The most important thing today is water color and clarity; after runoff, the Yellowstone can fish best when it starts to **drop and clear**, while a little stain can actually help streamers and heavier nymph rigs.

Sunrise is around **5:15 a.m.** and sunset is around **9:00 p.m.** for the Yellowstone Valley this time of year, which gives you a long window to work the water. The best bite usually starts in the first light, rolls into the late morning nymph window, and often picks back up in the evening when caddis and yellow sallies get active.

Recent fishing reports from the Yellowstone corridor have pointed to **rainbows, brown trout, cutthroat in some upper reaches, and the occasional mountain whitefish**, with fish showing up on nymphs, streamers, and dry-dropper rigs when the river is in good shape. Anglers have been connecting on trout mostly in the **12-18 inch range**, with some larger browns showing after dark or in low light, especially around deeper runs and bank seams.

If you’re tying on the best producers for today, keep it simple: **streamers** in olive, black, or white; **stonefly nymphs**; **Mayfly nymphs**; **caddis pupae**; and a **Pat’s Rubber Legs** or similar big attractor if the water still has some push. For dries, look to **caddis**, **yellow sally patterns**, and small mayfly imitations if you see fish rising. If you want bait, the legal and practical answer on much of this river is to check current Montana regulations first, because bait rules vary by section; where bait is allowed, **worms and natural-looking offerings** are the usual standby, but artificials are often the smarter play on the Yellowstone.

Hot spots worth a look today: the **deep bends and undercut banks near Livingston**, the **runs and seams around Big Timber access points**, and the **tailouts and gravel edges below bridges and side-channel inflows**. Fish the seams, not the middle, and let your fly drift a little deeper than you think.

If the river is still high and off-color, throw a streamer with confidence. If it’s dropping and clearing, go to a nymph rig early and switch to a dry-dropper or caddis hatch play later in the day. Keep moving, cover water, and work the softer edges where trout can feed without spending too much energy.

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Name’s Artificial Lure, checking in with your Yellowstone River fishing report for the upper river around Livingston and down through Big Timber.

We’re in a warm early‑summer pattern. Overnight lows sat in the upper 40s to low 50s, with afternoon highs headed for the upper 70s to low 80s under mostly clear skies and light west winds around 5–10 mph. Air pressure is steady and we’ve got that classic blue‑bird Montana morning shaping up. No tides here of course – just a freestone river running a bit high but dropping and clearing.

According to the National Weather Service out of Billings, we’ve got sunrise right around 5:30 a.m. and sunset a little after 9:10 p.m., giving you a long window. The best bite is lining up at first light and again from about 7:30 p.m. to dark, when the wind lays down and the bugs get moving.

USGS gauges on the Yellowstone near Livingston show flows still above summer lows with a faint tea‑stain color – maybe 2–3 feet of visibility. That’s perfect for tossing bigger offerings tight to the bank. Water temps are climbing into the mid‑50s by afternoon, which has the trout waking up and feeding hard in the softer seams and inside bends.

Local shops in Livingston and Big Timber report solid action the past few days on rainbows and browns in the 12–18 inch class, with a handful of browns kissing the 20‑inch mark. A few cutthroat and the odd whitefish are in the mix. Anglers throwing streamers from rafts have been putting a dozen or more fish to the net on good floats, with wade anglers picking off steady singles in side channels.

Bug‑wise, the word from local guides is that caddis are the main show in the evenings, with some lingering march browns and a smattering of baetis on cloudy stretches. Nocturnal stoneflies are starting to get noticed by the bigger fish before sunup.

For fly folks, pack:

- Size 14–16 elk hair caddis in tan and olive

- Parachute Adams 14–16 as a general mayfly

- Rubber‑leg stonefly nymphs, size 6–10

- Streamers like olive or black woolly buggers, sparkle minnows, and sculpin patterns in olive and brown

Spin anglers are doing well with:

- 1/4‑oz gold or silver spoons

- Small brown and rainbow‑patterned crankbaits

- In-line spinners in gold, especially with a bit of red or orange

For bait where it’s legal and regs allow, nightcrawlers drifted under a small split shot through deeper runs are putting fish in the bucket, and salmon eggs are picking up whitefish and the occasional trout. Always check the current Montana FWP regulations for the exact stretch you’re on – this river is a patchwork of special rules.

Hot spot number one: the stretch just east of Livingston, working the banks and drop‑offs around the big bends. Focus on the inside seams, logjams, and any soft water off the main current. Drift boats are king here, but there’s some sneaky good walk‑in water if you poke around the public access sites.

Hot spot number two: down around Big Timber, where the river spreads and braids. Hit side channels with a bit less push, and swing streamers through the deeper outside corners. Early and late in the day, watch for heads up in the slicks as those fish slide shallow to chase caddis.

That’s the word from your local buddy, Artificial Lure. Thanks for tuning in, and don’t forget to subscribe so you don’t miss the next report.

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