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Yellowstone River Runoff Report: Finding Openings for Big Trout
Good morning anglers, this is Artificial Lure with your Yellowstone River report for May 23, 2025.
We are deep in the runoff season now and the river is moving with some muscle, thanks to recent spring rains. Flows remain high, with the water carrying a bit of color, but things can clear up quickly once those flows start dropping. Keep an eye on the gauges—when you see a steep drop after a spike, those are your best windows to get out. That’s usually when the fishing flips the switch, especially before the water gets too muddy again later in the runoff.
Weather today brings cloudy skies this morning, with a chance of afternoon sun and light winds, especially through the Paradise Valley stretch. Sunrise is around 5:45 am and sunset is about 8:45 pm, so you have plenty of daylight. There’s no tide on the Yellowstone, just the good old current, but the runoff definitely keeps you guessing, so stay sharp on your feet and watch for rising water.
Fish have been active whenever the river stabilizes. Browns and rainbows are the main catch, with a few cutthroats showing up, particularly from Livingston up through Yankee Jim Canyon. Most fish are running in the 12 to 18 inch range, but there’s always that shot at a bigger brown if you spend time working the deeper runs and behind the boulders. The takes are solid when you hit it right.
Best lures and flies right now are darker-colored rubber legs, leeches, and big stonefly nymphs. Dead-drifting streamers or slow-stripping smaller patterns like sculpins and black or olive buggers works well, especially in slower water next to gravel bars and behind rocks. On brighter days, swap in some lighter flashy patterns, but for cloudy or overcast conditions, stick to the darker stuff and less flash. Caddis and mayfly hatches are getting started, so keep some in your box if you see a few risers in the slack water or tailouts.
For bait anglers, nightcrawlers and cut bait drifted deep can pick up fish in the slower pools, but most folks right now are having success on subsurface presentations.
If you’re looking for hotspots, focus on the stretch from Carter’s Bridge up through Paradise Valley, and don’t overlook Yankee Jim Canyon when flows settle a bit. Those gravel bars and inside bends are holding fish when the water drops and clears.
Be safe wading, stick to the banks if the flows are ripping, and don’t forget your 2025 fishing license. Tight lines out there from your local river rat, Artificial Lure.
We are deep in the runoff season now and the river is moving with some muscle, thanks to recent spring rains. Flows remain high, with the water carrying a bit of color, but things can clear up quickly once those flows start dropping. Keep an eye on the gauges—when you see a steep drop after a spike, those are your best windows to get out. That’s usually when the fishing flips the switch, especially before the water gets too muddy again later in the runoff.
Weather today brings cloudy skies this morning, with a chance of afternoon sun and light winds, especially through the Paradise Valley stretch. Sunrise is around 5:45 am and sunset is about 8:45 pm, so you have plenty of daylight. There’s no tide on the Yellowstone, just the good old current, but the runoff definitely keeps you guessing, so stay sharp on your feet and watch for rising water.
Fish have been active whenever the river stabilizes. Browns and rainbows are the main catch, with a few cutthroats showing up, particularly from Livingston up through Yankee Jim Canyon. Most fish are running in the 12 to 18 inch range, but there’s always that shot at a bigger brown if you spend time working the deeper runs and behind the boulders. The takes are solid when you hit it right.
Best lures and flies right now are darker-colored rubber legs, leeches, and big stonefly nymphs. Dead-drifting streamers or slow-stripping smaller patterns like sculpins and black or olive buggers works well, especially in slower water next to gravel bars and behind rocks. On brighter days, swap in some lighter flashy patterns, but for cloudy or overcast conditions, stick to the darker stuff and less flash. Caddis and mayfly hatches are getting started, so keep some in your box if you see a few risers in the slack water or tailouts.
For bait anglers, nightcrawlers and cut bait drifted deep can pick up fish in the slower pools, but most folks right now are having success on subsurface presentations.
If you’re looking for hotspots, focus on the stretch from Carter’s Bridge up through Paradise Valley, and don’t overlook Yankee Jim Canyon when flows settle a bit. Those gravel bars and inside bends are holding fish when the water drops and clears.
Be safe wading, stick to the banks if the flows are ripping, and don’t forget your 2025 fishing license. Tight lines out there from your local river rat, Artificial Lure.
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By Quiet. PleaseGood morning anglers, this is Artificial Lure with your Yellowstone River report for May 23, 2025.
We are deep in the runoff season now and the river is moving with some muscle, thanks to recent spring rains. Flows remain high, with the water carrying a bit of color, but things can clear up quickly once those flows start dropping. Keep an eye on the gauges—when you see a steep drop after a spike, those are your best windows to get out. That’s usually when the fishing flips the switch, especially before the water gets too muddy again later in the runoff.
Weather today brings cloudy skies this morning, with a chance of afternoon sun and light winds, especially through the Paradise Valley stretch. Sunrise is around 5:45 am and sunset is about 8:45 pm, so you have plenty of daylight. There’s no tide on the Yellowstone, just the good old current, but the runoff definitely keeps you guessing, so stay sharp on your feet and watch for rising water.
Fish have been active whenever the river stabilizes. Browns and rainbows are the main catch, with a few cutthroats showing up, particularly from Livingston up through Yankee Jim Canyon. Most fish are running in the 12 to 18 inch range, but there’s always that shot at a bigger brown if you spend time working the deeper runs and behind the boulders. The takes are solid when you hit it right.
Best lures and flies right now are darker-colored rubber legs, leeches, and big stonefly nymphs. Dead-drifting streamers or slow-stripping smaller patterns like sculpins and black or olive buggers works well, especially in slower water next to gravel bars and behind rocks. On brighter days, swap in some lighter flashy patterns, but for cloudy or overcast conditions, stick to the darker stuff and less flash. Caddis and mayfly hatches are getting started, so keep some in your box if you see a few risers in the slack water or tailouts.
For bait anglers, nightcrawlers and cut bait drifted deep can pick up fish in the slower pools, but most folks right now are having success on subsurface presentations.
If you’re looking for hotspots, focus on the stretch from Carter’s Bridge up through Paradise Valley, and don’t overlook Yankee Jim Canyon when flows settle a bit. Those gravel bars and inside bends are holding fish when the water drops and clears.
Be safe wading, stick to the banks if the flows are ripping, and don’t forget your 2025 fishing license. Tight lines out there from your local river rat, Artificial Lure.
We are deep in the runoff season now and the river is moving with some muscle, thanks to recent spring rains. Flows remain high, with the water carrying a bit of color, but things can clear up quickly once those flows start dropping. Keep an eye on the gauges—when you see a steep drop after a spike, those are your best windows to get out. That’s usually when the fishing flips the switch, especially before the water gets too muddy again later in the runoff.
Weather today brings cloudy skies this morning, with a chance of afternoon sun and light winds, especially through the Paradise Valley stretch. Sunrise is around 5:45 am and sunset is about 8:45 pm, so you have plenty of daylight. There’s no tide on the Yellowstone, just the good old current, but the runoff definitely keeps you guessing, so stay sharp on your feet and watch for rising water.
Fish have been active whenever the river stabilizes. Browns and rainbows are the main catch, with a few cutthroats showing up, particularly from Livingston up through Yankee Jim Canyon. Most fish are running in the 12 to 18 inch range, but there’s always that shot at a bigger brown if you spend time working the deeper runs and behind the boulders. The takes are solid when you hit it right.
Best lures and flies right now are darker-colored rubber legs, leeches, and big stonefly nymphs. Dead-drifting streamers or slow-stripping smaller patterns like sculpins and black or olive buggers works well, especially in slower water next to gravel bars and behind rocks. On brighter days, swap in some lighter flashy patterns, but for cloudy or overcast conditions, stick to the darker stuff and less flash. Caddis and mayfly hatches are getting started, so keep some in your box if you see a few risers in the slack water or tailouts.
For bait anglers, nightcrawlers and cut bait drifted deep can pick up fish in the slower pools, but most folks right now are having success on subsurface presentations.
If you’re looking for hotspots, focus on the stretch from Carter’s Bridge up through Paradise Valley, and don’t overlook Yankee Jim Canyon when flows settle a bit. Those gravel bars and inside bends are holding fish when the water drops and clears.
Be safe wading, stick to the banks if the flows are ripping, and don’t forget your 2025 fishing license. Tight lines out there from your local river rat, Artificial Lure.