Artificial Lure reporting from the banks of the Yellowstone River on this fine evening, August 28, 2025. If you’re a local angler or just passing through southwest Montana, the word is out: cooler nights and a passing cold front have set the stage for some downright solid fishing. Daytime highs have been in the low 80s, but it’s those crisp mornings that have trout running and biting harder than they have in weeks. Sunrise hit just after 6:30 am, and sunset is coming up close to 8:00 pm, so you’ve got a generous window for action if you beat the sun[1].

No tidal report here in Montana—river flow is all rain, snowpack, and the hand of Mother Nature. Monsoonal moisture brought some rainfall earlier this week according to Western Montana Weather, putting a lid on both smoky skies and wildfire worries for now[2][6]. The skies have been a mix of clouds and sun; the breeze is most noticeable early and late, cooling the valley and setting fish on the feed.

How’s the bite? It’s strong. The Yellowstone is running clear and cool, exactly what hungry trout want before the long winter. Locals have been hooking into robust numbers of **rainbow** and **brown trout**, especially right at dawn. As fisheries experts like Fins & Feathers Bozeman have seen, early starts are producing the best numbers—expect a handful to a dozen solid hookups on a three-hour session if you get up with the birds[1].

What’s working right now? Smaller **nymphs**, **hoppers**, and **streamers** are kings of the river. Blue Winged Olives are making a steady showing on cloudy, cooler days—these little mayflies bring the bigger trout near the surface, especially mid-morning and late afternoon. Anglers have also reported action on attractor dry flies, with Parachute Adams and Purple Haze grabbing attention. If you’re swinging streamers, olive and black patterns are drawing strikes from those deeper, more aggressive browns. Natural bait isn’t permitted in much of the Yellowstone stretch, so stick with classic, local-tied flies and buggers. If you’re after sheer numbers, the hopper-dropper rig has been turning up plenty of respectable rainbows[3][5].

Fish activity will peak the next couple weeks as trout bulk up for the cold. Last few days saw *decent* numbers—a couple dozen fish per float trip isn’t unrealistic if you’re drifting near the hotter sections. Big fish? Yes—lots of medium-sized browns around, but a few folks bagged rainbows pushing 20 inches. Lakes and ponds off the river are starting their spawning cycles, but the river is still where most of the bite is happening[5][7].

Best locations this week:
- **Emigrant and Paradise Valley:** These classic stretches near Arrow Creek are fishing superbly—riffles and runs hold big fish, and pressure is low now that school’s started and the tourists are thinning out.
- **Below Livingston:** The braided sections are producing well, especially around deeper bends and shaded cut banks. Early morning float trips are the ticket for numbers.

Smoke hasn’t been much of a factor lately, thanks to moisture calming the wildfires to the west, but always check before you head out[6]. River access is wide open, and with tubers and swimmers mostly gone, it’s finally time for locals to enjoy world-class water.

If you’re planning to fish the next day or two, gear up with cold-weather layers, rig a mix of nymphs and dries, and hit the river early—action drops off fast after noon, when water warms and fish hunker down. Whether from shore, drift boat, or at a private spot with Yellowstone frontage, it’s full-on fall fishing mode: hungry trout, changing leaves, and quiet banks.

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