Yellowstone River (NP Section)
river in Wyoming
The stretch of the Yellowstone River between Yellowstone Lake and the falls is legendary for its native Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout and massive hatches.
River flow last 30 days
What's working on Yellowstone River
- 01Consistent daily hatches of Pale Morning Duns (PMDs) and white miller caddis on Firehole and Madison.
- 02Subsurface nymph and emerger patterns are highly effective for selective fish.
- 03Slough Creek is clearing fastest and is a good option for immediate fishing.
- 04Focus on slower seams, eddies, and pocket water along banks in the main Yellowstone River (NP Section) due to 3350 cfs flows.
- 05If dry fly refusals occur, switch to PMD emergers or caddis nymphs; swinging soft hackles is also productive.
Past reports week by week
5 weeksWhat to tie on
Picked from reports, hatches and the season. Tap a fly for the recipe and where else it works.
Zebra Midge
A winter staple for the Yellowstone. Small midges are the primary food source available to trout in February. Black or red colors in sizes 20-24 are essential.
Buy at AmazonTungsten Bead Pat's Rubber Legs
While stoneflies aren't hatching, their nymphs are always present. The tungsten bead provides necessary weight to sink midge droppers into deep winter holding lies without extra split shot.
Buy at AmazonPine Squirrel Leech
Large trout, especially Browns, require high-calorie meals to justify moving in cold water. A small, slow-swung or dead-drifted leech imitates sluggish baitfish and annelids.
Buy at AmazonGriffith's Gnat
The most effective pattern for the brief windows of surface activity when midges cluster. Focus on calm sections of the river between 1:00 PM and 3:00 PM.
RS2
Highly effective as a trailing nymph or emerger. Gray versions accurately match midge pupae and the occasional early-season Baetis moving in the substrate.
Where to fish and who to ask
Hayden Valley Meadows
A classic meadow stretch with deep undercut banks and high fish counts.
LeHardy Rapids Access
A famous, slow-moving meadow section where anglers sight-fish for cruisers.
Fly shops within 40 miles
Madison River Outfitters
Get Yellowstone River (NP Section) reports by email
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Wyoming season by season
What changes on the water through the year, with the flies for each season.
Read before you go
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Quick answers
Common questions about Yellowstone River (NP Section).
What flies work best on Yellowstone River (NP Section)?
Our top scored fly patterns for Yellowstone River (NP Section) right now are Soft Hackle Wet (Partridge & Orange) (80% confidence), Beetle (Crowe) (80% confidence), Elk Hair Caddis (80% confidence). These picks are scored from recent fishing reports, hatch data, and seasonal patterns.
What fish species are in Yellowstone River (NP Section)?
Yellowstone River (NP Section) holds Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout, Mountain Whitefish. See the species links on this page for fly recommendations and seasonal behavior for each.
What are current flow conditions on Yellowstone River (NP Section)?
Live USGS streamflow readings for Yellowstone River (NP Section) are charted in the sidebar of this page and updated automatically from the nearest gauge.
Is Yellowstone River (NP Section) fishing well right now?
We publish a fresh bite report for Yellowstone River (NP Section) each week based on recent on-the-water intel. The current report — with conditions, hatches, and what's producing — is on this page.