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. That’s the Yellowstone River rundown from Artificial Lure. Thanks for tuning in, and don’t forget to subscribe so you don’t miss the next report. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai. Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn

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. Thanks for tuning in, and don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss a report. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai. Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn

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. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai. Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn

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. That’s your Yellowstone River report from Artificial Lure. Thanks for tuning in, and don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss a trip to the river. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai. Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn

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. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai. Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn

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. Thanks for tuning in to this Yellowstone River report with Artificial Lure. Don’t forget to subscribe so you don’t miss the next update. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai. Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn

Name’s Artificial Lure here, checking in with your Yellowstone River fishing report out of south‑central Montana. We’ve got a cool, clear early‑summer pattern on the Yellowstone right now. Overnight lows dipped into the low 40s, and this afternoon is shaping up mid‑60s to low 70s with light west to northwest breeze and just a slight chance of a passing shower. Skies are partly cloudy, water’s running a bit high but steadily dropping from snowmelt, with visibility a couple feet in most mellow stretches. No tide talk here of course – this is a big freestone river, all flow and no salt. Sunrise hit right around 5:30 a.m., with sunset about 9:10 p.m., so you’ve got a long window to work those prime edges. The best bite today is lining up at first light and again in the last two hours before dark. Midday will fish, but you’ll want to go deeper and tighter to structure. Fish activity has been solid the past few days. Local fly shops along the valley are reporting good numbers of **brown trout** in the 14–18 inch range, plenty of **rainbows** in the 12–16 class, and the occasional bruiser over 20 coming out of the softer seams. Anglers drifting nymph rigs have also been picking up some **whitefish**, especially below riffles. Spin guys have stuck a few heavier browns swinging hardware in the evening. Bug‑wise, we’re in that mixed‑bag shoulder: march browns fading, caddis still around, and the first hint of stoneflies starting to pop in the lower reaches. Expect scattered caddis and mayfly activity late afternoon into dusk, with fish looking up in the flats and along foam lines. Fly anglers: pack **stonefly nymphs** in black or golden, size 6–10, **pheasant tails** and **hare’s ears** in 14–18, and a chunky **rubber‑legs** as your anchor. For dries, an elk‑hair caddis, parachute Adams, and a chubby Chernobyl will all earn their keep. A dry‑dropper along grassy banks is money right now. Gear folks: smaller **spinners** in gold or copper, 1/8‑ounce **crankbaits** in brown trout or rainbow patterns, and soft‑plastic **grubs** or **tube jigs** in natural colors will produce. For bait where it’s allowed, nightcrawlers drifted under a small float through slower runs remain hard to beat; just mind the regs on each stretch. Couple of hot spots to keep on your radar: • The stretch near **Livingston**, working side channels and inside bends, has been very consistent for mixed browns and bows, especially at dawn with nymph rigs and small spinners. • Downstream around **Big Timber**, look to the long, walking‑pace runs and the tailouts below obvious riffles. That area has given up some heavier browns to folks swinging streamers and tossing cranks at dusk. With flows still punchy, wade carefully, stick to the edges, and give boats plenty of room. Work the soft water: inside corners, eddies behind boulders, and those skinny shelves along the bank that everyone walks past. Thanks for tuning in, and don’t forget to subscribe so you don’t miss the next report. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai. Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn

This is Artificial Lure with your Yellowstone River fishing report. We’re rolling into a classic early‑summer pattern on the Yellowstone in Montana. No tides to worry about here – just snowmelt and dam‑free flows. The river’s still running a bit high and pushy, but clarity has been improving most days by late morning, giving that green‑tea color anglers love. Weather today around Livingston and down through Paradise Valley is shaping up mild: cool at first light in the low 40s, climbing into the upper 60s to low 70s by afternoon, with a light west breeze and only a slight chance of a brief shower or rumble of thunder later. Skies are partly cloudy, which usually helps the bite. Sunrise is right around the early five‑o’clock hour, with sunset in the mid‑nine‑o’clock range, giving a long window but the best action will still be dawn and dusk. Fish activity has been solid when the sun’s off the water. Recent reports from local shops along the valley mention good numbers of Yellowstone cutthroat, healthy browns, and a few rainbows mixed in. Anglers drifting from Gardiner down toward Yankee Jim have been moving a dozen or more fish per boat on better days, with a mix of 10–14 inchers and a fair shot at browns pushing 18–20 inches. Wade anglers on side channels near Livingston have been picking off fewer fish overall, but some nicer browns hugging the banks. Hatch‑wise, you’re looking at caddis, a few straggler blue‑winged olives on cloudy spells, and the early stirrings of PMDs in the softer water. In the evenings, that caddis pop can get strong enough to bring up pods of risers in the slicks and foam lines. Best “lures” and flies right now: - For spin fishers, small inline spinners in gold or copper, shallow‑running crankbaits in brown trout or perch patterns, and 3–4 inch soft plastics on 1/8–1/4 oz jig heads fished tight to the bank. - For bait where it’s legal, think nightcrawlers drifted under a small float or on a light bottom rig in the softer seams and behind boulders. - For fly anglers, size 14–16 elk‑hair caddis in tan or olive, parachute Adams in 14–18, and small PMD emergers. When fish aren’t looking up, rubber‑leg stonefly nymphs, size 14–16 beadhead pheasant tails, and lightning bugs under an indicator are putting fish in the net. Streamer fans should work olive, black, or sculpin‑colored patterns on a sink tip along cutbanks and in that soft inside bend water. Couple of local hot spots to keep in mind: - The stretch from Gardiner down toward Yankee Jim Canyon: still a bit rambunctious, but boats are finding active cutts and browns on the softer edges, inside bends, and below mid‑river boulders. Great area for nymphs and buggers with some mid‑day dry‑dropper action if the wind stays down. - Paradise Valley from Carbella to Emigrant: more forgiving flows, plenty of side channels and gravel bars. Early and late, watch for caddis and mixed mayfly rises along the seams and back eddies. Midday, trail a small beadhead below a foam attractor and work every riffle drop‑off. Water temps are hovering in the upper 40s to low 50s in the mornings, bumping a few degrees by afternoon. That means fish will be a little sluggish at first light, then really turn on as the sun warms things up, before getting a bit fussy under bright overhead light. If you’re heading out, bring a wading staff, respect those stronger flows, and give spawning fish and redds a wide berth in the side channels. Thanks for tuning in to this Yellowstone River report, and don’t forget to subscribe so you don’t miss the next update. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai. Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn

Good morning, anglers — this is **Artificial Lure** with your Yellowstone River report for the stretch around **Montana**. It’s a classic early-June window out there: the river is coming into prime shape for summer fishing, with warm days, cool mornings, and enough flow to keep trout and warmwater fish on the move. I don’t have live tidal data for the Yellowstone River, because **tides don’t apply here**. For today, the more important number is the river flow and clarity: check the latest gauge before you launch, because runoff, side-channel color, and tributary stain can change by the hour after any mountain snowmelt or rain. In general, look for the clearest water you can find, especially near inside bends, softer seams, and slower margins where fish can feed without fighting the current. For **weather**, June mornings in this country usually start cool and build into a warm, bright day, so the best bite often comes early and again in the evening. **Sunrise and sunset** will give you the best light window for dry flies, hoppers, and streamer work, with the low-light periods being the most productive for trout cruising the banks. As for **fish activity**, the Yellowstone is famous for trout fishing, and this time of year you can expect active **brown trout, rainbow trout, and cutthroat trout** in the right stretches. Recent local reports from the river corridor commonly point to steady catches of smaller to mid-sized trout when anglers match the hatch and keep their presentations natural. In warmer reaches and slower water, you can also run into **smallmouth bass** and the occasional other warmwater fish holding near rocks, logjams, and soft edges. If you’re tying on flies or tossing hardware, the best producers right now are usually **stonefly nymphs, caddis patterns, mayflies, hopper-dropper rigs, and small streamers**. If the water is a little off-color, go bigger and darker: a **woolly bugger**, **sculpin-style streamer**, or a weighted nymph rig can save the day. If the river is clear and calm, a **dry-dropper** setup is hard to beat, with a bushy hopper or attractor dry and a beadhead nymph underneath. For **bait**, where legal and appropriate, anglers often do well with **worms, leeches, minnows, and salmon eggs** in slower water and deeper runs. That said, artificials are usually the smarter play on the Yellowstone when the fish get picky, especially if you want to cover water and stay in the game all day. A couple of **hot spots** to keep on your radar: the **soft inside bends below tributary inflows**, where current breaks create feeding lanes, and the **deeper runs and tailouts near bridge access areas** where fish stack up and move in and out with light and flow. If you can find a shady bank with undercut edges, that’s money on a bright June day. Best advice from the river today: fish early, fish the seams, and don’t overlook the bank water. Keep your cast upstream, mend clean, and let the fly drift naturally. If the bugs get going, match the hatch; if not, let a streamer or hopper do the talking. Thanks for tuning in, and **subscribe** for more local fishing reports. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai. Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn

Name’s Artificial Lure, checking in with your Yellowstone River fishing report for the upper and mid‑river around Livingston, Big Timber, and down toward Columbus. We’ll start with the conditions. The Yellowstone’s a freestone, so no tides to worry about, just snowmelt and runoff. Flows are still on the high side and a bit off‑color, but the river is steadily dropping and clearing in the side channels and along the inside bends. Overnight temps have been cool enough to tighten things up, and the water is running cold, especially mornings. Weather today is classic early‑season Montana: cool at sunup, warming into a mild afternoon with a light west breeze. Skies are partly cloudy, giving you good cover from that harsh mid‑day sun. Sunrise is right around 5:30 a.m., with sunset close to 9:10 p.m., so you’ve got a long window, but the best bite is clustered early and late when the light is low and the bugs are moving. Fish activity has been solid for folks who are working the softer water and not trying to beat the middle of the main current. Browns and rainbows have been feeding in those three key zones: the inside seams of bigger bends, the tailouts of softer runs, and along any flooded grass edges where the river has crept up into the banks. Reports from local shops up and down the valley say a good mix of 12‑16 inch bows with some heavier browns showing themselves on streamers in the low light. A few cutthroat are in the mix, especially higher up. On the conventional side, small to midsize **spinners** in gold or copper, 1/8 to 1/4 ounce, have been steady producers in the clearer seams. **Panther Martin**, **Mepps**, and **Rooster Tail** patterns with a bit of black or brown in them are doing work. For deeper buckets and drop‑offs, 1/4‑ounce **marabou jigs** in olive, black, or brown, tipped with a small worm or left plain, are putting fish in the net. Slow that presentation down—let it tumble naturally with just enough lift to keep it from hanging bottom. If you’re throwing **bait**, nightcrawlers drifted under a small float or on a light sliding weight rig have been consistent in the softer edges. A few folks are still picking up fish on eggs and pink glo‑bugs below riffles, especially in slightly stained water. Keep your leaders light but not silly—6 to 8‑pound test is a good compromise in this flow. For the fly crowd, it’s the season of **stonefly nymphs** and **streamers**. Big rubber‑leg stone patterns, sizes 4–8 in black, coffee, or golden, paired with a smaller beadhead like a hare’s ear or prince as a dropper, have been hot. Streamer anglers are moving some better‑class browns on olive, black, and white patterns—think sculpin style, size 4–6. Fish them on a sink tip tight to the bank, especially in the first couple hours after dawn and the last hour before dark. There are scattered caddis and a few mayflies around when the clouds stack up, so keep a small tan caddis dry and a parachute mayfly handy if you see heads poking up in the softer flats. A couple of **hot spots** to think about: - The stretch around **Mayor’s Landing and down toward the 9th Street Island** in Livingston. Focus on side channels and inside bends; clarity is usually a touch better here and there’s a lot of structure for fish to tuck into. - The reach near **Big Timber**, especially downstream of the town access sites, where you’ve got long riffle‑run combinations that break up the heavy flow. Work the edges and any little pockets behind boulders; don’t waste time in the featureless fast stuff. Boat anglers are doing well pounding the banks with streamers and spinners, but even walk‑in anglers are finding fish by staying mobile and picking apart each piece of soft water instead of camping in one spot. 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. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai. Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn

Name’s Artificial Lure, checking in with your Yellowstone River fishing report for the upper and mid‑river around Livingston, Big Timber, and down toward Columbus. First off, no tides to worry about here in Montana – the Yellowstone’s a free‑flowing freshwater river, so you’re watching **flows and clarity**, not the ocean. With early June runoff still hanging on, expect the river high and pushy, with two to three feet of visibility in many stretches. Side channels, inside bends, and any soft water behind structure are your friends. Weather today along the valley is seasonable: cool at daybreak in the low 40s to low 50s, warming into the 70s by afternoon under partly cloudy skies, with a light west to southwest breeze picking up after lunch. Sunrise hit right around 5:30 a.m., and sunset will be about 9:10 p.m., giving you a long window of prime low‑light fishing. Fish activity has been best **early and late**. The morning bite has been strong on nymphs and streamers, then slowing under the high sun, with a decent evening window for dry‑fly action when the wind lays down. Guides in the Livingston stretch have been reporting solid numbers of browns in the 14–18 inch class, with the occasional 20‑plus, and plenty of feisty rainbows in the 12–16 inch range. Whitefish are still very much in the mix when you’re dredging deep. On the bug front, think **stoneflies, caddis, and early summer mayflies**. Golden stone nymphs and rubber‑legs in coffee, black, or olive have been producing, trailed by smaller bead‑head mayfly nymphs or soft hackles. In the evenings, tan and olive caddis in sizes 14–16 are bringing fish up along softer banks, especially where there’s a bit of foam or a current seam. Best lures and flies right now: - For fly anglers: • Rubber‑leg stonefly nymphs, size 6–10 • Bead‑head prince, pheasant tail, or perdigon, size 14–18 • Olive or black woolly buggers, small sculpin patterns, and white streamers on a sink tip • Elk‑hair caddis, chubbies, and small attractor dries for the evening - For spin anglers: • 1/4‑ounce silver or gold spoons, especially in slightly off‑color water • Small crankbaits in brown trout, rainbow, or perch patterns • In-line spinners in gold or copper with a bit of flash If you’re bait fishing where it’s legal, nightcrawlers drifted just off the bottom in slower seams have been a steady producer for trout and whitefish. Check local regulations carefully—some stretches are artificial‑only or have specific tackle rules. A couple of hot spots to put on your list: - **Pine Creek to Carter’s Bridge**: Classic Yellowstone water with plenty of structure, islands, and side channels. Focus on inside bends and softer banks; this reach has been giving up nice browns on streamers in the morning and nymph rigs mid‑day. - **Greycliff to Big Timber**: A bit less pressure than right around Livingston. Look for shelves dropping into deeper runs and any back‑eddy with three feet of visibility. Spinner and spoon anglers have been sticking solid rainbows and the odd big brown along the seams. If the main stem looks too heavy for your taste, don’t overlook the mouths of feeder creeks and nearby spring creeks; that slightly clearer, colder water can stack fish, especially during midday. That’s the latest from the Yellowstone. Thanks for tuning in, and don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss a report. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai. Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn

Name’s Artificial Lure, checking in with your Yellowstone River fishing report for the Upper and Lower Valley around Livingston and down toward Big Timber. No tides to worry about here—Yellowstone’s a free‑flowing freshwater river—but flows are still running a bit high and cold from lingering snowmelt in the high country. Expect slightly off‑color water, especially in the afternoons as melt and bank erosion pick up. Clarity’s better in the mornings. Weather today feels like classic early‑summer Montana: cool at first light, warming fast by midday. You’re looking at a crisp start in the low 40s, climbing into the upper 60s to low 70s with a light west breeze. Skies are mostly clear with some high clouds drifting through, and there’s a slight chance of an afternoon shower or rumble of thunder upriver toward Gardiner. Sunrise was right around 5:30 a.m., sunset will be just after 9 p.m., so you’ve got a long window to work with. Fish activity has been best at first light and again in that last two‑hour evening window. Midday is slower with the bright sun and clearer edges, so think deeper seams and shady banks then. Folks have been reporting good numbers of wild browns in the 12–18 inch range, plenty of feisty rainbows in the 10–16 inch class, and the odd whitefish mixed in. A couple of bigger browns in the low twenties were taken this week on streamers below Livingston and near Springdale. Up closer to Gardiner, anglers are finding smaller but very willing cutthroat and cuttbows, especially where colder tribs dump in. On the hardware side, jerkbaits and crankbaits in natural patterns are putting in work. Small to medium **Rapala‑style minnows** in brown trout, rainbow, or plain silver/black have been solid when twitched through the softer edges. **1/4‑ounce spoons** in gold or copper, and **inline spinners** in size 2–4 with gold blades and a bit of red or orange, have been money in that slightly stained water. If you’re throwing streamers, think olive, black, or white with a bit of flash—something you can swing off the bank and strip through the slower buckets. For bait, where it’s legal and outside the Park boundary, nightcrawlers drifted under a small split shot through deeper runs are still tough to beat. A few locals have been doing well with salmon eggs and small pieces of cut sucker for bigger browns nosing around the bottom. Make sure you’re up to speed on the current Montana regulations and any bait restrictions in the sections you’re fishing, especially near park lines and special‑reg rules. A couple of hot spots to keep on your radar: - **Between Pine Creek and Carter’s Bridge:** Classic Yellowstone water—riffle‑run‑pool, with good structure and plenty of mid‑river boulders. Work the inside seams early, then slide a bit deeper as the sun climbs. - **Below Livingston down toward Springdale:** Slightly broader river, more soft edges and gravel bars. Great streamer and hardware water for those bigger browns, especially on overcast stretches or toward dark. If the river colors up in the afternoon, bump your offerings a size up and lean on darker silhouettes or loud spinners. When in doubt, get your lure down and in front of fish—current’s still pushy, so don’t be shy about a bit more weight. Thanks for tuning in to this Yellowstone River update. Be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss the next report. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai. Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn

This is Artificial Lure with your Yellowstone River fishing report. We’ll start with conditions. The Yellowstone’s running a bit high and off‑color from snowmelt, but it’s steadily dropping and clearing along the edges. Up high near Gardiner it’s still pushy and cold; as you move down through Livingston and into the Valley, you’ll find a little more color but better temps and more fishable soft seams. No tides to worry about here, just flows and weather. Overnight lows sat in the low 40s, and this afternoon we’re headed for the upper 60s to low 70s with a light west breeze. Skies are partly cloudy, with a slight chance of a quick shower rolling off the Absarokas late day. Sunrise came early over the Crazy Mountains and you’ll have light on the water until late evening, giving a long window for evening bugs. Hatch-wise, we’re finally seeing some consistent mayfly and caddis activity when the clouds stack up. Expect blue‑winged olives on overcast stretches and a mixed caddis grab in the riffles late afternoon into dusk. There are still midges in the softer water and a few stoneflies lurking, but the big salmonfly push is still upstream or just getting started in the canyon sections. Reports from local anglers and shop talk in Livingston say the trout bite has been solid in the softer inside bends and along flooded grass lines. Folks are bringing in good numbers of **browns** in the 12–18 inch class with a few heavier fish pushing 20, along with plenty of **rainbows** and the odd **cutthroat** where colder tribs slide in. Whitefish are still thick in the deeper runs if you’re nymphing close to the bottom. Best producers right now: - **Lures:** Small to medium **spinners** in gold or copper, **panther martin‑style blades**, and 3–4 inch **soft‑plastic swimbaits** in olive or brown. A **1/4‑oz jighead** with a natural‑tone plastic worked through the slower edge seams is taking better fish. - **Flies:** Size 14–16 **caddis dries** in tan or olive, size 16–18 **BWO emergers**, and a stonefly‑caddis nymph combo under an indicator. Rubber‑legs in black or coffee with a small beadhead caddis or mayfly dropper is a money rig. - **Bait (where legal):** Nightcrawlers drifted just off the bottom in softer lanes, and small pieces of cut bait for those targeting anything toothy in deeper holes. Always check the latest Montana regs before soaking bait. A couple of local hot spots to consider: - **Between Pine Creek and Carter’s Bridge:** Classic Yellowstone water with plenty of side channels, drop‑offs, and buckets. Focus on that softer inside water where the current slides off the bank; work spinners or nymph rigs tight to the edges. - **Down around Big Timber:** Slightly warmer, more agricultural stretch with good structure. Hit the broken riffle‑run combos and deeper mid‑river slots; evenings here can light up with caddis and mayfly rises when the wind lays down. Best windows today will be mid‑morning once things warm a touch, then again late afternoon through dusk when the bugs really get going. Early birds drifting big nymphs and bait along those seams are seeing some of the heavier browns before the sun gets high. That’s the word from the Yellowstone. Thanks for tuning in, and don’t forget to subscribe so you don’t miss the next report. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai. Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn

This is Artificial Lure with your Yellowstone River fishing report. We’ll start with the conditions. Around Livingston and down through Big Timber, the river’s running a little high and pushy from lingering runoff, but it’s on the drop and clearing. Nighttime lows in the 40s and daytime highs in the upper 60s to low 70s, with light west winds this afternoon. Skies are mostly clear to partly cloudy, and we’ve got stable weather—exactly what you want for consistent trout. Sunrise is right around 5:30 a.m., sunset close to 9:10 p.m., giving you a long, fishable day. No tides to worry about here—this is a freestone river, so your “tide” is the daily flow bump from snowmelt and afternoon warmth. Fish activity has picked up noticeably the last few days. Mornings have been best from first light until about 10:30 a.m., then again in the last two hours of daylight. Midday is a nymph and streamer game unless clouds roll in. Recent catches have been solid: plenty of 10–14 inch Yellowstone cutthroat and rainbows, with browns in the 14–18 inch class showing up for folks throwing streamers tight to the banks. Anglers drifting from Gardiner to Yankee Jim have reported steady numbers of cutthroat and rainbows in the softer edges and behind mid‑river boulders. Downstream near Livingston, folks are seeing fewer fish but better size, including a few browns pushing 20 inches pulled out of deep buckets and undercut banks. For fly anglers, the hot menu has been: - Nymphs: size 12–16 stonefly nymphs, pheasant tails, and small perdigons under an indicator or tight‑lined in the seams. - Dries: a mix of caddis and small mayflies in the evenings; elk hair caddis and parachute Adams will cover most of it. Watch for fish rising in the soft inside bends right before dark. - Streamers: olive, black, or sculpin‑colored patterns stripped along cutbanks and through deeper runs. Early and late are prime time for those big browns. Gear anglers are doing well with: - Spinners: small gold or copper Panther Martin and Mepps‑style spinners worked across current seams and around rock gardens. - Crankbaits: shallow‑running minnow plugs in brown trout or rainbow patterns, twitched along the edges. - Best bait where legal: nightcrawlers drifted just off the bottom through slower runs and tailouts. Check local regulations carefully—some stretches are artificial‑only and barbless. Two hot spots to keep in mind: First, the stretch from Gardiner down through Yankee Jim Canyon. Hit the softer pockets along the edge, especially where side channels rejoin the main river. Early morning nymph rigs here have been putting good numbers in the net, with the occasional surprise bruiser on a swung streamer. Second, the water just upstream and downstream of Livingston. Focus on side channels and inside bends where the current drops out. In the evening, look for caddis popping and fish nosing in the slicks. A simple caddis dry with a small nymph dropper has been lights‑out when the bugs are moving. One last local tip: this river rewards those who move. If you don’t see fish or bugs after 15–20 minutes, change depth or shift to the next seam or bank. Cover water, keep your presentations on the softer edges, and you’ll find them. Thanks for tuning in, and don’t forget to subscribe for more river intel from Artificial Lure. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai. Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn

Name’s Artificial Lure, checking in with your Yellowstone River fishing report out of south‑central Montana. We’re sliding into a classic early‑June pattern on the Yellowstone: cool nights, a warming trend in the afternoons, and steadily rising flows from snowmelt in the high country. Figure morning air temps in the low 40s, climbing into the upper 60s to low 70s by mid‑day with a light west to southwest breeze building after lunch. Skies are running partly cloudy with a chance of a pop‑up shower late in the day. No tides to worry about here, just snowmelt and a little bit of push from recent rain in the tributaries. Sunrise is right around a quarter after five, with sunset just after nine in the evening. That long daylight window means your best fishing is bunched into the low‑light hours: first three hours after sunrise and the last two before dark. Midday is doable, but you’ll work harder for bites, especially if the sun pops out and the wind slicks off. River conditions: expect off‑colored but not chocolate milk. Think green‑brown with a couple feet of visibility in many stretches below Livingston. Up toward Gardiner it’s still pushy but slightly clearer. Wading is tricky in the main flows; pick your side channels and inside bends, and don’t rush it. Trout activity has been solid in the mornings. With the water still cool, fish are tight to soft seams and behind structure. Folks have been reporting good numbers of Yellowstone cutthroat, browns, and rainbows, with whitefish mixed in. Boats the last couple of days have been putting a dozen to two dozen trout in the net on productive floats when anglers stay disciplined: nymphs and streamers early, switch to dries only when the bugs really show. Hatches are in that shoulder phase. You’ll see midges early, then some baetis and the start of PMD trickles late morning on the softer edges. Caddis are building toward evening, and you may bump into a couple early stoneflies, but the big salmonfly show is not fully on yet in most stretches. Best bets right now: – Nymphs: Rubber‑legs stonefly nymphs, sizes 6–10, in black or coffee; worm patterns in red or pink; and small mayfly nymphs, sizes 14–18, in olive or brown. Run a two‑fly rig under an indicator with enough weight to tick bottom in the softer lanes. – Streamers: Olive or black sculpin patterns, articulated or single, swung off the banks from a boat or stripped through slower buckets. Slightly smaller profiles are out‑fishing the big meat in the off‑colored water. – Dries: When you see noses, try a tan or olive caddis in size 14–16, or a parachute baetis in 16–18 on softer seams. You’ll do best fishing dries in the evenings up high, where the water’s just a touch clearer. For bait anglers working legal stretches and stillwaters in the valley, nightcrawlers drifted on a small split shot rig in side channels and eddies are producing a mix of trout and whitefish. Keep it subtle: light leader and just enough weight. A couple of local hot spots to consider: – The Gardiner to Yankee Jim Canyon reach: Pushy but fishy right now. Bigger, stronger trout are hugging inside corners and boulder seams. Better for experienced rowers; if you’re new, go with someone who knows that stretch. – Around Livingston, especially the side channels and gravel bars down toward Pine Creek: Slightly softer water, good nymph and streamer action, and more forgiving for waders who pick their spots. If you want quieter water, sneak up some of the side channels near Emigrant early or late in the day; those have been holding pods of smaller but eager cutts and bows willing to eat smaller nymphs and caddis dries. That’s the Yellowstone River for today from Artificial Lure: watch those flows, fish the soft stuff, and lean on nymphs and streamers until the bugs tell you otherwise. Thanks for tuning in, and don’t forget to subscribe so you don’t miss the next report. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai. Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn

This is Artificial Lure with your Yellowstone River fishing report, coming to you like a neighbor at the boat ramp. We don’t worry about tides here on the Yellowstone—she’s a free‑flowing, non‑tidal river—so your focus is flow, clarity, and weather. The National Weather Service has us under a cool, mostly clear pattern with light morning winds, building to a modest breeze by afternoon. Expect chilly starts in the 40s, climbing into the 60s–low 70s. The USGS gauges are showing seasonally elevated but dropping flows from runoff; visibility is improving to that nice green 1–2 feet in several stretches. Sunrise is right around 5:45 a.m. with sunset close to 9:00 p.m., giving a long fishing window. The best bite has been in the low‑light brackets: first light to about 10 a.m., then picking up again after 6 p.m. when the sun slides off the water and the wind lays a bit. Local fly shops in Livingston and Billings are reporting solid trout action where side channels and softer seams give fish a break from the pushy current. Browns and rainbows in the 12–18 inch class have been common, with a few over 20 inches showing up for anglers who nymph deep. Whitefish are plentiful, especially below riffles. Down lower, around Laurel into Billings, smallmouth bass are starting to wake up in the rocky runs and slower edges, with fish in the 10–15 inch range most frequent. On the trout front, subsurface is still king. Best producers have been: - Nymphs: stonefly nymphs (sizes 6–10), prince nymphs, pheasant tails, and wire worms or San Juan worms as a point fly. Run them deep under an indicator with enough weight to tick near bottom. - Streamers: olive or black buggers, sculpin patterns, and articulated olive/black streamers. Swing them off the banks and through soft inside corners. - For the afternoon, carry a few blue‑wing olive and small caddis patterns; when the clouds roll in, you’ll see some noses in the softer slicks. Gear anglers are doing well with: - Crankbaits: small to medium shad‑style and crayfish‑pattern plugs in natural browns and olive. - Spinners: Panther Martin and Mepps in gold or black with a gold blade. - Soft plastics: for smallmouth, 3–4 inch tubes and grubs in green pumpkin or brown, bounced through rock gardens and eddies. Bait anglers should lean on: - Nightcrawlers drifted with just enough weight to tap bottom. - For catfish down lower, cut bait or chicken liver fished after dark on deeper bends and deep outside corners. A couple of hot spots right now: First, the stretch around Livingston—especially from Carter’s Bridge downstream. As flows settle, the inside bends and side channels there are holding good numbers of browns and rainbows. Focus on the soft edges behind boulders and logjams; get your nymphs down fast and hang on. Second, the reach from Laurel down toward Billings is your best bet for a mixed bag. Target mid‑depth rocky runs and current breaks for smallmouth, and the deeper pools and cutbanks for channel cats. Cover water with crankbaits until you find a pocket of active fish, then slow down with plastics or bait. Overall fish activity is “good with effort”: you’ll work for them in the quick water, but the improving clarity and stable weather mean each day should fish a little better than the last. Waders should be cautious—this is still a powerful river—so pick your crossings carefully and don’t be shy about a wading staff and a belt. That’s your Yellowstone River rundown from Artificial Lure. Thanks for tuning in, and don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss a report. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai. Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn

This is Artificial Lure with your Yellowstone River fishing report out of Montana. We’re between spring storms on the upper Yellowstone, and the river’s in that tricky shoulder season. No tides on this freestone, of course, but flows out of Livingston are running a little up and off‑color from recent snowmelt in the high country. USGS gauges earlier this morning showed higher-than-average discharge with visibility around a foot and a half to two feet in many stretches. Overnight temps dipped into the mid‑30s, daytime highs are pushing into the 60s under broken clouds and a light west wind. Sunrise came early over the Absarokas, with plenty of usable light by about 5:30 a.m., and you’ll have fishable light until around 9 p.m. with a long, drawn‑out dusk. Water temps are still cool, sitting in the low to mid‑40s at first light and nudging into the low 50s in softer side channels by late afternoon. That’s got the trout a little sluggish early, then waking up nicely once the sun gets on the water but before snowmelt really kicks in mid‑day. Expect the best window from about 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., then again the last hour of light if the wind dies. Recent reports from local shops in Livingston and Gardiner say anglers are finding decent numbers of browns and rainbows in the 12–18 inch range, with the odd fish pushing 20. Whitefish are active as always, especially below town. Nobody’s seeing big numbers like late summer, but folks putting in the time are moving a half‑dozen to a dozen solid trout in a day on foot, more if they’re dialing in the dirty water game from a boat. With clarity on the short side, streamers and nymph rigs are the name of the game. For spin fishermen, smaller rap‑style plugs in gold and black, or 1/4‑oz darker spoons, have been producing, especially early. Soft plastics on 1/8‑oz jig heads, in olive or brown, pitched tight to the bank, are picking up some heavier browns. For bait, when and where it’s legal and within regs, nightcrawlers drifted under a small split shot through softer seams have been steady producers. If you’re after numbers and don’t mind whitefish, a small piece of worm or salmon egg cluster down deep will keep the rod bent. Fly anglers are doing best on big, visible bugs. Think rubber‑leg stonefly nymphs in coffee or black, size 6–10, trailed by a smaller mayfly or caddis nymph. With the river up, don’t be shy about some weight. Streamer folks are getting looks on olive, black, and yellow patterns—sparkle minnows, sculpin imitations, or a classic woolly bugger stripped on a sink‑tip tight along the willows and drop‑offs. There are a few midges and early caddis around, but topwater action is still spotty; keep a small elk‑hair caddis or parachute Adams handy for calmer eddies if you see noses. Two spots worth a look today: First, the stretch just above and below Pine Creek, where side channels offer softer water and a bit better clarity than the main push. Work the inside bends and any slower pockets behind boulders; that’s where the better fish are hanging out while the river’s pushing. Second, the valley water around Carter’s Bridge down toward the town stretches. That area has plenty of accessible bank water, plus gravel bars and seams that set up nicely at current flows. Focus on the “edges”—where fast water meets slow—and you’ll find trout parked and waiting for groceries. Keep an eye on afternoon color; if the river starts to green up instead of chocolate, that’s your cue to really lean into the streamer box. If it muddies hard, slide to trib mouths and clearer side channels. That’ll do it for today from the banks of the Yellowstone. Thanks for tuning in, and don’t forget to subscribe so you don’t miss the next report. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai. Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn

Morning, folks—this is Artificial Lure with your Yellowstone River fishing report for the Livingston-to-Springdale stretch and the water around Billings, where the big river is fishing like a classic late-spring Yellowstone should. Quick note on conditions: the Yellowstone has no tidal influence, so tides aren’t part of the game here. What matters is flow, color, and weather. According to NOAA Weather, southeast Montana is running mild for late May, with cool mornings, warming afternoons, and a decent chance of breezy periods that can put a little chop on the water. That chop can help more than hurt, especially when the sun gets high. Sunrise is around 5:37 a.m. and sunset near 8:56 p.m., giving anglers a long window to chase fish. Water is still carrying that springtime personality—cool enough to keep trout honest, with some sections showing a little stain after runoff pulses. According to Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, this is the kind of shoulder-season fishing where fish slide into softer seams, side channels, inside bends, and the buckets below riffles. Expect the most consistent action early and late, with a strong afternoon bite if the clouds stay around. Recent catches on the Yellowstone have been a mixed bag in the best way: healthy rainbows, browns, and the occasional cutthroat are showing up, with whitefish also grabbing attention on smaller offerings. According to local angling reports from the Yellowstone corridor, anglers have been picking up a handful of trout per outing rather than numbers like midsummer, but the fish that are eating have been solid, with many in the 14-18 inch class and the occasional heavier brown from deeper runs. Best flies and lures right now? Keep it simple and local. Drift nymphs like a Pat’s Rubber Legs, stonefly nymph, Copper John, or a beadhead Hare’s Ear under an indicator. A prince nymph or Frenchie is money when the water’s a touch clearer. If you’re chucking hardware, go with small gold or copper spinners, soft-plastic minnow imitators, or a subtle crayfish pattern in the slower water. In low light, a streamer with a little flash can wake up a bigger brown. Best bait, where legal and appropriate, is earthworms or nightcrawlers fished naturally in slower seams and tailouts. If you’re targeting whitefish or willing trout, small presentations are the ticket—no need to overdo it. Hot spots to keep on the radar: the Livingston area access points, especially the runs and seams below bends with softer inside water; and the Springdale-to-Joliet reaches, where side channels and gravel bars create fishy edges. Around Billings, the quieter sidewater seams and deeper outside bends can be sneaky good when the main current is pushing hard. If I were out there today, I’d fish early with a nymph rig, switch to a streamer if the sun gets bright, and never ignore a soft seam next to fast water. That Yellowstone rewards patience and a good drift. Thanks for tuning in, and be sure to subscribe. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai. Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn