28 October, 2024 - Yellowstone River and Livingston Area Fly Fishing Report
The last days of October are upon us and aside from a couple days last week, our mild fall weather pattern has continued. Looking at the forecast it might be coming to an end here soon. We’re due for some fall weather - and some fall fishing!
The fishing hasn’t really kicked into high gear yet, but hopefully with some cooler weather and moisture in the forecast it’ll really turn on. Fish are still being caught, for sure, but we haven’t had those epic cloudy, drizzly, BWO days yet. Stay tuned.
The brown trout spawn is still happening, so keep an eye out for redds in gravely areas. Watch your step, don’t walk through them, don’t harass the fish, and don’t fish over them. Just let nature take its course and help keep our rivers healthy.
Yellowstone River
The Yellowstone River is flowing quite low these days, as it has been almost all year. These bright and sunny days have put a damper on fish looking up, and hatch activity has been somewhat minimal. You can definitely find BWOs in the slack water on cloudy days, but they are few and far between when the sun is shining like this.
Streamers and subsurface options are the ticket at the moment. A big attractor nymph or small streamer dead drifted with a BWO nymph, perdigon, or attractor nymph behind it is a good bet. Water temps haven’t really dropped to a point that fish have moved to their winter hidey holes of slower, deeper water, so you can still find them in all the same places they’ve been for a hot minute.
Madison River
The Madison - both upper and lower - has been fishing well over the last few weeks. October is a great month here, and while the dry fly fishing hasn’t quite been up to the standard we expect, the subsurface bite has been good. Crawfish on the Lower, dead drifted wooly buggers and sculpins on the Upper, all with a BWO or attractor nymph behind it.
Parts of the Madison do get extra attention this time of year due to large lake run brown trout moving up to spawn, just be super careful of where you are wading and fishing. Don’t be that guy.
Gallatin River
The Gallatin River isn’t really known as a fall fishery like the Yellowstone or Madison, but it still fishes quite well and is an enjoyable fishery in its own right. The canyon is really pretty right now, and you can have some good days on smaller nymph rigs and the occasional BWO flying around. Streamers are a decent bet as well, just keep them to the smaller side. The Gallatin lacks the truly large fish that most people target with streamers, so the larger patterns are just a bit cumbersome here.
The Lower Gallatin can be a ton of fun and is a beautiful piece of river with the fall leaves. If you’re after bigger fish on this river you’ll find them down here. Be mindful of access, as there isn’t much and stay below the high water mark if you are wade fishing.
Yellowstone National Park
The Yellowstone National Park fishing season wraps up at the end of this month, along with most of the roads in the park. It’s been a great season, so if you’ve got a chance to go enjoy the last of it it’s worth the time. Already time to start planning next year’s adventures down here!
Livingston and the Shop
It’s hard to believe that November is next week! This fall is flying by. Our shop has transitioned over to winter mode with skis in the front room, winter coats and cold weather gear on the racks, and our ski shop is already operating. Tis the season!
One event to keep an eye on is our upcoming Cold Snap Film Festival and Pray for Snow Celebration - a two-night event on Thursday, November 21 and Friday, November 22nd. We’ll have a film festival with two showings on Thursday, and our beloved party with raffles, silent auctions, food and drink and an overall great time on Friday night. Tickets for the movies are $10 and available at the shop.
Come by the store to tell us a fish story, get the latest info, stock up on the hot flies and get new waders, clothing, and maybe even a new rod! Tight lines this week.
