Yellowstone River Fly Fishing
The Yellowstone is our home river. We guide it the way locals fish it: matching the day to flows, clarity, weather, and water temperature, then choosing the best stretch for how you like to fish. If the Yellowstone is off-color or too warm, we pivot to the best option nearby and keep your trip on track.
The Main River We Guide
The Yellowstone is the longest free-flowing river in the Lower 48 and one of the most complete western trout rivers you can fish. In a single float you can cover riffles, seams, cutbanks, side channels, and mid-river structure, with real room for long drifts and good mending.
We choose sections based on clarity, flows, temperature, and boat traffic. Some days are built around dry flies and banks. Other days are better with nymphs through deeper structure or streamers when light and flow line up.
Fishing Through the Year
Spring
Early season is a mix of nymphing and streamers with dry-fly windows around midges, blue-winged olives, and Mother’s Day caddis when flows and clarity cooperate. We watch the gauges closely and fish the clean windows.
When runoff starts, we don’t stop fishing
The Yellowstone often has a strong pre-runoff window, but spring is really about choosing the right water. When the Yellowstone turns off-color, we pivot to stable options like spring creeks and tailwaters (Lower Madison + Bighorn) so you still get a great day.
View the Prime Spring Fishing plan (rivers, timing, and how we pivot around conditions).
Summer
Classic Yellowstone season. Stoneflies, PMDs, and caddis lead into hoppers and other terrestrials as flows drop. Long daylight lets us time trips around the best light and responsible water temperatures.
Fall
Cooler nights and hungry trout. Streamers, subtle nymph rigs, and selective dry fly fishing can all be in play. Many returning guests plan their trip around this window.
Winter
The main river becomes less consistent once true winter sets in. Most guided winter days shift to Paradise Valley spring creeks for stable water and dependable fishing.
Gardiner to Columbus
Upper Canyon
Faster water closest to Yellowstone Park with cold flows and strong trout. Great for anglers who like active fishing and reading pocket water from the boat.
Paradise Valley
Defined seams, long glides, soft edges, and the classic look people picture when they think “Yellowstone.” When flows and clarity settle, this stretch carries a big part of the season.
Livingston to Big Timber
Broader runs, softer edges, and a different feel than the core valley. It can offer excellent hopper, nymph, and streamer fishing when temps and clarity are right.
Big Timber to Columbus
Open country lower river with long floats and big main-stem water. We use this reach in select summer and fall windows when the lower river is in good shape.
Skill Levels
Beginners
Paradise Valley and the lower valley glides give beginners friendly water to learn on. We slow the pace down, focus on clear targets, and keep instruction simple so you leave with real skills, not just a boat ride.
Intermediate Anglers
This is where the Yellowstone shines. One float can fish banks, seams, inside corners, and mid-river structure. It’s ideal for building accuracy, line control, and reading water.
Advanced Anglers
Technical banks, tricky foam lines, and longer drifts give advanced anglers plenty to chew on. Hopper days, light-tip streamer work, and focused nymph sessions all live here, and we’ll tailor the day to how you like to fish.
What a Day Looks Like
Most Yellowstone trips are full-day floats in a drift boat or raft depending on flows and the stretch we choose. Start times shift with the season. We start earlier in mid-summer, and slide later into the morning in spring and fall when light and temperatures improve as the day goes on.
A typical day includes a mix of longer drifts, shorter technical shots, and time to stop on soft water where it makes sense. We focus on clean presentations and reading water so you understand how the river works, not just where the fly landed.
Yellowstone River Rowing School
Want to feel more confident behind the oars on the Yellowstone? This is a hands-on course built around real river decision-making: boat control, reading water, setting up clean drifts, ferry angles, anchor management, and safe recovery when things don’t go perfectly.
We run rowing school in select windows when conditions are right. Pre-runoff is a great time to build skills before the season ramps up, and we can also teach during runoff when fishing isn’t recommended.
Summer Evening Float
A relaxed 3–4 hour evening on the Yellowstone after the heat of the day. Soft light, cooler air, and steady banks make this one of the most comfortable and scenic ways to fish around Livingston and Paradise Valley.
Local, Year-Round Program
We’re based in Livingston and stay close to this river. Keeping the program small lets us pay attention to details that matter: small clarity shifts, new channels after runoff, and how each stretch reacts to changing flows.
You book a date and a guide. We match the plan to the conditions and to the kind of day you actually want.
If you already have dates, book your guided day now. If you’re still sorting timing, text us your dates and where you’re staying. We’ll point you toward the best window and the right water for conditions.
Local, Year-Round Program
- We guide the Yellowstone across the season, not just peak weeks.
- We pick sections based on clarity, temps, and your style.
- Simple planning: text us your dates and basecamp.
Ready to Fish the Yellowstone?
- Clear plan for your day: section, approach, and timing.
- Beginner-friendly instruction or advanced strategy if you want it.
- We’ll confirm the best window before you commit.
Conservation & Professional Affiliations
Supporting local rivers, professional instruction, and long-term guide development through these organizations.
