As of October 17, 2024, the Yellowstone River in Montana is offering some exciting fall fishing opportunities, despite the recent warm and sunny weather.
### Weather and Conditions
The weather is expected to remain mild for the next few days, but a cooldown is anticipated towards the middle of the month, which should enhance fishing conditions. Currently, the sun rises around 7:45 AM and sets around 6:15 PM, providing ample daylight for a full day of fishing.
### Fish Activity
The trout on the Yellowstone River have shifted into deeper and slower runs and pockets as the fall season progresses. Brown trout are becoming more aggressive and territorial as they prepare for their fall spawn, making this an excellent time to catch some of the year’s biggest fish. Rainbow trout are also active, particularly in the afternoons when Blue-Winged Olive (BWO) mayflies start to hatch.
### Hatches and Fishing
While the BWO hatches have been sparse due to the warm weather, smaller "pseudo" mayflies are hatching consistently. Anglers can expect some midges, Tan Drakes, and occasional Tricos and Mahoganies. For dry fly fishing, the best window is from late morning to early afternoon when the BWOs are most active. Attractor dries like Royal Wulff Cripples, Brindle Cripples, and purple and copper Hazy Cripples are effective.
### Best Lures and Bait
For nymphing, tandem nymph rigs with medium-sized attractor nymphs or stonefly/rubberlegs trailing a BWO nymph are productive. Smaller BWO nymphs and Euro-nymphs like Frenchies and Holo Frenchies are also recommended. Streamer fishing is ramping up, especially on gray days, with flies like Sculpzillas, Skiddish Smolts, and Sparkle Minnows being effective.
### Hot Spots
One of the best spots right now is the Grand Canyon section of the Yellowstone River. Here, you can expect consistent water temperatures thanks to Yellowstone Lake, making it ideal for both streamer and dry fly fishing. Look for BWO and Tan Drake hatches in the afternoons. Another good spot is the section downstream of Pine Creek, where you might achieve a 50-50 trout to whitefish ratio when nymphing.
### Additional Tips
Given the low and clear water conditions, stealthy approaches and finer tippets, such as fluorocarbon, are essential. Target the top of longer and slower runs, as well as banks and areas off riffles and shelves, where trout are likely to be feeding due to consistent current and food sources.
Overall, the Yellowstone River is in late fall mode, offering a mix of exciting dry fly and streamer fishing opportunities as the weather cools down.
This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI
