Hey there, fellow anglers! Artificial Lure here with your Yellowstone River fishing report for March 23, 2025. Spring's trying its best to arrive, but Old Man Winter's still hanging on by his fingernails. We've had a mix of warm and cold days lately, keeping us and the fish on our toes.
Today's looking partly cloudy with highs near 45°F and lows dipping to 28°F overnight. Sunrise was at 7:13 AM and sunset will be at 7:38 PM, so we're gaining daylight by the day. No need to worry about tides here in our mountain paradise - we leave that ocean stuff to the coastal folks.
Water temps are hovering around 42-44°F in most spots. The Yellowstone's running a bit high and off-color due to some recent snowmelt, but don't let that scare you off. Fish activity has been picking up as we edge closer to spring. Rainbows and cutthroats are starting to get more active, with some nice 14-18 inchers being caught. A few lucky anglers have even landed some bruiser brown trout in the 20-inch range. Mountain whitefish are still around in good numbers too.
For lures, I've been having luck with small gold or silver spoons, especially in deeper runs. Soft plastic minnow imitations in white or pearl have also been producing. If you're a fly fisher, don't leave home without some Woolly Buggers, San Juan Worms, and small stonefly nymphs. March Browns and spring Baetis are starting to show up, so keep an eye out for rising fish.
Bait anglers are doing well with nightcrawlers and salmon eggs. Just remember, it's artificial lures and flies only in some sections, so check those regs before you head out.
As for hot spots, the stretch near Emigrant has been fishing well lately. The water around the 9th Street Bridge in Livingston is another good bet, especially if you're shore fishing. For you adventurous types willing to hike a bit, the canyon section upstream of Gardiner can offer some solitude and big fish this time of year.
Remember to layer up - it's still chilly out there. Tight lines, and I'll catch you on the river!
This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI
