The Yellowstone River is still good fishing, and it looks like we will have a banner Fall season due to the increased river flow; we haven’t seen August flows like these in years. 

In the Park waters, more Cutthroats than in years past still remain in the river below the Lake outlet after spawning.  You will have to look over a fair amount of water, and you are still best off hunting them down and sight fishing, but invest some time and you will be able to cast to some big Cutts.  Terrestrials, especially Hoppers, Ants, and Beetles all work well.  Emergers and Caddis are a good bet also; go for the Caddis primarily in the mornings and evenings.

Outside of the Park, the Yellowstone is fishing beautifully.  While the river has been muddy for a few days after evening rain, once it clears, the fishing is fabulous.  Big Hoppers and Attractors are drawing some very big fish; try a Hopper-Dropper rig and double your chances.  Caddis are still a go in the evenings, and PMDs are a good idea both morning and evening.  As with many of the area rivers, Terrestrials are the way to go for midday fishing – a big Hopper looks like a big, juicy steak to trout!

Flows today (0600) are 2300 cfs, with today’s average 1720 cfs, measured on the Yellowstone Lake Outlet gauge.

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Flies to Have in the Box

Dries:  PMDs - parachute, sparkle dun, sprout, cripple, CDC Emerger, PMX - yellow, peacock, royal; Drakes - Paradrake, gray, green, olive, life cycle; Parachute Adams; Caddis – EHC, X Caddis, Electric Caddis, EC Caddis, Spent Caddis – tan and olive; Golden Stone

Nymphs:  Bubbleback PMD; BH & FB PT; Copper John, green, red, chartreuse; Shop Vac; Flashback soft hackle, yellow

Streamers / Others:  Woolly Buggers, brown, black, olive, blue; Sparkle Buggers, same - note overall they should be on the smaller side

Terrestrials:  Hoppers, Ants, Beetles

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