Stillwater River Fly Fishing Report - November 1, 2026

Fly Fishing Report

STILLWATER RIVER

Report
NOV 1 — 8, 2026
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Flow
424CFS
Stillwater River near Absarokee, MT
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Water Temp
—
Updated 2026-11-01
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Weather
34–55°F
Areas Of Fog
💧
Clarity
Clear
Check post-storm
Flow is 424 CFS at a gauge height of 1.59 ft — clear, low, and highly wade-fishable with excellent access to prime seams. Rain moves in by midday Sunday with 90% precipitation chance, so expect a potential bump in flow and color by evening; get on the water early.
Best Time Window
  • 7 AM - 11 AM: Prime nymphing window — fog keeps light low, fish are active in the shallows and main seams; anchor a Straggle Stone or Thread Frenchie on the bottom with a small midge or BWO nymph above.
  • 11 AM - 3 PM: BWO and midge hatch window — overcast skies trigger the best dry fly action of the day; watch flat water for rising fish and present a Parachute BWO or Barr's Flashback Emerger on 6X.
  • 3 PM - Dusk: Streamer time as rain arrives and flows begin to color up — swing a Sparkle Minnow Sculpin or strip a Jig Bugger through deep pools and undercut banks for aggressive late-season browns.
Guide's Tip
From the benchWith zero wind overnight and calm conditions through Sunday morning, the fog will keep light low and fish comfortable in the shallows — wade quietly and work the inside seams of every bend with your nymph rig before the rain arrives. Once the overcast locks in around midday, switch your attention to the flat, glassy water between riffles and watch for BWO rises; a size 22 Parachute BWO or Barr's Flashback Emerger presented on a long, fine tippet will fool fish that are actively sipping. Rain is coming by afternoon, so plan to be off the water or switch to streamers as flows begin to rise — big browns will turn aggressive in the first flush of dirty water. Get your best nymphing and dry fly hours in before noon.
Main Species
Rainbow Trout
Brown Trout
Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout
Report generated November 1, 2026 — Next update: November 8, 2026