Montana ·
Yellowstone River Fly Fishing Report - January 1/18/2026
YELLOWSTONE RIVER FLY FISHING REPORT
Lower Yellowstone — Livingston / Park Reach
Report Date: January 18, 2026 | Next Update: January 25, 2026
Current River Conditions
Winter pattern in place — steady cold water, mid-day insect activity when the sun peeks through. Nymphing is the most consistent approach; short windows of surface activity can appear around midday.
Flows & Clarity
Approx. flow at Livingston: ~1,500 CFS (winter base flow)
Clarity: Generally clear to slightly tea-stained in slow back channels — main channel fishing is straightforward.
Approx. flow at Livingston: ~1,500 CFS (winter base flow)
Clarity: Generally clear to slightly tea-stained in slow back channels — main channel fishing is straightforward.
Water Temperature
Current: ~34°F (1°C)
Trend: Cold and stable; trout are sluggish early, wake up as sun warms riffles.
Current: ~34°F (1°C)
Trend: Cold and stable; trout are sluggish early, wake up as sun warms riffles.
Weather Conditions
Outlook: Cold with variable cloud cover; occasional sun breaks midday. Wind: light–moderate; check local forecast before heading out.
Outlook: Cold with variable cloud cover; occasional sun breaks midday. Wind: light–moderate; check local forecast before heading out.
Access & Regulations
Road access in the Livingston and downstream sections is generally good this winter. Yellowstone National Park fishing season rules differ by section—check NPS updates and local landowner signs before entering private or park-managed reaches.
Road access in the Livingston and downstream sections is generally good this winter. Yellowstone National Park fishing season rules differ by section—check NPS updates and local landowner signs before entering private or park-managed reaches.
What’s Biting / Hatch Notes
| Insect | Size | Activity | Prime Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Midges (midges/chironomids) | #18–24 | Primary winter food — steady, midday pulses | Midday (sunny breaks) |
| Baetis / BWO | #18–22 | Light — emergers and weak spinners; good for PMD-style tactics | Mid/late morning |
| PMD-style mayflies | #18–20 | Small windows possible on warmer afternoons | Midday |
| Caddis | #16–20 | Low but present — watch slow seams and shelf water | Late afternoon/evening |
Recommended Flies — Winter Yellowstone
Below are the flies I carry on a January Yellowstone day. I group them by tactic and link to the exact patterns so you can order or tie copies before you go.
Nymph Rigs (primary winter tactic)
- Egan's Poacher — Olive — anchor style / Euro nymph workhorse for deep seams.
- Egan's Poacher — Black — darker silhouette for low light and winter clears.
- Egan's Thread Frenchie Jig — Olive — short, jig-style nymph for indicator and Euro jigging.
- Tungsten Dart — Red — point fly or dropper to get deep fast when fish sit heavy.
Small Dries & Emergers (midday opportunities)
- Parachute — Blue Wing Olive — excellent for sparse BWO/baetis activity.
- Stealth Link Mercer — PMD — a great emergent/dry for winter PMD windows.
- Corn‑fed Caddis (CDC) — Tan — soft presentation for picky fish on slow water.
- Chubby Chernobyl — Purple — a visible attractor when fish want something to key on in foam lines.
Midge Options (the winter staple)
- Black Zebra Midge (TBH) — tungsten/shallow options for indicator rigs.
- Top Secret Midge — simple, deadly midge for skinny presentations.
- Bling Midge — Black — adds a touch of flash under a team of flies.
- Jujubee Midge — Olive — a tiny emerger/cripple imitation for pressured fish.
Streamers & Big Attractors (when trout key on baitfish or get aggressive)
- Coffey's CH Sparkle Minnow — Sculpin — compact sculpin for tight-bank strikes.
- Sculpzilla — Olive — great-to-go sculpin pattern for heavy runs and deep pockets.
- Coffey's Articulated Sparkle Minnow — Sculpin #4 — articulated profile that fishes big without spooking bankside trout.
- Near Nuff Sculpin — Olive — another compact baitfish/ sculpin imitation for slow retrieves.
Stonefly / Salmonfly-sized Nymphs & Attractors (when fish move to eat big bugs)
- Tungsten Pat's Rubber Legs — Tan & Brown — big profile for stonefly/salmonfly-late situations.
- Pat's Rubber Legs — Brown — classic, effective two‑legged stonefly imitation.
- 20 Incher — Tungsten — large, heavy nymph for deep late‑winter holes.
- Deep Cleaner Stonefly Nymph — Golden Stone — realistic stonefly nymph for riffle edges and head of pocket water.
Tactics & Tips
- Early morning: fish deep and slow. Run a short Euro setup (light strike indicator or long leader with weighted nymph) in seams and soft tails of riffles.
- Midday sun breaks: strip and watch for midge or baetis activity — switch to tiny emerger/dries and dead-drift them across foam lines.
- If you see a solid rise or foam sipping, step out with a small parachute or CDC caddis — single-fly presentations often work best in winter windows.
- Streamer play: fish streamers slowly with short strips close to structure when water warms briefly — expect short, explosive takes.
- Gear notes: 4–6X tippet for small dries/midges; 2–4X for big nymphs and streamers. Bring tungsten and jig alternatives for depth.
- Midday sun breaks: strip and watch for midge or baetis activity — switch to tiny emerger/dries and dead-drift them across foam lines.
- If you see a solid rise or foam sipping, step out with a small parachute or CDC caddis — single-fly presentations often work best in winter windows.
- Streamer play: fish streamers slowly with short strips close to structure when water warms briefly — expect short, explosive takes.
- Gear notes: 4–6X tippet for small dries/midges; 2–4X for big nymphs and streamers. Bring tungsten and jig alternatives for depth.
Snowpack & Water Outlook
Snowpack in the Yellowstone headwaters is well above median this winter — early-season measurements show significantly above-average SWE. That means spring runoff will be sizeable; plan for rising flows and earlier-than-normal high-water pulses in late spring. For January fishing, flows are stable and predictable, but keep spring planning in mind.
Local Notes & Safety
- Park sections: winter rules vary inside Yellowstone National Park — some stream reaches have seasonal closures. Verify current regulations before you go.
- Hypothermia risk is real in winter fishing: dress in layers, wear wading safety gear, and carry a way to warm up quickly.
- Watch ice on back eddies and avoid leaving vehicle on soft shoulders after snowmelt cycles.
Quick Daily Checklist
Rod & Line
9' 5-weight (all-purpose), or 6-weight for bigger streamers; bring a 7–8' 6-weight if you plan heavy streamer work.
9' 5-weight (all-purpose), or 6-weight for bigger streamers; bring a 7–8' 6-weight if you plan heavy streamer work.
Tippet
4X for dries/emerger; 5–6X for midges; 2–3X for large nymphs/streamers.
4X for dries/emerger; 5–6X for midges; 2–3X for large nymphs/streamers.
Essential Flies
Small Zebra midges, PMD emergers, Egan's Poacher, Frenchie jigs, sculpin streamers.
Small Zebra midges, PMD emergers, Egan's Poacher, Frenchie jigs, sculpin streamers.
