Yellowstone Park
YELLOWSTONE PARK
ReportAUG 19 — 26, 2026
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Flow
2250CFS
Yellowstone River at Corwin Springs MT
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Water Temp
66°F
Updated 2026-08-18
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Weather
37–83°F
Partly Cloudy
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Reported By
Bruce Staples
On the water
Hoot owl restrictions have been lifted on all park streams outside the Madison River drainage, where fishing remains closed. Water temperatures have returned to favorable levels, and Beula Lake is delivering some of the fastest stillwater cutthroat action in the park. The Yellowstone River at Corwin Springs is running at 2,250 cfs and 66°F.
From the ShopBruce Staples · August 19, 2026
The Madison River drainage remains totally closed to fishing, but the hoot owl regulation on all other park streams has been cancelled. Water temperatures have improved to favorable levels on all streams outside of the Madison River drainage.
Beula Lake produces some of the fastest stillwater fishing in the park, with cutthroat trout feeding on speckled dun, cinnamon caddis, and damselflies. Best shoreline fishing is at the Fall River inlet, but packing in and using a flotation device opens the whole lake to fishing.
What's Working — Hot Flies
Hatch Chart
| Insect | Size | Activity | Prime Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Speckled Dun | #16–18 | Moderate | Midmorning to early afternoon |
| Cinnamon Caddis | #16–18 | Good | Late morning through afternoon |
| Damselfly | #12–14 | Active | Midday along shoreline and open water |
Best Time Window
- MIDMORNING TO EARLY AFTERNOON: Target the speckled dun and cinnamon caddis hatches along the Fall River inlet shoreline with dry flies.
- MIDDAY: Damselfly activity peaks — work olive patterns on or just below the surface, especially from a float tube or pontoon covering open water.
- EVENING: Cutthroat continue to cruise the shallows; switch to a balanced leech or subsurface pattern as surface activity winds down.
Guide's Tip
From the benchIf you're hiking into Beula Lake, bring a flotation device — it's the difference between fishing one productive bank and having the entire lake at your disposal. The Fall River inlet is your best bet on foot, but the open water holds fish too. Note that the Madison River drainage is completely closed; plan your day around the streams and lakes outside that drainage where conditions are now very fishable. The staffer also referenced speckled dun by name — if you carry a Comparadun or similar low-riding dun pattern in #16–18, bring it along as a complement to the Purple Haze.
Main Species
Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout
Brown Trout
Rainbow Trout
