Spring 2025 fishing in the Yellowstone Valley continues to produce great fishing, although the Yellowstone has teetered towards its annual cycle of spring runoff.
Yellowstone River
Up-and-down weather has bounced the Yellowstone River to muddy near-runoff levels, then way back down with a recent cool spell. As of today, the river is at very fishable flow and clarity, but that’s not likely to last long. Get out this weekend, or expect to wait a few weeks to fish the ‘Stone. Expect to fish nymphs or streamers as there’s nothing hatching in numbers.
Yellowstone River near Livingston, MT – USGS Water Data for the Nation
Paradise Valley Spring Creeks
The Spring Creeks have been producing good midge and baetis hatches. Dry fly fishing has increasingly consistent with good baetis activity during the afternoon and evening and midges in the morning. A midge or baetis dry/dropper rig has been the ticket for spot and stalk fishing to rising and bulging fish. Nymph rigs with scud/sowbug with baetis or midge nymphs are consistently producing fish throughout the day.
Much of the spawning activity is over. Wading anglers should exercise caution as not to disturb redds . Wading on them can crush the fertilized eggs.
Area Lakes and ponds
Many area lakes have been ice-free for several weeks. Lake and pond turnover has largely taken place. Lakes and ponds are producing some big fish. Fish are eating midges just under and on top of the water. Stripped leech patterns have also been very effective. Focus on windward shallow bays for cruising fish. They have been producing good numbers of fish especially on the lee scum line.
Yellowstone National Park
With the exception of the Gardiner and Madison Rivers which are currently open year-round to fishing, the YNP season opener is this weekend!
Much attention will be on the Firehole and Gibbon Rivers which provide excellent early season fishing. Anglers can expect to see a mixed bag of mayflies, caddis flies, midges and stone flies during the early season.
Small streamer patterns are a great way to prospect for fish when feeding activity is not open. A small leach pattern stripped down and across is a great way to put fish in the net when feeding activity is not evident. Swinging soft-hackles on the Firehole is effective as well.
Yellowstone National Park Fishing Permit Pass in Wyoming – Recreation.gov
Flies For the Season
Nymphs
Cheeseman Emerger #20 olive, Darth Baetis, Juju Baetis, Sawyer Pheasant tail – slim, Glass perdigon, Spanish Bullett, Zebra midge (red, olive, black) 20,
Axtell’s Assassin Midge #20, Minimalist midge #20-22(red, black, olive) , Trash can midge #20-22,
Tailwater sowbug, Hot Bead Ray Charles, Tailwater sowbug, Pill popper, Hunch back scud Bighorn scud, Euro-style soft hackled nymphs #16-20, Spanish Bullet,
Stone fly patterns like rubber legs, Craven’s Two-bit stone, Jig head zirdle bug, San Juan worm, Silverman’s sparkle worm,
Perdigon style patterns 12-18, Tung Ol hare’s year soft hackle, Psycho prince, Flashback pheasant tail 12-18, Zebra midge (black, olive, red) #16-20,
Streamers
Wooly bugger (black, olive, white,), Sparkle minnow (olive, black), Lil Kim 6-12, Zonker, Home Invader, Slump Buster, leach patterns, Sculpzilla, Baby Gonga, Rubber legged cone head Krystal bugger (Black, ol, yellow), Intruder style Spey flies, large soft hackle flies, McCune’s Olive Sculpin.
Dries
Mayfly – Olive compara-dun 18-20, Last Chance Cripple (BWO) 20, Sprout BWO, BWO spinner 18-20, Smoke Jumper Baetis, Film Critic-baetis , March Brown, Rusty spinner 12-18
Midge – Harrop’s hanging midge (black, grey,olive), Harrop’s Transitional midge, Brooks sprout midge emerger, cluster midge, Harrop’s CDC adult midge,
Caddis – Peacock Caddis, Mother’s Day Caddis Imitations, Soft Hackles, Egg Laying Caddis. Sizes 6-18 (Tan, Peacock, White Miller, Olive), Elk Hair Caddis, X-Caddis.
Stoneflies: Chubby chernobyl – (tan and black, purple, royal), Stubby Chubby, 8-12, Waterwalker (Skwala, Black/peach), Designated hitter, Stimulator (Orange, olive, peacock)
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