Fishing Report for the Yellowstone River and Paradise Valley Spring Creeks – 12/4/25

Winter has settled in on our Paradise Valley waters, but despite cold nighttime temps, many of our favorite spots continue to produce great early winter fishing.   Low flows and water clarity have made for excellent, albeit spooky fishing.

Fishing on the Yellowstone River has been affected by dropping water temps and ice formation. Cold nighttime temperatures have produced some shelf ice, though warmer temps the last couple of days have cleared out some of the hard water. We would caution any angler to exercise caution trying to launch, navigate, and take out a boat from now through spring.  Walk and wade opportunities still exist at all accesses. It’s a great time to get in an hour or two of productive fishing before the Montana winter really sets in, and you’re likely to find solitude on the river. Warm afternoons and areas below warm water discharges are your best bet.  Stop by the shop for suggestions of where to fish during the Chilly Season.

Trout are in their winter quarters – deeper slower pools.  Anglers are doing well on double nymph rigs under indicators.  A stonefly nymph paired with an attractor nymph have been the ticket,.  A deep, slowly swung streamer will also produce nice fish.

There are still significant numbers of browns in our local tributaries, including the Paradise Valley Spring Creeks and the Gardner River.   Spawning behavior has largely dwindled down, but there are still a few fish on their redds.  We’ve done very well on the Pink variant of the Blowtorch nymph over the last few days, netting fish regularly.  Additionally, we’ve been seeing a midge hatch during sunny calm afternoons.  Fish are coming to the surface to feed on midges . We’ve netted a few fish on a Harroup’s Hanging midge with a String Thing dropper.  Yup, we are still dry dropper fishing!

Note on wading:   Please be mindful of their location of spawning redds (look for patches of cleared-off gravel) and how we might reduce our disruption of fish and crushing of eggs.  Focus your attention below the spawning redds with egg or egg-like patterns fished near the bottom, slowly.  Future generations of brown trout will thank you for letting them birth unmolested.

Note on personal safety: whether you’re walking and wading or floating the Yellowstone, the Gardiner, or the Paradise Valley Spring Creeks please be aware of the effect of air and water temps during late fall and winter fishing.  The risk of hypothermia is increased: 1. Be prepared for changing weather conditions throughout the day and have a plan. 2. Eat well and stay hydrated 3. If you’re fishing alone, let someone know your plan.

Flies To Fish

Nymphs

Egg patterns, Hot Bead Sowbug, Pink Blow Torch, Zebra Midge (red, olive, black),  String Thing #18-22 (red, olive, black, cream, brown),  Frenchie, Psycho Prince (orange or purple) , Darth Baetis, Sawyer Pheasant Tail #22, sow bug and scud patterns, Blood Blister Midge (a Sweetwater exclusive pattern) #18-20, Perdigon (bwo) #18, Cheeseman Emerger (ol, blk, red),

Steamers

Wooly Bugger (black, olive), Sparkle Minnow, Home Invader, Slump Buster, leech patterns, Baby Gonga, Rubber Legged Cone Head Krystal bugger (yellow), Galloup’s Boogie Man, Sex Dungeon (yel, ol, blk)

Dries

Harroup’s Hanging Midge (blk, gray) #20, Transitional Midge 20, Snowshoe Baetis #20-22, Sprout BWO #20-22, Last Chance Cripple #20-22, Rusty Spinner #20-22;