Here’s a casual, clever, and witty one-paragraph summary:
Winter has officially clocked in, the river’s sitting at 1,450 CFS, and suddenly wade fishing sounds a whole lot smarter than committing to a 10-mile float in sub-freezing temps and wind that feels like it’s trying to relocate you to another county. Before you even think about launching, check both your put-in and take-out—this is not the weather to discover your truck can’t reach the ramp. Honestly, it might be the perfect moment to stay warm, tie some flies, reorganize that disaster of a fly box, or knock out a little holiday shopping for the fishy folks in your life. And if you need advice (or an excuse to procrastinate), the shop’s just a call away. Meanwhile, the fly menu is stacked—from big meaty streamers to tiny midges—so you’re covered whether the trout want a full steak dinner or a microscopic snack.
Here’s the full fishing report for the Yellowstone River by Yellowstone Angler out of Livingston, MT:
It finally feels like winter is here, with snow on the ground and a shift towards wade fishing. Keep an eye on the forecasts and the area you want to float, and be sure to check out both your put-in ramp and take-out ramp. This isn’t the type of weather you want to be stuck in.
Wade fishing seems like a smarter choice these days, verses committing to a 10 mile float, battling either sub-freezing temperatures or a steady 20 mph wind with gusts in the 40s.
Might be a good time to tie some flies, re-organize your fly box early, or do a little holiday shopping for someone in the family that likes to fish or would like to start. Shop on line or give us a call anytime for advice. 1-406-222-7130.
Fly Patterns:
Home Invader White #2/6 Olive Leadeye Stinger #4/6 Olive Sex Dungeon #4 Black Sex Dungeon #4 Yellow Silk Kitty #2 White Silk Kitty #2 Olive Silk Kitty#2 White Home Invader #2-4 Olive Leadeye #6 Olive Swim Coach #4 Coffee Sparkle Minnow #4-6
Tung. Bead Bugger Legs CAMO size #10 Black Jigged Perdigon #14-18 Fulling Mill Olive Perdigon #14-18 Blow Torch Black #14-18 Hare’s Ear Blow Torch #14-18 Brown (Purple) Duracell Bomb #14-16 Torch Light #14-16 PT Little Spankers #14-18
This week, guest host Roger Fishwell takes the reins on the Montana Outdoor Podcast to break down fresh harvest numbers and hunter success stats from check stations across all seven Montana hunting regions.
This week on the Montana Outdoor Podcast, Downrigger Dale and guest Megan Buecking explore Montana’s haunted ghost towns—and the chilling stories that may keep you up at night…
On the morning of June 14, 2025, Wyoming Game and Fish Department personnel received a report that a cow moose had been shot in a confrontation with an angler on the North Tongue River in the Bighorn National Forest near Bear Lodge Resort. When game wardens responded, they found the moose deceased from her injuries.
