Montana Fish Report

All rivers in Yellowstone National Park are now under Hoot Owl Restrictions, meaning no fishing can occur from 2:00 pm until sunrise the following day. The Madison, Firehole, and Gibbon are completely closed to reduce fish kills. Please respect the hoot

owl closures and finish fishing by 2:00 or try exploring some of the park’s stillwater fisheries. 

The Yellowstone river in the park is still fishing well, with reports of those cutthroats still active for PMD’s, Rusty Spinners, and Hoppers. A rubberlegs, duracell, or swung softhackle can produce fish after the noses stop rising. 

The Gallatin River has been a solid option, although water temperatures have been steadily rising. Grasshoppers are all over the river banks, and ants and beetles are a good choice also. For a nymph, a small midge would be a solid option, as well as a pheasant tail or small caddis larva. 

Lamar, Soda Butte and Slough are fishable. PMD’s and caddis are working well, and Slough creek is a personal favorite of mine this time of year. I'll usually fish a Hopper like a Pink Mongo Hopper or an Ant if the fish aren’t consistently rising to mayflies or Caddis.