Right now the Yellowstone River is flowing 1,720 cfs — fishable, just off the prime band. Today's bite odds rate 74/100 (Fishable), and the sky looks overcast.
Best time to fish the Yellowstone River, Montana
The best months on the Yellowstone River are September, October, August, July — when the flow settles into its prime band and the hatches line up, the odds genuinely worth booking around. Today's flow is one data point; the next 7 days below show how the bite window is trending. Plan ahead and book a guide for your dates.
Know when the Yellowstone River is fishing right
Flows and the bite shift week to week. Leave your email and we'll tell you when the Yellowstone River hits its best window — time to book a guide for your dates.
Flow & bite outlook for the Yellowstone River — the next 7 days
| Day | Flow (cfs) | Sky | Bite |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sat 6 AM | 1,720 | 96% · overcast | 74 Fishable |
| Sun 6 AM | 1,720 | 37% · partly cloudy | 71 Fishable |
| Mon 6 AM | 1,720 | 17% · clear skies | 68 Fishable |
| Tue 7 AM | 1,720 | 49% · partly cloudy | 63 Fishable |
| Wed 7 AM | 1,720 | 27% · partly cloudy | 59 Fishable |
| Thu 7 AM | 1,720 | 35% · partly cloudy | 55 Fishable |
| Fri 7 AM | 1,720 | 50% · mostly cloudy | 52 Fishable |
A ✓ means the flow sits in the Yellowstone River's prime 2,000–7,000 cfs band — the season and the moon/solunar windows then move each day's bite odds.
Conditions & the best window
The prime bite is dawn and the last hour of light, strongest around the new and full moon. Today's sky on the Yellowstone River looks overcast (about 96% cloud) — and an overcast day can actually keep fish looking up. Watch the flow as much as the sky: a sharp change in discharge, up or down, can turn the fish off for a day.
Paradise Valley from Carbella to Mallards Rest is the classic float, with even, readable water that suits a drift boat; the town stretch through Livingston has a steeper gradient and fishes best once flows drop below about 7,000 cfs. Wait out the runoff — the river is unfishable through most of May and June and then turns on hard.
Guided trips & lodges on the Yellowstone River
A guided day on the Yellowstone River typically runs $500–$675 per boat. A local guide who knows the current flow and the productive water is the fastest way onto fish — book ahead for the dates you want.
Guided fly-fishing float trips on the Yellowstone River
FishingBooker · guided trips · from $500
Half-day walk & wade trips, Yellowstone River
FishingBooker · guided trips · from $325
Multi-day lodges & guided packages near the Yellowstone River
FishingBooker · lodges & packages