The Yellowstone River

The Yellowstone River is internationally recognized as one of Montana's premier trout fisheries and holds the distinction of being the longest free-flowing river in the lower 48 states at 692 miles. The river supports strong populations of Brown, Rainbow, and Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout and offers an incredible range of habitat for dry fly fishing, nymphing, and streamer fishing.

Because of the Yellowstone's size and length, quality fishing can be found from Billings upstream to Yellowstone National Park. We focus our guided float trips on sections between Livingston and Columbus that balance river conditions, fishing pressure, flows, and active hatches throughout the season. Your guide selects the section each morning based on real-time conditions — ensuring you're always on the best water available.

The Yellowstone is one of the rare rivers that can fish well from early spring through late fall. The only period we typically avoid is the annual spring runoff, which begins in May and can last through June depending on snowpack. Outside of runoff, the river offers consistent opportunity for anglers of all experience levels — from first-time fly fishers to seasoned veterans chasing trophy browns.

Species & What to Expect

Brown Trout are the Yellowstone's signature species, with fish averaging 15 to 18 inches and specimens over 20 inches taken regularly on both dries and streamers. They favor the deeper runs, undercut banks, and structure along the river's many braided channels. Rainbow Trout hold in the faster riffles and runs, and Yellowstone Cutthroat — the river's native species — are found primarily in the upper reaches near Paradise Valley.

Most guided trips on the Yellowstone are float trips by drift boat or raft, covering 8 to 14 miles of water per day. The river's character changes dramatically from section to section — from tight canyon water with big boulders and pocket water to wide valley stretches with long riffles, gravel bars, and cottonwood-lined banks. This variety means your guide can match the water to your preferred style, whether that's casting streamers into deep holes, sight-fishing to risers during a hatch, or nymphing through productive runs.

Why the Yellowstone From MFL

Montana Fly Fishing Lodge sits within the heart of the Yellowstone River Basin, giving us access to dozens of river miles across multiple sections. Unlike lodges based in Livingston or Bozeman that fish the same heavily pressured upper sections, our location near Absarokee allows us to target less-crowded mid-river stretches where fish see fewer anglers and feed more freely. The Yellowstone is the centerpiece of most multi-day packages and pairs well with our other waters for a complete Montana fly fishing experience.