River Reports
Big Horn River 
With fantastic fishing year round, the blue ribbon Bighorn River is a tributary of the Yellowstone River and is rated one of the world's finest trout streams because of its abundant trout, dense insect hatches, and easy accessibility. With the completion of Yellowtail Dam at Fort Smith around 1965, the river was transformed from a slow warm body of water to the classic cold and clear tailwater river it is today.
Game Fish Opportunities:
Brown Trout, Channel Catfish, Mountain Whitefish, Rainbow Trout
Detailed Information
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Current Conditions - 10/2012The fishing conditions on the Horn are good, and it still continues to fish well, despite low flows. October is the beginning of Streamer fishing, and it only gets better until late December. For the dry fly fishermen, October means really good Baetis hatches, and cloudy days can be awesome fishing. Also, the usual suspects have been taking lots of trout: firebead sowbugs, pink and grey; san juan worms, red, wine and tan; midge larvae, root beer and zebra; and black quill nymphs.
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Recommended Fly Patterns
| Red, brown and wine are starting to work well. Fire beads, softhackle sowbugs and pink and grey ray charles are working well during high water.
Sowbugs trailed by midge larvae: red, olive black. zebra midges and rootbeer midges are working well in size 18. Glass bead Quill nymphs in size 18 are starting to work. |
Dry Flies Size #Hoppers, pink and tan belly club sandwiches are really starting to work.
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StreamersStreamers are still working, Black woolly buggers JJ specials brown and yellow buggers and circus peanuts. |
Yellowstone River 
The Yellowstone has survived as one of the last, free flowing rivers in the continental United States. Originating in Wyoming, it flows through Yellowstone National Park before entering Montana at Gardiner. From the park boundary to Livingston, the river flows north through Paradise Valley, flanked by the Absarokee Mountains on the east and the Gallatin Range on the west. From the clear, coldwater cutthroat trout fishery in Yellowstone National Park to the warmer water habitat at its mouth, the river supports a variety of aquatic environments that remain relatively undisturbed. Excellent fly fishing can be found from Gardiner to Park City, and the Yellowstone is floatable all spring and summer.
Game Fish Opportunities:
Brown Trout, Burbot, Channel Catfish, Mountain Whitefish, Paddlefish, Rainbow Trout, Sauger, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout
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Current Conditions - 10/2012The Yellowstone River is usually one of the first freestones to shut down for winter. However, October can still hold on to some of the best Streamer fishing anywhere. Brown trout are in the spawn and are very aggressive this time of year.
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Recommended Fly Patterns
| Nymphs Beadhead stoneflies, bitch creeks and yuk bugs. Beadhead prince nymphs, PTs, hares ears, and red copper johns. |
DRIES Caddis size #16, some purple haze #14, and your favorite Hopper patterns: Taratulas, Club sandwiches, parachute hoppers, and Rainy Foam hoppers. |
Streamers Brown and yellow , olive, and black woolly buggers
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Stillwater River
This tributary from the Yellowstone is another blue ribbon river. Although named the Stillwater, this scenic, sometimes rough river has very few truly still places. The river begins in the mountains of the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness Area where it flows for more than twenty miles through the wilderness area. It then flows for another 45 miles through a mix of canyons, prairie and forest until meeting up with the Yellowstone River near the town of Columbus, Montana. Once the Stillwater River leaves the wilderness, access for most of its length is good due to numerous road, bridge and designated fishing access sites.The Stillwater River is only 45 minutes from Billings, Montana. This excellent free flowing river is floatable in June and July.
Game Fish Opportunities:
Brook Trout, Brown Trout, Mountain Whitefish, Rainbow Trout, Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout
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Current Conditions - 10/2012The Stillwater is slowing down now, but can still be rewarding on calm days. There are Baetis coming off and Streamer fishing is still very good, until water temps drop. |
Recommended Fly Patterns
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Nymphs Beadhead Lightning bugs, March brown nymphs, princes, caddis pupa, shop vacs, and red copper Johns and Pts.
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DRIES: Jack Cabes, Daves hoppers and your favorite foam hoppers are working. Stimulators and Caddis (elk hair and caddis emergers). |
Streamers Black and brown woolly buggers are working
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Rock Creek
This red ribbon river is only 60 miles from Billings, Montana. A tributary to the Clark Fork River on the famous Lewis and Clark Trail, Rock Creek is a fisherman's paradise.This absolutely beautiful small free flowing river is very solitary.
Game Fish Opportunities:
Brook Trout, Brown Trout, Mountain Whitefish
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Current Conditions 10/2012Rock Creek is getting very low and cold. It can still fish on nice days, but the end is near for winter. |
Recommended Fly Patterns
| Nymphs Big Stonefly nymphs. Beadhead PTs, Caddis pupa, copper Johns, princes, and lightningbugs.
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Dries: Grasshopper patterns and tan caddis, have been working good |
Streamers
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Boulder River
The Boulder River originates in the rugged, high elevations of the Beartooth Mountains in the Gallatin National Forest. It tumbles down 7,300 feet and 60 miles through mixed conifers, deciduous trees, shrubs, grassland, and agricultural land, to join the Yellowstone River. Most of its drainage lies within the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness. The main Boulder, East and West Boulder rivers and their many tributaries provide a wide diversity of fisheries habitats.This blue ribbon river is excellent fishing and is floatable in the months of June and July.
Game Fish Opportunities:
Brook Trout, Brown Trout, Mountain Whitefish, Rainbow Trout
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Current Conditions 10/2012The Boulder River is just about done for the season, it is very low, cold, and choked with leaves. The best fishing is over until next spring.
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Recommended Fly Patterns
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Nymphs: Bitch Creeks and stonefly nymphs have been working well. Beadheads; copper johns, princes, march browns, shop vacs, and caddis pupas are all hot patterns.
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Dries: Rainys Hoppers, Daves hoppers, club sandwiches and turk taratulas are all working well. |
Streamers Olive and black woolly buggers
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