The wind has been unforgiving the past several days on the Yellowstone River--which isn't that uncommon on the Yellowstone River between Billings and Bozeman in November. However, if the wind stays calm, then the November fly fishing on the Yellowstone can yield some pretty good action. Most anglers on the Yellowstone River right now are targeting some of the river's big brown trout. This is best done by dragging or dead-drifting streamers and big flies. If that doesn't seem to be working, you can look for fish rising in the slower back eddies and long slicks. However, the best way to pad the numbers on the Yellowstone River right now is going to be with subsurface nymphs usually as part of a tandem nymph rig.
Nymphing is producing well – try a rig with a very long indicator with no weight and make sure not to over mend. Big trailed by small is still the way to go so a wooly bugger, sculpin, rubber lets etc. on top trailed by a smaller attractor or mayfly nymph is a good choice. Streamer fishing is slowly improving and should get better as we move farther into the fall and see more inclement weather.
This past summer was one of the best summers in recent memory for consistently big fish on the Yellowstone. Many of our longtime guides lamented how no matter the method, the big fish were definitely coming out to play. Check out our Instagram feed for all the great fish pics from the summer!
Best Flies for the Yellowstone River Right Now:
Lil Spankers in various colors #12-18
Mega Prince #10-12
Pat's Rubberlegs #8-12
FKA prince #12-16
Foam run caddis #14-18
Sparkle Minnow #4-8
The Month Ahead:
Fishing should remain very good for the next few weeks on the Yellowstone. Blue Winged Olive hatches will continue to grow stronger by the day, especially with cloud cover. Streamer fishing will also improve. As water temps drop try a sinking head like a 200 grain line. The shorter “streamer tip” lines aren’t much better than a floating line so if you are going to go big you may as well do it right.
Long Term Fishing Forecast:
The Yellowstone can still be productive in November with continued Blue Winged Olive hatches, but begins to turn off in December as winter settles in for good and ice shelves develop.
Looking for More Great Content?
6 (PLUS ONE) Essential Flies for Fall Fishing in Montana
7 Best Tips for Walk and Wade Fishing in Montana
6 Great Tips for Fishing Hoppers, Ants, Beetles
Dry-Dropper Rigs: When to Use and When Not to Use
How to Rig and Fish a Dry-Dropper Set Up for Montana Fishing