The Yellowstone River is the longest free-flowing and undammed river in the lower 48 states. Perhaps most known for its annual hatch of salmonflies in late June and early July, the Yellowstone River is also home to an abundance of insect species and is world-famous for producing high-quality fish and plenty of them. Due to the river’s water quality and natural habitat, it harbors large populations of mayflies, stoneflies, caddis, and more. The Yellowstone River is susceptible to naturally occurring annual variations in stream flows and channelization, but it's hatches are consistent and prolific.
Midges (aka Chironomids)
Midges can be provide the first early dry fly activity on the Yellowstone River. Good midge fishing on the Yellowstone tends to occur on bluebird late winter or early spring days in February, March or early April. The stars need to align to catch trout sipping on midges when fishing the Yellowstone. The strongest hatches will occur on nice days with minimal wind. Rising trout will be found in slower currents such as back eddies and deliberate runs with slower currents.
Blue Winged Olives (aka Baetis or BWOs)
These mayflies hatch in spring and fall on the Yellowstone River from Gardiner downstream to Billings, with the strongest hatches occurring from the Yellowstone Park Boundary to Columbus. Beginning in late March and lasting through May and again in mid-September lasting well into October, these mayflies can hatch on any day during those two seasonal windows. Overcast days may see the strongest emergence, especially on the river between Emigrant and Big Timber. Sunny days can experience very strong hatches as well, but the ideal BWO day on the Yellowstone is overcast, with scattered showers, and air temps in the low 60s. Spring BWOs range from size 14 to 16 and fall BWOs range in size from 16 to 22.
March Browns
The emergence of March Browns on the Yellowstone is sporadic. However, they begin to hatch on the entire length of the river in mid- April and can be seen throughout May. Conditions must be ideal—overcast, water temperatures between 43 and 47 degrees F, and light winds. If these conditions line-up, a large emergence of March Browns can occur on the Yellowstone. These large mayflies become easy pickings for hungry trout. March Browns on the Yellowstone River range in size from 10 to 14, with most being size 12.
Caddis
Caddis, and one hatch in particular—the Mother’s Day caddis hatch—are famous on the Yellowstone River. An abundance of caddis species live in the Yellowstone and attempting to name them all would be cumbersome and mind-blowing. The famous Mother’s Day caddis hatch on the Yellowstone River can begin in late April, but most years the hatch begins around its namesake. However, river conditions and the ability to fish the hatch depend on when snowmelt runoff will begin. From year to year, even day to day, fishing the Mother’s Day caddis hatch is a moving target. Ideal conditions for Mother’s Day caddis on the Yellowstone River are water temperatures around 54 degrees. However, as air temperatures warm this can also coincide with the onset of snowmelt runoff. It is a double-edged sword because warm air temperatures are necessary to warm the water temperature but the warming air temperatures often commence snowmelt runoff. The Yellowstone will come in and out of fishable shape multiple times from mid-April through late-May, so anglers cross their fingers that the hatch hits during an “in” period.
Salmonflies
The salmonfly is the largest aquatic insect to hatch on the Yellowstone River. Dependent on the end of snowmelt runoff, the salmonfly hatch on the Yellowstone River can occur anytime between late June and early July. On the Yellowstone River from Livingston to the Yellowstone Park Boundary, the salmonfly “hatch” occurs over the course of a few days. Nymphs crawl to the bankside structure and remove their outer shell—also known as their shuck. When this occurs an adult insect, complete with legs and wings, emerges. This typically occurs when water temperatures are in the 54 to 58 degree F range. These adults cling to structure until it is time to fly and find a mate. Once airborne males and females will mate, females deposit eggs on the surface of the water, and males will soon die. From migration to egg laying can take as long as three to four days. Weather, sunlight, and streamflow are all factors in the quality of fishing during a salmonfly hatch. Nymphs and adults (dry flies) range in size from 4 to 8.
Being able to fish the salmonfly hatch on the Yellowstone River is a matter of timing—as snowmelt runoff wanes the river must drop to a safe and fishable flow (usually below 10,000 cubic feet per second) and also have settled enough so the clarity allows for at least 8 to 12-inches of visibility.
Golden stoneflies
On the Yellowstone River, golden stoneflies provide plenty of action for dry fly anglers. These large—size 8 to 12—aquatic insects emerge slightly later than salmonflies. Beginning in late June and lasting into mid-July, a golden stonefly hatch occurs in the same sequence as a salmonfly hatch, however golden stoneflies are smaller. Golden stoneflies are equally important to trout as salmonflies, they just don’t have the same celebrity status because they are the second species of stoneflies to hatch after runoff.
Yellow Sally stoneflies
These stoneflies may hatch concurrently with salmonflies and Golden stoneflies. Often mistaken for caddis or PMDs this small stonefly is a crucial part of a Yellowstone River trout’s diet. Yellow Sally stonefly nymphs become active in late June, with adult insects hatching from late-June well into early August. The nymphs range in size from 8 to 16, with size 10 and 12 being the most common. Because adult Yellow Sallies have very sporadic flying habits, trout rarely key on them, but the nymphs are consumed on a daily basis.
Pale Morning Duns
An abundant mayfly in the Yellowstone River from Columbus to Gardiner, hatches of Pale Morning Duns (PMDs) begin in late June and last all through July. Primarily found in the river’s riffles and longer runs, PMDs emerge when water temperatures hit 58 degrees F. PMDs hatch on sunny or overcast days and on the Yellowstone River they can hatch in either condition. Nymphs are available to trout year-round, but during a hatch, the hatching insects require time to allow for their wings to dry before taking flight, therefore being easily available to a sipping trout. Most PMDs are size 14 and 16, with size 16 being the most common.
Trico mayflies
These small mayflies are primarily important for dry fly anglers who enjoy casting very tiny flies—sizes 18 to 22—to rising trout. Tricos hatch at sunrise and an emergence rarely last longer than a few hours. They hatch from bankside structure or in riffles. Adult tricos swarm in mating swirls above the water, after mating they fall to the water and die, creating “spent” mayflies, also called “spinners'' by many anglers. These spinners float slowly on the surface and are picked off by trout. A trico hatch on the Yellowstone River doesn’t carry the aura of salmonflies or Golden stoneflies, but in late summer dry fly anglers can find trout rising to them.
Terrestrials: Grasshoppers, ants, and beetles
On the Yellowstone River as summer moves on, hatches become more sporadic and less predictable. Grasshoppers, ants, and beetles dominate a trout’s diet by late July. Having been blown into the river these land-dwelling insects are a common occurrence on the Yellowstone River. Once on the water they become easy prey for the Yellowstone River’s hungry trout. Yellowstone River trout are not particular in color or size of grasshoppers or ants and beetles on the river, but most grasshoppers are sizes 8 to 12 and most ants and beetles are size 14 to 18. Colorations vary but natural tones like gray and tan tend to fish better than bright colors.
October caddis
These late season caddis are exciting to see, however, their emergence is sporadic. October caddis on the Yellowstone River can hatch as early as late September and will typically peak in late October. Compared to other hatches, an emergence of October caddis is paltry—these insects are rarely spotted in abundance. But an opportunistic trout may feast on one of these large caddis species if it happens to float by at that same time the fish feels hungry. Most October caddis are size 8 to 10.