Yellowstone National Park Fishing Report 7/26/26

Important Update: Heat Closures Remain in Effect

The hot, dry weather continues to take a toll on some of the park’s geothermal river systems.  As of July 15, the Firehole, Madison, and Gibbon Rivers, along with all tributaries, are closed to fishing around the clock.  Those closures replaced the previous afternoon restrictions as water temperatures climbed into the 80–86°F range. Unfortunately, fish mortality has already been documented on the Firehole, and until we see a significant break in the weather pattern, don’t expect those closures to change anytime soon.

While that’s disappointing news, there are still plenty of cold-water fisheries across the park offering excellent opportunities.

Gallatin River

The Gallatin picked up a little color from recent thunderstorms, but that’s pretty typical for late July.  The river dirtied up briefly, especially in the canyon stretches, but it’s already dropping back into shape and fishing well.

With the closures elsewhere, the Gallatin has become one of the better options in the region.  Cold water has kept the trout active, and we’re seeing a healthy mix of PMDs, caddis, and Yellow Sallies throughout the system.  Salmonflies and golden stones are still hanging around in some of the higher stretches near the park.

A dry-dropper rig remains the most efficient way to cover water right now.  Fish are willing to move for a dry fly, but plenty are still eating below the surface.  If the river has any stain to it, don’t be afraid to lean on bigger nymphs. Pat’s Rubberlegs, Duracells, Blowtorches, Perdigons, and Pheasant Tails have all been producing consistently.  Even when visibility drops, the fish are finding those flies without much trouble.

Northeast Corner: Lamar River, Soda Butte Creek & Slough Creek

A few rounds of rain bumped flows and added some color to both the Lamar and Soda Butte, but neither system saw anything out of the ordinary.  Conditions should continue improving quickly.  Slough Creek was less affected and remains in excellent shape for this time of year.

Despite the slightly off-color water, fishing has remained steady.  Dry-dropper setups continue to put fish in the net and are a great way to cover water while conditions stabilize. When visibility is reduced, nymphs tend to outperform dries, and we’ve done best with rubberlegs, perdigons, and attractor-style patterns like Blowtorches.

The dry-fly fishing is still a highlight. PMDs, green drakes, gray drakes, caddis, beetles, and the first real hopper activity are all part of the menu.  Cloudy afternoons and evening spinner falls have produced some excellent surface action.  If you’re willing to stay late, there have been some memorable windows when fish are feeding confidently on top.

Yellowstone River

The Yellowstone continues to drop and clear. Most stretches are fishing well, though heavy rain can still send color down from the Lamar or Gardiner and temporarily affect visibility.

Bug activity remains strong, with PMDs, green drakes, golden stones, and caddis all in play.  The park’s cutthroat are settling into their summer feeding patterns and have been especially active during the latter part of the day.

For anglers looking to fish dries, caddis patterns, Parachute Adams, and Hippie Stompers are all solid choices.  Under the surface, Pat’s Rubberlegs, Zirdles, and Blowtorches continue to produce. You’ll likely run into a few mountain whitefish mixed in, but plenty of cutthroat are eating as well.

When the river picks up a little color after storms, streamer fishing can be surprisingly productive.  Patterns like the Dungeon and Peanut Envy are moving some better fish, particularly along cut banks and softer edges.

Gardner River

The Gardner is doing what the Gardner does after rain. Recent storms brought plenty of silt and color, and several active slide areas have kept visibility limited.  The river can change quickly, so conditions are worth checking before committing a day there.

For now, nymphs and streamers are your best bet.  Focus on deeper buckets, softer seams, and any structure that provides fish with a break from the current.  Streamers fished tight to undercut banks and along slower edges can move fish when visibility is poor.

Once the river regains that characteristic green tint and settles into shape, expect the fishing to rebound quickly.  The trout are still there—they’re just waiting on the river to cooperate.

Bechler River

The Bechler is shaping up nicely and offers a completely different experience from many of the larger rivers in the park.  Flows have dropped, the water is clear, and sight fishing is becoming the name of the game.

July hatches of green drakes, brown drakes, and PMDs continue to bring fish to the surface, and some of the better trout in the system are showing themselves during these feeding windows.  A well-presented dry fly is hard to beat right now.

Woolly Buggers remain a dependable choice when fish aren’t looking up, especially around deeper runs and undercut banks where larger trout tend to hold.

As we move deeper into August, terrestrial fishing will become increasingly important.  Hoppers, ants, and beetles will all play a bigger role, though fish in the Bechler can become selective surprisingly fast.  Downsizing patterns and paying attention to drift often makes the difference between a few refusals and a fish in the net.

Recommended Flies

Nymphs

Pat’s Rubberlegs, Pheasant Tail, Perdigon, Blowtorch, Duracell and Hare’s Ear

Dry Flies

Chubby Chernobyl, Stimulator, Elk Hair Caddis, Parachute Adams and Purple Haze

Streamers

Woolly Bugger, Sparkle Minnow and Dungeon