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Yellowstone River (Livingston)

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Yellowstone River (Livingston) Fishing Guide

Montana

Longest free-flowing river in the lower 48. Paradise Valley floats, big dries, and native cutthroat upstream.

Part of the Yellowstone River.

Photo: Robert Amundson via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0

Trip at a Glance

Anglers come to the Yellowstone River (Livingston) for rainbow trout, brown trout and cutthroat trout. November is outside the confirmed prime months here: rainbow trout and brown trout are prime Apr to Oct.

There are 11 shops nearby (10 fly, 1 bait and tackle), including Sweetwater Fly Shop in Livingston. Also nearby: the Gallatin River.

Season at a Glance

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Rainbow Trout
Brown Trout
Cutthroat Trout
No Agency Season

Legend

This Month Prime: Top Months Open, Slower Spawning No Agency Season Found

Prime From Water Temperature: measured at USGS gauge 06192500, set against FWS temperature ranges for Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout (our reading)How We Read ItSpawning: Montana FWP (Brown Trout)

Season Rules & Licenses

  • Upstream, park boundary to Pine Creek Bridge: catch-and-release for cutthroat trout. Montana FWP 2026
  • Park boundary to Springdale Bridge: any smallmouth bass caught must be killed and kept, reported to FWP within 24 hours (406-577-7900), and the whole fish brought to an FWP office within 10 days. Montana FWP 2026
  • In hot, dry summers FWP may close Laurel to the park boundary to fishing from 2 p.m. to midnight (hoot owl), or to all fishing; check FWP's current restrictions before you go. Montana FWP 2023-26

Rules: our short summary, not the official text. Gear & Tackle is independent, not a government site; rules change, so read the agency's current rules before you go.

Most anglers need a Montana fishing license; age cutoffs and exemptions are set by the state.

Buy a License from Montana FWP Montana FWP Fishing Regulations

License Sellers Nearby

Yellowstone Angler

5256 US Highway 89 S, Livingston (406) 222-7130

Murdochs Ranch and Home Supply

2420 S Park St, Livingston (406) 587-5846

Yellowstone Sporting Goods

1106 W Park St, Livingston (406) 222-5185

Source: Montana FWP's license agent list, Oct 2026. Call ahead.

Parts of the Yellowstone River

Yellowstone River (Livingston) Species

Rainbow Trout

Rainbow Trout

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D

Prime: Apr to Oct

View Species
Brown Trout

Brown Trout

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D

Prime: Apr to Oct

Spawning: Sep to Nov, per Montana FWP

View Species
Cutthroat Trout

Cutthroat Trout

No agency season found.

View Species

Species per Montana FWP.

Images: Duane Raver and Timothy Knepp, USFWS. Public domain.

What to Use

Fishing In
Fish

Rainbow Trout

Prime: Apr to Oct

Fly

9 ft 5 wt rod, weight-forward floating line, 9 ft 4X to 5X leader. Add a sink-tip and 3X for streamers.

Rod, Reel and Line

  • RodRedington Classic Trout Fly Rod · 9 ft 0 in, 5 weight, 4 pieceCheck Price
  • ReelRedington Behemoth Fly Reel · for 5 and 6 weightCheck Price
  • LineRIO Gold Fly Line · 5wt floatingCheck Price
  • LeaderRIO Tapered Trout LeadersCheck Price

Tie On in November

  • Fly for November · #16-22Zebra MidgeTailwaters.See Options
  • Fly for November · #14-20Pheasant Tail NymphSee Options
  • Fly for November · #4-12Woolly Bugger · Umpqua Wooly BuggerCheck Price

Picks: general for this fish, each checked against state and federal agency pages, not specific to this water. Ask a local shop what is working.

Gear: rods, reels and lines are starting points, sized from each maker's page. Some links are affiliate links. See our disclosure.

Buy Local

Shops near Yellowstone River (Livingston):

Map of Yellowstone River (Livingston)

Area around a representative access point; the river runs beyond it. View Larger Map© OpenStreetMap contributors

Yellowstone River (Livingston) Fishing Videos

Picked by Gear & Tackle: for what they show about the Yellowstone River (Livingston). We don't make these videos, and none is a review of a product we link.

Watch Yellowstone River (Livingston) Fishing Videos on YouTube

Planning for a Month

Prime in November

Nothing at its peak this month.

Daylight

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Moon

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Typical Weather

44°F high, 26°F low

About 0.9 in of precipitation for the month.

Typical Flow

1,630 cfs

Most years 1,310 cfs to 2,082 cfs.

Typical, Not a Forecast: weather from NOAA's 1991 to 2020 normals at a station about 7 mi away; flow from USGS gauge 06192500, 1897 to 2025.

Also Worth Packing

Clothing for November comes first, picked from typical weather here.

Waders & Boots

Simms Freestone Stockingfoot Waders

Durable, breathable four-layer waders built as a daily driver for seasons of wading.

Pack It For: Sep to Jun

Check Price Maker's Page

Waders & Boots

Simms Freestone Wading Boots

Supportive wading boots with determined traction for a full range of wading conditions, worn over waders or wading socks.

Pack It For: Year-round

Check Price Maker's Page

Apparel

Smartwool Classic Thermal Merino Base Layer

A 100% merino wool base layer for temperature regulation and moisture management, under waders or a jacket.

Pack It For: Nov to Mar

Check Price Maker's Page

Apparel

Glacier Glove Alaska River Flip Mitt

Fingerless fishing gloves with a fold-over mitt for cold hands between casts.

Pack It For: Nov to Mar

Check Price Maker's Page

Some links are affiliate links. See our disclosure.

Ramps and Launches on Yellowstone River (Livingston)

Boat Ramp

Carter's Bridge Fishing Access Site

Ramp (Gravel)

Directions

Shore Access

Jim Posewitz Free River Fishing Access Site

Walk-in, no boat facilities

Directions

Boat Ramp

Mayor's Landing Fishing Access Site

Ramp (Concrete)

Directions

Boat Ramp

Pine Creek Fishing Access Site

Ramp (Concrete)

Directions

Source: Montana FWP Fishing Access Sites. Hours and fees change; check before you go.

Shops Near Yellowstone River (Livingston)

Guides and Charters Near Yellowstone River (Livingston)

Nearby Water

Photo: Jim, CC BY-SA 2.0

Rivers & Streams · Montana

Gallatin River

A fast, scenic freestone through Gallatin Canyon near Bozeman and Big Sky.

Rainbow Trout · Brown Trout

View Water

Photo: Mike Cline, Public domain

Rivers & Streams · Montana

Madison River

The upper Madison above Ennis Lake, known to anglers as the 50-mile riffle, with brown and rainbow trout below Hebgen and Quake Lakes.

Brown Trout · Rainbow Trout

View Water