Yellowstone River

Legendary Waters - The Stone

The Yellowstone River is the quintessential Montana river.  Author Dave Hughes once called it the "Yankee Stadium" of fly fishing.  With the Yellowstone being the longest free flowing river in the lower 48 states, it takes on a beautiful and wild personality.  The first significant hatch would be the Mother's day Caddis, that can be unbelievable.   In early summer, conditions may be right to chase Salmonflies on the upper river, but in late summer or early fall, I prefer fishing the lower stretches with big dries, and ugly streamers.   The Yellowstone offers less fish per mile than the tailwaters, and possibly less consistent fishing, but as you're the only boat in sight, watching the eagles fly and the deer try to sneak away, that big brown is going to explode out of the water to eat your #6 Hopper, and all will be right in the world.