Yellowstone National Park Fishing Report - June 4, 2026
May wrapped up with a full weekend of cool, skuzzy weather across Yellowstone, complete with temperatures in the 40s and a steady soaking rain. At this point in the spring, it was a welcome change. The moisture provided a much-needed boost to the rivers while also triggering hatches of Baetis and Pale Morning Dun mayflies.
Forecasts call for a return to warmer, windier conditions before another round of wet weather arrives early next week. That warmth will likely finish off what remains of the snowpack at the Black Bear SNOTEL site atop the Madison Plateau. Less than 10 inches of snow remain on the ground, and it would be surprising to see any of it survive beyond the weekend.
With the last of this year's meager snowpack fading away, the Firehole, Gibbon, and Madison now depend on cool, wet weather to keep water temperatures within a safe range for trout. Fortunately, the forecast remains favorable over the next week, but anglers should continue to carry a thermometer and closely monitor water temperatures as the season progresses.
FIREHOLE
MADISON (in YNP)
GIBBON
Not much has changed on the Gibbon this week. It continues to offer a diverse range of fishing opportunities between its rough-and-tumble canyon stretches and slow, meandering meadow sections. Pocket water above and below Gibbon Falls remains an excellent option for anglers fishing dry-dropper rigs or indicator nymph setups for brown, rainbow, and westslope cutthroat trout. Upstream, the meadow reaches provide a completely different experience, rewarding careful presentations to subtle risers tucked beneath grassy undercut banks.
Lakes
Ice out has occurred on many of our favorite lakes in the Park including Shoshone, Lewis, Grebe, and Yellowstone. This is a great time to find fish cruising the shallow areas close to shore hunting for leeches, damsel fly larvae, and callibaetis nymphs.
Stay Safe in Bear Country
- Stay 100 yards away from bears at all times.
- Carry bear spray and know how to use it.
- Be alert. See the bear before you surprise it. Watch for fresh tracks, scat, and feeding sites (signs of digging, rolled rocks, torn up logs, ripped open ant hills)
- Make noise
- Hike in groups of three or more people.
- Don't hike at dawn, dusk, or at night, when grizzlies are most active.
- Don’t run from a bear.
Now that we have reached the general open season in the Park, more options will come into shape every week. If the current trend continues, many of the fisheries we start visiting in late June might be worth checking out over the coming weeks. Keep a close eye on the current weather and water conditions, and always feel free to give us a shout in the shop (406) 646-7801 for the most up-to-date info.
