Yellowstone National Park Fishing Report - May 15, 2026
We’re two weeks into the early fishing season in Yellowstone Park, and there’s been some fun fishing on the Madison, Gibbon, and Firehole rivers. The weather has been beautiful, maybe a bit too nice for strong hatches of baetis and pale morning dun mayflies, but some dry fly fishing opportunities have been found in spite of the bright skies and sparse bug numbers.
After an unusually warm stretch this week, a changing weather pattern is set to enter the area, bringing much cooler temps and the chance for moisture, even snow in the high country, through the weekend.
Warm temps did a number on our remaining snowpack in the high country this week, reducing the total snow depth at the Black Bear snotel site by nearly 20 inches and increasing streamflows on all three of the rivers open to early fishing this season - the Madison, Gibbon, and Firehole Rivers.
Fishing remains limited on the Firehole River following a bear incident on May 4. The full details can be found HERE on the YNP website. The Firehole River is closed to fishing from Fountain Flat Drive to Black Sands Basin. Please see the map below for more information, and feel free to call the shop (406-646-7801) anytime for the latest updates.
As always, don’t forget your bear spray, and be bear aware anytime you’re fishing in Yellowstone Park.
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.
Water levels and turbidity have both increased this week on the Firehole in response to warm weather and the accompanying snowmelt, but remain very fishable with the peak around 400cfs. Cool weather this weekend should ease snowmelt and streamflow slightly, and prompt stronger emergences of beatis and pmd mayflies. Expect to see the best dry fly activity in the early afternoon, and be prepared to mark a fish and cover it with a good presentation, even if it isn’t rising consistently.
The Gibbon River remains a great option for small pocket-water fishing with PMD and Caddis dry flies, and dry-dropper rigs. Flows and turbidity have increased here as well, but remain well within fishable limits and should improve over the weekend. If you explore the Gibbon below the falls, note that some of the resident westlope cutthroat are still actively spawning. Please keep a close eye out for any actively spawning fish, and do your best to avoid them.
The Madison River within Yellowstone Park will offer an interesting mix of fishing opportunities in the coming week. Flat-water sections will be the place to find dry-fly sessions with selective fish rising to PMD and Baetis emergences in the afternoons, and to caddis in the evenings. Classic swing water sections like the Barns Pools, and Madison Junction are great for morning or evening sessions, swinging small streamers and soft hackles. Deeper runs and pools are always a good place in the Spring to run an indicator rig with stonefly nymphs.
Weather conditions for the upcoming week are trending toward seasonal conditions, with high temperatures in the low 40s to start the week and the high 60s by the week’s end in West Yellowstone. Keep a close eye on the forecast, and do your best to plan your outings accordingly. Bright sunny conditions, while pleasant, won’t yield the best hatches, but present a perfect opportunity to explore pocket water sections, or swing soft hackles. If you encounter cloudy conditions, especially between the hours of 11am and 4pm, be ready with your favorite PMD or Baetis pattern, and position yourself in the best dry fly water you can find, the flatter the better.
So, get out there and enjoy these bonus days of spring fishing on the Firehole, Gibbon, and Madison Rivers. As always, drop us a line, or swing by the shop for the latest on conditions, hatches, and flies. Stay tuned for more reports from early-season in Yellowstone, and keep an eye out for the start of the Big Sky Anglers Weekly Fishing Report with thorough information for Yellowstone National Park waters, as well as the Madison and Henry’s Fork Rivers, beginning May 21.
