Yellowstone National Park Fishing Report - May 28, 2026

Name: Fishy Joe's Picks - Custom Fly Assortments
Brand: Big Sky Anglers
SKU: jjp-madison-12
Price: 42.0 USD
Availability: InStock

by Steve Hoovler

Yellowstone National Park Fishing Report - May 28, 2026

As we approach the last days of May, conditions on the west side of the Park resemble what we’d typically expect in mid‑ to late June. On the Firehole, Madison, and Gibbon rivers, flows are lower and water temperatures higher than usual. Snowmelt is still trickling from the high country but hasn’t been enough to offset warm inflows from the geothermal basins.

The Blackbear SNOTEL site shows just 27 inches of snow remaining at 8,100 feet; forecasted rain and warm temperatures could melt that within the next two weeks.

Despite the unusual conditions, fishing has been excellent. A steady pattern of afternoon clouds and several rainy periods over the past week has supported good Baetis and PMD mayfly hatches.

Firehole River

It’s always important to watch water temps on the Firehole, especially if you want to put yourself in the best position to find good hatches and rising fish. With abnormally low flows and warming waters this season, it’s even more critical. Keep in mind that you will always find cooler water temps the further upstream you go on the river. This is a key consideration when planning for hatches of PMD mayflies.

On a cool morning this past week, consistent bug activity and rising fish began in the upper river around Biscuit Basin at 11:00am. On that same morning, below Midway Geyser Basin, fish were already sipping duns off the water at 9:30am. What’s the difference? Midway Basin dumps an incredible amount of warm water into the river, and this year’s base flows from snowmelt are not sufficient to cool the river.

Forecasts are calling for steady rain and high temps in the 40s for Saturday and Sunday; ideal conditions for strong hatches of Baetis and Pale Morning Dun mayflies. But don’t expect to see much happening as early as we did this past week. Cool, wet weather will bring a welcome bump in flows and drop in water temps, delaying hatches. In the warmer sections downstream, you may see hatches begin as early as 11:00am. Further upstream, above the biggest thermal influences, the bugs may not start until 1:00 or 2:00pm.

So, if you’re heading up to fish the Firehole this weekend, and you most certainly should, do yourself a favor and bring along a good digital stream thermometer. Take some water temps when you get to the river, and note the activity that you see. Don’t be afraid to move to another spot, upstream or downstream, if you’re not seeing what you’re looking for. When conditions are right, you can be certain that bugs are hatching and fish are rising somewhere.

Warmer weather moves back in next week. As temps rise, expect PMD hatch timing to shift earlier in the day and hatches to become sparser. In the lowest stretches of the river, afternoon and evening water temperatures will routinely rise above the 70-degree mark, the threshold for safely handling fish. So, keep that thermometer handy, and head upstream to some cooler water.

Gibbon River

Flows on the Gibbon have been higher and cooler than the neighboring Firehole, and fishing has been good. The Gibbon offers a great diversity of water and the chance to break up your day with different approaches. Pocket‑water sections above and below Gibbon Falls are excellent for a dry‑dropper or indicator nymph rig for browns, rainbows, and westslope cutthroats. The upper meadow stretches are ideal for testing your dry‑fly skills on subtle risers along grassy banks or in flat, open water.

Madison River (in YNP)

The park stretch of the Madison River will also benefit from some cooler, wetter weather this weekend. Baetis and PMD hatches will be the main ticket here as well, but the show likely won't start until later in the day. With high temps forecasted in the 40s for the weekend, we may not see PMDs hatching here until 2:00-3:00pm, or later.

When the weather warms next week, look for the Madison to have some fun, albeit technical, dry fly fishing in the mornings along flat water sections with PMD spinners in size #16.

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.

Discovering

Yellowstone

BSA co-owners, Steve Hoovler and Joe Moore are proud to be a part of a recent film project with Outside Magazine and Yellowstone Bourbon showcasing conservation efforts in Yellowstone. The folks at Yellowstone Bourbon are wonderful supporters of our first national park, and know a thing or two about making a fine spirit too. Check out the video series below .

Watch the video Series

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68 products

Fishy Joe's Picks - Custom Fly Assortments

$42.00

Location

Madison River

Henry’s Fork

Yellowstone Park

Hebgen Lake

Quantity

12 Pack

24 Pack

36 Pack

Fishing Date: Select the date when you'll be fishing and we'll customize the assortment to match the expected conditions. If no date is selected, we'll give you our overall favorites.

PUT FISHY JOE'S DECADES OF EXPERIENCE AND THOUGHTFUL APPROACH TO FLY SELECTION TO WORK FOR YOU!

Joe Moore has spent his career fooling fish throughout Big Sky Country, and whether it's one of his own innovative patterns, or another guide approved fly, Fishy Joe's Picks should be the first flies you tie on. There's a reason he's called Fishy Joe after all!

"There's nothing better than having one of our sport's most respected guides and outfitters hand-pick your flies."

These fly assortments are hand-picked by Fishy Joe himself, and come in a water-proof, micro-slit foam fly box (pictured). Please select the river of choice, the quantity of flies you would like, and the time period you are interested in. Joe will be sure to get you the goods!

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legendary

Yellowstone

An angler could spend a lifetime of summers exploring and mastering the roadside waters of Yellowstone Park alone. Rivers like the Madison, Gallatin, Gibbon, Firehole, Lamar, and Yellowstone all have relatively easy access. And that is just a small fraction of the over 200 fishable streams and 45 fishable lakes in the Park.

Explore Yellowstone