Yellowstone National Park Fishing Report - October 2, 2025
Here's this week's Yellowstone National Park Fishing Report.
While the federal government is currently in a shutdown, Yellowstone National Park remains open. Roads, trails, and rivers are accessible to the public, though some visitor services may be limited. For anglers, that means it's still full steam ahead for fall fishing in the Park.
October is here, and fall has truly settled in across Yellowstone. This is the time many anglers wait for all season long: a chance to chase lake-run browns and rainbows in the Madison system, cast to native cutthroat still rising in the Northeast Corner, or drift a Baetis dry on the Gallatin under a gray October sky. With fall hatches picking up and migratory fish on the move, the next few weeks promise some of the most memorable fishing of the year.
Firehole River
This weekend’s scuzzy forecast is exactly what we like to see for the Firehole. Cloud cover, cool temps, and a touch of moisture create ideal conditions for fall Baetis hatches, with the best activity expected in the afternoons.
Come prepared with 5X–6X tippets and a selection of small #20–22 Baetis cripples and duns. Subtle presentations and careful drifts will pay off when the fish start to look up.
The timing couldn’t be better either, mornings are a great window to explore the Madison in the Park for migratory fish, leaving you plenty of daylight to circle back and take advantage of the afternoon dry fly game on the Firehole.
Madison River (in YNP)
This weekend is shaping up to deliver the best conditions of the fall so far for chasing migratory browns and rainbows on the Madison in the Park. With cooler weather, cloud cover, and low light in the forecast, fish will be on the move, and anglers should be ready.
Whether your game is swinging a two-handed Spey rod, stripping streamers on a single-hander, or working classic soft hackles through riffles and runs, there will be no shortage of opportunity. Each day, more fish are sliding up out of Hebgen Lake and into the river, and the scuzzy conditions this weekend should only accelerate that movement.
Look for a fresh push of lake-run fish to filter into many of the legendary spots we’ve been targeting all fall. The mix of new arrivals could make for some exciting fishing, especially for those who stay mobile and cover water.
Gallatin River (in YNP)
The Park stretch of the Gallatin stands to benefit nicely from this weekend’s scuzzy conditions. Overcast skies and cool temps create just the right backdrop for afternoon Baetis hatches, and when they line up, you can expect to find trout rising steadily in softer seams and tailouts. Bring a mix of small Baetis patterns in #20–22 and be ready with long, fine leaders for the selective fish that call this river home.
The Gallatin also pairs beautifully with a morning session on the Madison. Spend your early hours swinging for migratory fish, then head north as the day warms to catch the afternoon dry fly activity. It’s a perfect one-two punch for anglers looking to make the most of fall’s short windows of prime fishing.
Northeast Corner – Slough, Soda Butte & Lamar
Cold temps this weekend will shorten the window of activity for the native cutthroat that call the Northeast Corner home. Still, persistent anglers should be able to find some rising fish during the warmer afternoon hours.
As sunnier weather returns next week, take full advantage. In October, every warm, bright afternoon feels like a bonus in the Northeast Corner, and fish often respond accordingly. While mornings will be frosty and best spent elsewhere, afternoons can still produce excellent dry fly opportunities. Hoppers and ants remain in play on warm days, while Baetis and Hecuba Drakes continue to drive the dry fly bite when clouds roll in.
This part of the Park is always a gamble in October, but when conditions line up, it can still deliver some great fall fishing.
