Here's this week's Yellowstone National Park Fishing Report. 

It’s been a spectacular week in Yellowstone, and this is without question one of the most enjoyable times of year to explore the Park with a fly rod in hand. The park is full of action these days with opportunities to catch lake run fish in the Madison system, throw hoppers to cutthroat in the northeast corner, listen to bull elk bugle as they round up their harem, and watch grizzlies march through Hayden Vally in search of protein before winter sets in.

The forecast looks favorable through the weekend, with beautiful fall conditions expected to hold for a few more days. After that, another round of "scuzzy" weather is on the way—and that’s just what we like to see this time of year. Cloud cover, cooler temps, and a little moisture are the perfect combination to kick fall hatches into gear and encourage more migratory fish to move up into the system.

If you’ve been waiting for a signal to hit the Park this fall, this is it.

Firehole River

This is a great place to spend a sunny afternoon dialing in your soft hackle game with flies like BSA's Old Faithful Soft Hackle. When clouds and scuzzy weather roll in next week be on the lookout for afternoon baetis hatches and selective fish rising to duns and emergers. 

Madison River (in YNP)

The Madison River in Yellowstone Park remains a strong option this week—especially for anglers looking to swing soft hackles or streamers, whether with a single-hand rod or a Trout Spey setup. There’s a fair number of lake-run fish already in the system, and with cooler, wetter weather on the horizon, we’re hopeful that more will follow.

In the meantime, take full advantage of the low light windows during early mornings and late evenings, particularly on bright, sunny days. These are often the best times to find fish on the move or willing to chase. During the midday sun, consider shifting your focus to other parts of the Park where dry fly or sight-fishing opportunities may be more productive.

Northeast Corner – Slough, Soda Butte & Lamar

Every warm, sunny afternoon from here on out is a bonus in the Northeast Corner of the Park—a final window to enjoy dry fly fishing for native Cutthroat Trout with terrestrials, Baetis, and late-season Hecuba Drakes.

At this point in the season, there’s no need to hit the water early. Morning lows are routinely dipping below freezing, and the fish won’t be active until things warm up. Use those chilly early hours to chase other opportunities—swinging soft hackles or streamers to lake-run fish in the Madison system is a great way to start the day.

By late morning, shift your focus to Slough Creek, the Lamar River, or Soda Butte Creek, and look for fish rising in the softer water or along cutbanks. A well-presented hopper, ant, or drake can still do the trick.

As always in the fall, timing and flexibility are key—but this part of the Park still has some magic left in it for the patient angler.

Gallatin River (in YNP)

The Gallatin River inside the Park continues to be a great afternoon option this week, especially as fall conditions deepen. This stretch may be the coldest corner of Yellowstone right now, with morning temperatures regularly dipping into the 20s, making early starts less productive.

Instead, plan your Gallatin sessions for the warmer hours of the day—late morning through afternoon—when both trout and bugs are more active. The midday sun helps warm the water just enough to spark Baetis activity, and you may still find opportunistic fish willing to take a hopper or ant during sunny stretches.

A dry-dropper rig remains a versatile and effective choice, allowing you to cover a range of holding water from shallow tail-outs to deeper runs. 

This time of year, the Gallatin rewards patience, stealth, and well-placed casts—and the fall colors along the river corridor are an added bonus.