Yellowstone River

The Yellowstone River holds the remarkable distinction of being the longest undammed river in the contiguous United States, flowing 692 miles from its headwaters in the Absaroka Range of Wyoming through Yellowstone National Park, north through Paradise Valley, past Livingston, and eventually across the plains of eastern Montana to join the Missouri River near the North Dakota border. For fly anglers, the most prized section is the stretch through Paradise Valley between Yellowstone National Park's northern boundary at Gardiner and the city of Livingston, where the river courses through a broad, spectacular valley flanked by the Absaroka Range to the east and the Gallatin Range to the west. This section holds outstanding populations of Yellowstone cutthroat trout, rainbow trout, and brown trout, with fish averaging 14 to 18 inches and specimens well over 20 inches taken regularly.

The Yellowstone is primarily a float-fishing river through Paradise Valley, with drift boats providing access to miles of water between public access points. However, productive wade fishing can be found at every bridge and fishing access site, particularly in the braided channels and side channels that form along the valley floor. The river's annual runoff is typically later and more prolonged than other Montana rivers due to the high-elevation snowpack in Yellowstone Park, which means prime dry fly fishing often doesn't begin until mid-July. Once conditions stabilize, though, the Yellowstone rewards anglers with superb hopper fishing through August and September, followed by excellent fall streamer fishing as large brown trout move up from the lower river to spawn. The combination of wild fish, stunning scenery, and the powerful, unrestrained current of an undammed river makes the Yellowstone a bucket-list experience for any serious fly angler.