Fishing Report - 10/2/2026

Fly Fishing Reports Yellowstone National Park Fly Fishing Reports

by Nina Lett October 02, 2026

Montana

Flows/Temperatures (as of September 24th; click the name for real-time numbers)

Hebgen Outflow - 665 CFS

Kirby - 753 CFS
Kirby High/Low Temps - 62°/51°F

Cameron - 872 CFS
Cameron High/Low Temps - 59°/51° F

This Week's Weather Forecast in the Valley

Upper Madison
As this (beautiful) sunny, crisp weather persists, fishing has been fairly... inconsistent. It's not that fish aren't eating; the issue is pinning down what specifically they want that day. One day they want a chubby; the next they'll only eat a rubber legs. I'm not saying this to get your hopes down, though, just to inspire you to keep changing things up until it works! Once the water heats up around 11 or so, fish are definitely looking to eat, so don't be afraid to throw stuff at the wall to see what sticks.

Dry fly bites are slowing down, though a hopper dropper setup is a good way to get an emerger nymph in the right zone. The main pattern of those fish's nymph preferences is black emergers, caddis-ish attractors, and stoneflies. Streamers are getting more and more action as well, especially sculpin-y small stuff. If you aren't using a sink tip, I'd suggest using a heavier fly to make sure you're getting down there quick enough to make the most out of each cast!

Dry Flies - Chubby Chernobyl, Purple Haze, Hop Drop and Roll
Nymphs - Olive Hotspot, Crystal Dip, Flexi Gurdle Bug
Streamers - MT Mouthwash, Mini Dungeon, Pitching Leech

Hebgen/Quake Lake
With shoulder-season conditions continuing, a smaller leech has been working quite well, especially with a bit of sparkle.
If you want to look for those lakers staging to spawn, and are tired of seeing someone in every run in the Madison within Yellowstone, heading out into the arms and giving a streamer some nice slow strips is a great way to catch some good fish with less of a crowd around you!
Dry fly fishing on the lakes has slowed as this cold front settles in, but you can still find fish in the arms from time to time, looking for larger foam. As these cold nights and mild days continue, the transition into stripping streamers or nymphs begins.

Dry Flies - Chubby Chernobyl, Arricks Ant, Damsel in Distress
Nymphs - Turkey Callibaetis, Ice Cream Cone, Pheasant Tail
Streamers - Hot Bead Leech, Simi-seal Leech, Rowley Leech

Yellowstone National Park

Madison, Firehole, Gibbon - As of 9/26; if you are one of those eager to target lakers on their way out of Hebgen, now is the time to brush the dust off that two-hander and get out there. On my last trip to the Madison (before Hebgen), I was seeing quite a few White Millers flying around as well as some tricos, so I wouldn't pack that dry fly rod into storage just yet. Although the lake run hasn't really started in earnest just yet, they are starting to show up slowly, and there are still some very nice residents sitting in there to tide you over. Fish from Hebgen have been noted around Firehole Falls, so you don't need to concentrate right around the lake; get out there!
Bring your bear spray and make plenty of noise; there have been two grizzlies spotted right around the park boundary on the Madison.

Gallatin - As of 9/11; Terrestrials are still the way to go on the Gallatin. A smaller hopper or ant would do the trick, especially on the sunny afternoons. When those fish aren't looking up, a flashy nymph like a rainbow warrior has been doing well!

Yellowstone River - The fishing on the Stone has picked up slightly, especially if you're looking to swing soft-hackles for a (potential) big ol' cutty.

Northeast Corner - If you, like me, are unwilling to let go of those dry flies juuuust yet, throwing a hopper/attractor is still enticing those lovely risers!