As of September 26, 2024, the Yellowstone River is in the midst of a vibrant fall season, offering some of the best fishing opportunities of the year. The recent cold and rainy weather has signaled the arrival of fall, and the river is responding beautifully.

### Weather and River Conditions
The weather forecast for today includes partly cloudy skies with highs in the mid-60s to low 70s, perfect for a day on the river. However, the big rain earlier this week has left the river muddy, particularly due to the Lamar and Gardiner tributaries. As of Thursday, September 22, the mud plug was at Carbella, but it is expected to clear by late Saturday afternoon.

### Sunrise and Sunset
Sunrise today is at around 7:15 AM, and sunset will be at approximately 7:00 PM, giving you a full day to enjoy the river.

### Fish Activity
Fall is an exciting time on the Yellowstone River, with big fish moving around and preparing to bulk up for the spawning season. Brown trout are particularly active, aggressively chasing streamers on cloudy days. The Blue-Winged Olive (BWO) hatch is also starting to kick in, making dry fly fishing a delight, especially between 10 AM and late afternoon.

### Types and Amounts of Fish
The Yellowstone River is home to a healthy mix of brown trout, rainbow trout, and native Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout, along with Rocky Mountain Whitefish. This time of year, the largest fish in the river let their guard down as they prepare for spawning, making it an ideal time to catch trophy-sized fish.

### Best Lures and Bait
For streamer fishing, dead drifting large streamers slowly in medium to slow and deeper water is highly effective. Use streamers with different profiles, actions, and colors to find what the fish are looking for. For dry fly fishing, Blue-Winged Olive patterns are a must, along with other dry flies like Stimulators, morning wood hoppers, and parachute Adams.

For nymphing, tandem nymph rigs with copper Duracell, purple Psycho prince nymph, Frenchie, san juan worms, and hare’s ear are producing well. Perdigons and jig-style nymphs are also good options to avoid snagging on weeds and rocks in the low water.

### Hot Spots
One of the most scenic and productive sections is through the Paradise Valley, where the river offers breathtaking views and diverse types of holding water. The section closer to Livingston is known for holding the highest numbers of trout and is a local favorite for wade fishing once the flows drop later in the summer. Another hot spot is the "town run" section through Livingston, which offers great wade fishing opportunities.

Overall, the Yellowstone River is in great shape for fall fishing, with plenty of opportunities to catch big fish using a variety of techniques. Enjoy your day on the river