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Fishing Yellowstone River: what the data says
Livingston to Columbus/Billings The river tops out around 10 ft. The contours are modeled from the water's real shoreline and maximum depth. Treat them as a rough guide, and never use them for navigation. Here is how the season plays out for each species, straight from the data behind the map.
Rainbow Trout fishing at Yellowstone River
Spring rainbow trout on Yellowstone River hold shallow, usually 3 to 10 ft. Summer fish stay in 3 to 10 ft, and winter fish hold in 2 to 10 ft. Current seam (mile 8.1) is the standout, a current seam at roughly 6 ft, rated prime for spring rainbow trout. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. A dodger + spoon (deep troll) or a flutter spoon covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | Inline spinner (silver), Small spoon |
| Summer | 3 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | Dodger + spoon (deep troll), Flutter spoon |
| Fall | 3 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | Casting spoon, Jerkbait over shoals |
| Winter | 2 to 10 ft | dawn | Jigging spoon, Tube jig (white) |
Smallmouth Bass fishing at Yellowstone River
Start shallow in spring: smallmouth bass sit in 3 to 10 ft that time of year. Summer fish stay in 3 to 10 ft, and winter fish hold in 3 to 10 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Riffle & run (mile 4.3): a rock pile around 4 ft that scores prime in spring. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. A drop shot (goby/minnow) or a ned rig covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | Ned rig, Tube jig |
| Summer | 3 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | Drop shot (goby/minnow), Ned rig |
| Fall | 3 to 10 ft | midday & dawn | Jerkbait, Blade bait |
| Winter | 3 to 10 ft | midday | Blade bait, Hair jig |
Sauger fishing at Yellowstone River
Start shallow in spring: sauger sit in 2 to 10 ft that time of year. Summer fish stay in 3 to 10 ft, and winter fish hold in 3 to 10 ft. The spot to know is Outside-bend hole (mile 0.6), a creek channel in about 8 ft of water that rates prime for sauger in summer. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. A bottom bouncer + crawler or a 3-way rig with stickbait covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | 3/8 oz jig + ringworm, Hair jig + minnow |
| Summer | 3 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | Bottom bouncer + crawler, 3-way rig with stickbait |
| Fall | 3 to 10 ft | dusk & dawn | Jig + big minnow, Blade bait |
| Winter | 3 to 10 ft | dusk | Heavy jigging spoon, Jig + minnow (vertical) |
Common Carp fishing at Yellowstone River
Spring common carp on Yellowstone River hold shallow, usually 2 to 10 ft. Summer fish stay in 2 to 10 ft, and winter fish hold in 3 to 10 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Outside-bend hole (mile 0.6): a creek channel around 8 ft that scores prime in fall. Best bite is early morning and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 10 ft | midday & dawn | |
| Summer | 2 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | |
| Fall | 3 to 10 ft | midday | |
| Winter | 3 to 10 ft | midday |
Brown Trout fishing at Yellowstone River
Start shallow in spring: brown trout sit in 1 to 10 ft that time of year. Summer fish stay in 3 to 10 ft, and winter fish hold in 1 to 10 ft. Current seam (mile 8.1) is the standout, a current seam at roughly 6 ft, rated prime for summer brown trout. Best bite is after dark and early morning. Summer baits: a spoon at the thermocline or a deep stickbait (night) gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 1 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | Stickbait off planer boards (shallow), Small spoon along mud lines |
| Summer | 3 to 10 ft | night & dawn | Spoon at the thermocline, Deep stickbait (night) |
| Fall | 2 to 10 ft | dusk & dawn | Jerkbait over gravel, Casting spoon |
| Winter | 1 to 10 ft | dawn | Jigging spoon, Small stickbait (slow) |
Rock Bass fishing at Yellowstone River
Start shallow in spring: rock bass sit in 2 to 10 ft that time of year. Summer fish stay in 3 to 10 ft, and winter fish hold in 3 to 10 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Riffle & run (mile 4.3): a rock pile around 4 ft that scores prime in spring. In summer the feeding windows fall in the evening. A ned rig (small) or a marabou jig covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 10 ft | midday & dawn | 1/16 oz jig + grub, Small inline spinner |
| Summer | 3 to 10 ft | dusk | Ned rig (small), Marabou jig |
| Fall | 3 to 10 ft | midday | Small tube jig, Inline spinner |
| Winter | 3 to 10 ft | midday | Tungsten jig + plastic, Small spoon + spike |
Notable structure
- Outside-bend hole (mile 0.6): creek channel, around 8 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 2.5): creek channel, around 8 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 9.9): creek channel, around 8 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 23.0): creek channel, around 8 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 26.7): creek channel, around 8 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 28.5): creek channel, around 8 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 34.1): creek channel, around 8 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 37.8): creek channel, around 8 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 41.9): creek channel, around 8 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 43.7): creek channel, around 8 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 45.9): creek channel, around 8 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 53.4): creek channel, around 8 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 60.8): creek channel, around 8 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 62.7): creek channel, around 8 ft
Common questions
How deep is Yellowstone River?
Yellowstone River is about 10 ft at its deepest point. The contours here are modeled from the water's real shape and maximum depth, so treat them as a rough guide.
What fish are in Yellowstone River?
Anglers target smallmouth bass, sauger, rainbow trout, common carp, brown trout, rock bass on Yellowstone River.
Where is the best fishing spot on Yellowstone River?
Current seam (mile 8.1) is the top-rated area: a current seam in about 6 ft of water that rates prime for rainbow trout in spring. Open the map above to see every rated spot for each species and season.
When is the best time to fish Yellowstone River?
For rainbow trout, the summer bite is best in early morning and the evening. Each species page section below lists the seasonal windows, and the map shows a live NOW badge when you're inside one.
Nearby waters
Jasper Lake (Tumble Lake) · Lightning Lake · Cataract Lake · Cimmerian Lake · Lake Surrender · Lake Wilderness
See how Yellowstone River stacks up: best smallmouth bass lakes in Montana · best sauger lakes in Montana · best rainbow trout lakes in Montana · best common carp lakes in Montana
Browse all Montana fishing maps or every water on DepthScout. How we build these maps. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.