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Livingston to Columbus/Billings The river tops out around 10 ft. Bathymetry on this water is estimated from its real outline and maximum depth. Use it to shortlist water, then verify with your electronics — and never navigate by it. Species by species, here's what the data says the year looks like.
The drawn water covers 8,918 acres wrapped in 167.1 miles of bank, with 4 islands in the mix. That shoreline is heavily fingered (development index 12.6) — bays, points and pockets everywhere, which multiplies the fishable edge. There is no deep basin to speak of — the entire surface is under ~15 ft, prime weed water end to end. Figure 63 mi of water from one end to the other, 15.5 mi at the beam. Sweet Grass County claims this one. Its nearest charted neighbour, Jasper Lake (Tumble Lake), is 28 mi to the south.
Come spring, look for rainbow trout tight to the bank in 3 to 10 ft. Through summer count on 3 to 10 ft; the winter hold is 2 to 10 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Current seam (mile 8.1): a current seam around 6 ft that scores prime in spring. Best bite is early morning and the evening. A dodger + spoon (deep troll) or a flutter spoon is the honest summer answer here.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | Current seam (mile 8.1) (6 ft) | Inline spinner (silver), Small spoon |
| Summer | 3 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | Current seam (mile 8.1) (6 ft) | Dodger + spoon (deep troll), Flutter spoon |
| Fall | 3 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | Current seam (mile 8.1) (6 ft) | Casting spoon, Jerkbait over shoals |
| Winter | 2 to 10 ft | dawn | Current seam (mile 8.1) (6 ft) | Jigging spoon, Tube jig (white) |
Spring smallmouth bass on Yellowstone River hold shallow, usually 3 to 10 ft. Depth-wise the year is flat: 3 to 10 ft in summer, 3 to 10 ft once it turns cold. The chart's best answer is Riffle & run (mile 4.3) — rock pile, 4 ft, prime for spring. Prime time lands in early morning and the evening. The summer box starts with a drop shot (goby/minnow) or a ned rig.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | Riffle & run (mile 4.3) (4 ft) | Ned rig, Tube jig |
| Summer | 3 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | Riffle & run (mile 4.3) (4 ft) | Drop shot (goby/minnow), Ned rig |
| Fall | 3 to 10 ft | midday & dawn | Riffle & run (mile 4.3) (4 ft) | Jerkbait, Blade bait |
| Winter | 3 to 10 ft | midday | Current seam (mile 8.1) (6 ft) | Blade bait, Hair jig |
Start shallow in spring: sauger sit in 2 to 10 ft that time of year. They don't go far with the seasons — 3 to 10 ft covers summer, 3 to 10 ft covers winter. Top water on the chart: Outside-bend hole (mile 0.6), a creek channel in the 8 ft range, prime in summer. Fish it in early morning and the evening and you'll meet the bite. Throw a bottom bouncer + crawler or a 3-way rig with stickbait until the fish tell you otherwise.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | Outside-bend hole (mile 0.6) (8 ft) | 3/8 oz jig + ringworm, Hair jig + minnow |
| Summer | 3 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | Outside-bend hole (mile 0.6) (8 ft) | Bottom bouncer + crawler, 3-way rig with stickbait |
| Fall | 3 to 10 ft | dusk & dawn | Outside-bend hole (mile 0.6) (8 ft) | Jig + big minnow, Blade bait |
| Winter | 3 to 10 ft | dusk | Outside-bend hole (mile 0.6) (8 ft) | Heavy jigging spoon, Jig + minnow (vertical) |
Come spring, look for common carp tight to the bank in 2 to 10 ft. Through summer count on 2 to 10 ft; the winter hold is 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 | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 10 ft | midday & dawn | open water | |
| Summer | 2 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | |
| Fall | 3 to 10 ft | midday | Outside-bend hole (mile 0.6) (8 ft) | |
| Winter | 3 to 10 ft | midday | Outside-bend hole (mile 0.6) (8 ft) |
Start shallow in spring: brown trout sit in 1 to 10 ft that time of year. They don't go far with the seasons — 3 to 10 ft covers summer, 1 to 10 ft covers winter. The spot to know is Current seam (mile 8.1), a current seam in about 6 ft of water that rates prime for brown trout in summer. Warm-month bites cluster around after dark and early morning. Throw a spoon at the thermocline or a deep stickbait (night) until the fish tell you otherwise.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 1 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | Riffle & run (mile 4.3) (4 ft) | Stickbait off planer boards (shallow), Small spoon along mud lines |
| Summer | 3 to 10 ft | night & dawn | Current seam (mile 8.1) (6 ft) | Spoon at the thermocline, Deep stickbait (night) |
| Fall | 2 to 10 ft | dusk & dawn | Riffle & run (mile 4.3) (4 ft) | Jerkbait over gravel, Casting spoon |
| Winter | 1 to 10 ft | dawn | Current seam (mile 8.1) (6 ft) | Jigging spoon, Small stickbait (slow) |
Spring puts rock bass in skinny water — 2 to 10 ft is the zone. Summer fish stay in 3 to 10 ft, and winter fish hold in 3 to 10 ft. Riffle & run (mile 4.3) is the standout, a rock pile at roughly 4 ft, rated prime for spring rock bass. Plan around the evening in the warm months. A ned rig (small) or a marabou jig covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 10 ft | midday & dawn | Riffle & run (mile 4.3) (4 ft) | 1/16 oz jig + grub, Small inline spinner |
| Summer | 3 to 10 ft | dusk | Riffle & run (mile 4.3) (4 ft) | Ned rig (small), Marabou jig |
| Fall | 3 to 10 ft | midday | Riffle & run (mile 4.3) (4 ft) | Small tube jig, Inline spinner |
| Winter | 3 to 10 ft | midday | Riffle & run (mile 4.3) (4 ft) | Tungsten jig + plastic, Small spoon + spike |
The chart marks 43 structure features on Yellowstone River; the deepest is Outside-bend hole (mile 0.6) at about 8 ft.
Access data: Montana FWP — Fishing Access Sites. Confirm conditions and fees locally before you launch.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for Montana waters are set by the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks — and special regulations can apply to Yellowstone River specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Montana fishing regulations →
Yellowstone River is about 10 ft (3 m) deep 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.
Anglers target rainbow trout, smallmouth bass, sauger, common carp, brown trout, rock bass 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.
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.
Fishing on Yellowstone River is regulated by the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks. Check the official Montana regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
Jasper Lake (Tumble Lake) 28 mi · Lightning Lake 29 mi · Cimmerian Lake 31 mi · Lake Surrender 31 mi · Cataract Lake 32 mi · Lake Wilderness 32 mi · Narrow Escape Lake 33 mi · Kaufman Lake (Falls Creek Lake) (Park) 33 mi · West Boulder Lake 33 mi · Owl Lake (Sweet Grass) 34 mi · Sienna Lake 34 mi · Wounded Man Lake 34 mi
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
More water nearby: Sweet Grass County fishing maps (10 charts). Browse all Montana fishing maps or see every water on DepthScout. How we build these maps. Fish here with a sonar unit that logs? Send us your depth data and we'll improve this chart, credited to you. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.