It’s a fishing day

Yellowstone River at Livingston fishing conditions · Montana

Today, 3 am–4 amRainbow trout

The bite peaks at 88.

Log a trip here
Right now: 80 for rainbow trout, worth the tripTap or drag along the water to move through the next 36 hours

Rainbow trout, hour by hour

Each float is an hour. The deeper it rides, the better the bite. The strip underneath runs daylight, dusk and dark; the red rule marks the best window. Click any hour to read it.

  1. 801 am
  2. 80
  3. 88
  4. 804 am
  5. 66
  6. 66
  7. 667 am
  8. 66
  9. 74
  10. 7410 am
  11. 74
  12. 66
  13. 661 pm
  14. 66
  15. 74
  16. 744 pm
  17. 74
  18. 74
  19. 747 pm
  20. 74
  21. 74
  22. 7410 pm
  23. 71
  24. 64Tue
  25. 641 am
  26. 71
  27. 71
  28. 714 am
  29. 71
  30. 71
  31. 747 am
  32. 74
  33. 51
  34. 5110 am
  35. 51
  36. 51
Go, 85+Worth the trip, 70+Marginal, 55+Sit it out

Right now

Water
No reading

Rainbow trout range 45–68°

Wind
3 mph

From the north-northwest

Flow
1,640 cfs

steady · -2% in 24 h

Light
Dark

Sunrise 7:53 am

Sky
Patchy Fog

No rain expected

Air
27°F

NWS hourly forecast

Barometer
Falling

Measured, last 3 hours

Moon
100% lit

Full

What’s biting

Each species is scored against its own water-temperature range and tide preference, then wind, weather and warnings. The rules are Montana Central District regulations for these waters.

Rainbow Trout

Rainbow trout

Oncorhynchus mykiss

88GoToday, 3 am–4 am

Water

No water reading here right now. Rainbow trout bite in 45–68° water, best near 55°.

Why

Sharp 3-hour fall — fish feed hard ahead of a front. Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. Settled river level — clearer water, easier wading. Holds 3–20 ft down.

Keep

3 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Central District rivers and streams: 3 trout a day and in possession, only 1 over 18" and only 1 a cutthroat; grayling must be released. Open all year unless an exception says otherwise.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Montana Central District

Season here: Apr–May, Oct, estimated from local air temperature, 2023–2025; there is no water gauge here. More on rainbow trout

Brown Trout

Brown trout

Salmo trutta

80Worth the tripToday, 3 am–4 am

Water

No water reading here right now. Brown trout bite in 45–68° water, best near 55°.

Why

Sharp 3-hour fall — fish feed hard ahead of a front. Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. Settled river level — clearer water, easier wading. Holds 3–25 ft down.

Keep

3 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Central District rivers and streams: 3 trout a day and in possession, only 1 over 18" and only 1 a cutthroat; grayling must be released. Open all year unless an exception says otherwise.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Montana Central District

Season here: Apr–Jun, Aug–Oct, estimated from local air temperature, 2023–2025; there is no water gauge here. More on brown trout

The water

  • Water temperatureNo reading
  • River1,640 cfs · steady · -2% in 24 h
  • Barometer30.26 inHg, falling

Sun, moon & solunar

  • Sunrise today7:53 am
  • Sunset today6:18 pm
  • MoonFull, 100% lit
  • Major solunarToday 12:00 am–2:00 am
  • Minor solunarToday 8:10 am–9:10 am
  • Major solunarToday 12:20 pm–2:20 pm

Solunar tables are a popular heuristic. A peer-reviewed test found they don’t predict catch on their own, so here they only nudge the score when the tide or moon already agree. How the score works

Fishing report

No current report covers these waters.

We only show reports an agency has published, with their date. Montana FWP has the state’s fishing pages.

Licenses and rules: Montana FWP · fish-consumption advisories

About this spot

The longest free-flowing (undammed) river in the lower 48, exiting Yellowstone National Park and running big and fast through Paradise Valley past Livingston. A classic freestone float fishery for native cutthroat plus rainbow and brown trout — the salmonfly hatch and the fall streamer season are bucket-list events.

Central District limits: 3 trout a day, only 1 over 18" and only 1 cutthroat. Upstream of Pine Creek Bridge cutthroat are catch-and-release, and any smallmouth caught above Springdale Bridge must be killed and reported to FWP.

Nearby

Public spots within 40 miles, with the same 36 hours of floats.

Questions people ask

Do I need a fishing license to fish at Yellowstone River at Livingston?

Yes (anglers age 16 and older). To fish at Yellowstone River at Livingston you need the appropriate state fishing license. See the agency's current rules: the state agency website

What fish are commonly targeted at Yellowstone River at Livingston?

Yellowstone River at Livingston is listed on this site for 2 commonly-targeted species: Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout. Which species is currently in season and which is scoring highest today is shown in the per-species ranking on this page.

When is the best time to fish at Yellowstone River at Livingston?

It depends more on the species and the day's conditions than on a fixed "best hour." Water temperature, weather, and — at tidal locations — the stage of the tide drive activity most. The per-species ranking on this page scores every target species at Yellowstone River at Livingston against today's live conditions, so the fish near the top are your best bets right now; check back as conditions change through the day.

What kind of access does Yellowstone River at Livingston have?

Yellowstone River at Livingston has multiple access types — pier, shoreline, and at least one public boat ramp. Central District limits: 3 trout a day, only 1 over 18" and only 1 cutthroat. Upstream of Pine Creek Bridge cutthroat are catch-and-release, and any smallmouth caught above Springdale Bridge must be killed and reported to FWP.

Which state's fishing regulations apply at Yellowstone River at Livingston?

state agency regulations apply at Yellowstone River at Livingston. Size limits, creel limits, and seasonal closures are listed per species on each species page. Always confirm against the agency source linked from each regulation block — emergency closures can take effect mid-season.

Is Yellowstone River at Livingston tidal water?

No. Yellowstone River at Livingston is non-tidal — water level varies with rainfall, seasonal flow, and (where applicable) upstream dam releases rather than tidal exchange.