It’s a fishing day

Yellowstone River at Livingston fishing conditions · Montana

Sit it outno rainbow trout window clears the bar in 36 hours

Wind builds to 32 mph out of the south-southwest by tomorrow at 11:00 am.

Log a trip here
Right now: 49 for rainbow trout, sit it outTap 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. 492 pm
  2. 49
  3. 49
  4. 495 pm
  5. 39
  6. 39
  7. 168 pm
  8. 16
  9. 16
  10. 1611 pm
  11. 16Sun
  12. 16
  13. 02 am
  14. 0
  15. 0
  16. 05 am
  17. 0
  18. 0
  19. 08 am
  20. 0
  21. 0
  22. 011 am
  23. 0
  24. 0
  25. 02 pm
  26. 0
  27. 0
  28. 165 pm
  29. 16
  30. 16
  31. 318 pm
  32. 31
  33. 31
  34. 3911 pm
  35. 39Mon
  36. 39
Go, 85+Worth the trip, 70+Marginal, 55+Sit it out

Right now

Water
No reading

Rainbow trout range 45–68°

Wind
12 mph

From the southwest

Flow
1,540 cfs

steady · -1% in 24 h

Light
Daylight

Sunset 5:01 pm

Sky
Sunny

No rain expected

Air
58°F

NWS hourly forecast

Barometer
Falling

Measured, last 3 hours

Moon
5% lit

Waning crescent

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

49Sit it outNo window clears the bar

Water

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

Why

Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. 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

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

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

49Sit it outNo window clears the bar

Water

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

Why

Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. 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

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

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
  • River1,540 cfs · steady · -1% in 24 h
  • Barometer30.21 inHg, falling

Sun, moon & solunar

  • Sunset today5:01 pm
  • Sunrise tomorrow7:11 am
  • MoonWaning crescent, 5% lit
  • Minor solunarToday 3:30 pm–4:30 pm
  • Major solunarTonight 10:20 pm–12:20 am
  • Minor solunarTomorrow 6:30 am–7:30 am

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.