Yellowstone Park
YELLOWSTONE PARK
ReportOCT 7 — 14, 2026
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Flow
1200CFS
Yellowstone River at Corwin Springs MT
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Water Temp
54.5°F
Updated 2026-10-07
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Weather
31–73°F
Sunny
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Reported By
Bruce Staples
On the water
The Yellowstone River at Corwin Springs is running at 1,200 cfs and 54.5°F under sunny skies with highs near 73°F today and 71°F Thursday, with overnight lows dipping to the low 30s. Calm winds and stable fall weather make for excellent fishing across park waters.
From the ShopBruce Staples · October 7, 2026
The Firehole River still offers great early-in-the-day dry fly fishing with tricos, BWOs, midge life cycle, and soft hackle patterns producing action. Caddis hatches bring trout up during afternoons.
The brown trout runs in the Lewis and Madison River have international reputations for producing trophy-sized individuals, and thus draw numerous anglers. There are lesser brown trout runs in the park in the Snake and Gardner rivers — these usually peak later in October. Streamer, large soft hackled, and woolly bugger patterns are needed to interest these fish in each river.
Weather conditions are now a major consideration when visiting park waters. Keep track of these through the park website.
What's Working — Hot Flies
Hatch Chart
| Insect | Size | Activity | Prime Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trico | #20–22 | Morning spinner falls on the Firehole | Early morning |
| Blue-Winged Olive (BWO) | #20–22 | Dry fly action on the Firehole | Morning |
| Midge | #20–24 | Life cycle — larva, pupa, and adult — producing on the Firehole | Morning |
| Caddis | #18–20 | Afternoon hatches bringing trout to the surface | Afternoon |
| Soft Hackle / Wet Fly | #12 | Swung soft hackles producing throughout the day on the Firehole | All day |
Best Time Window
- EARLY MORNING (dawn–10 AM): Dry fly fishing on the Firehole with tricos, BWOs, and midge adult patterns
- AFTERNOON (noon–dusk): Caddis hatches on the Firehole; streamer and soft hackle swinging for brown trout on the Lewis, Madison, Snake, and Gardner
Guide's Tip
From the benchTrico spinner falls are producing on the Firehole early in the morning but there is no trico pattern in our current catalog — tie or source a size #20–22 trico spinner before your trip. On the brown trout rivers, cover water efficiently: start with a streamer or large soft hackle and slow down only when you find fish stacked in a run. Weather swings dramatically in October in Yellowstone, so check the park website for road and access conditions before every outing.
Main Species
Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout
Brown Trout
Rainbow Trout
