If you would like to sample the fishing on the Yellowstone and don't have the use of a boat or raft, you will be able to get around on the river anywhere from Point of Rocks down to Carter's Bridge. Mallards Rest Fishing Access Site has camping and good access for anglers working upstream. When to Go The pre run-off season on the Yellowstone can be a good cure for a long winter. May. The catch is that the river is usually high and dirty by the time the hatch gets going, so anglers need a flexible schedule and an alternate plan such as Armstrong's and Nelson's spring creeks. The salmonfly hatch can be hampered by high, dirty water as well, so it pays to keep track of flow levels as your trip date approaches.
Anglers can check flows on the web or call a local shop.
Plan your trip for the optimal period around the very end of June or the first week of July. If water conditions are too extreme, you can shift to nearby tailwaters like the Missouri, Madison or Bighorn. Summer brings the best water conditions, but heavy storms in Yellowstone Park can put the river out for a few days. The big golden stoneflies, grasshoppers, gray drakes and caddis are the smorgasbord presented to Paradise Valley trout during the long days of summer. Anglers can expect a variety of interesting fishing opportunities.