The Boulder River is a freestone river in Montana, listed as Among the state's most-fished waters (agency angler survey) by Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks.
1 USGS gauge on the water reports flow; Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks lists 9 species, including brook trout, brown trout and longnose dace. 13 guides and 4 shops nearby are listed here; the nearest destination hub is Bozeman & Livingston.
The Boulder River in Sweet Grass County, Montana, in February. Photo: USDA NRCS Montana, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Boulder River is a freestone river in Montana. Our destination hub Bozeman & Livingston lists it among its waters, 53 mi away in a straight line. The Boulder River that joins the Yellowstone at Big Timber.
Pick one of its USGS gauges and hear from us when the flow moves into or out of its usual range for the date, or crosses a flow you set. We check the public USGS reading every 2 hours and email only when it crosses, at most once every 6 hours. Flow alone is not a fishing forecast or a safety call.
Signed in: one step. Otherwise we email a confirmation link first. Every alert has one-click links to stop it.
Start from the agency's public access map. Nothing on this page grants or implies access: check the agency map, posted signs and landowner permission before you fish.
Nothing on this page grants or implies access.
Gauges, shops and guides within 40 miles
Map of Boulder River: gauges, shops and guides
Map of Boulder River with 1 USGS gauge, and shops and guides with an exact address within 40 miles.
Restrooms within 2 miles of Boulder River in a straight line, nearest first, with what anglers found when they went. The map says a restroom is there, not whether it is clean or open today.
Map of the restroom near Boulder River
Skip the map; every place is in the list belowMap of 1 restroom near Boulder River, numbered as in the list, with the water’s point marked.
Not rated yet — be the first to tell other anglers if it's clean.
Mapped on OpenStreetMap · see or fix it on the map
Restroom locations and map details: © OpenStreetMap contributors, Open Database License, read Oct 24, 2026. Ratings, answers and photos are members' own; who shared them is never shown, and every photo is reviewed before it appears. Visits older than 18 months no longer count. Distances are straight-line miles, not driving. Nothing here grants access to private land. Community guidelines.
Among the state's most-fished waters (agency angler survey)The lower Yellowstone River at the Badlands Fishing Access Site near Terry, eastern Montana (far downstream of the Paradise Valley trout water). Photo: Bureau of Land Management Montana-Dakotas, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Spring creekThe upper section of DePuy Spring Creek near Livingston, Montana, in January. Photo: Mike Cline, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Among the state's most-fished waters (agency angler survey)Representative photo · not West Boulder RiverThe upper Gallatin River in the Yellowstone National Park section of the Gallatin valley. Photo: NPS / Diane Renkin, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons Not West Boulder River.
Montana · about 26 mi
Among the state's most-fished waters (agency angler survey)Representative photo · not Stillwater RiverThe Bighorn River from the Swinging Bridge, Montana. Photo: charkes, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Stillwater River.
Montana · about 32 mi
Among the state's most-fished waters (agency angler survey)Representative photo · not Shields RiverThe Smith River canyon in early-season snow (US Forest Service work trip, 2010). Photo: USDA Forest Service, Northern Region, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons Not Shields River.
Montana · about 35 mi
Among the state's most-fished waters (agency angler survey)Representative photo · not West Rosebud CreekThe Madison River flowing out of Earthquake Lake, Custer Gallatin National Forest. Photo: USDA Forest Service, Northern Region, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons Not West Rosebud Creek.
Montana · about 42 mi
Seasons, limits, special regulations and closures for each reach are on the agency pages below. Read them before you go.
Each comes from the agency's own published list; where the list names a reach it is quoted. A designation applies to the listed reach, not necessarily the whole water. Listed in the finder under trout.
On the Montana's most-fished waters (FWP statewide angling pressure estimates, 2023 license year, top 250 by state rank) list (Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, read 2026-11-05). All waters with this designation
Measured from the NHDPlus High Resolution (flowlines and waterbodies) (U.S. Geological Survey, read 2026-11-04) for this water’s own mapped feature. Rounded figures; they describe the channel, not today’s conditions.
Whole Boulder River, not only this reach.
Areas the Protected Areas Database of the United States (PAD-US), public access (U.S. Geological Survey, Gap Analysis Project, read 2026-11-05) lists as owned or held in easement and open to the public, crossed by the mapped channel of the whole Boulder River. Boundaries are mapped, not surveyed. Nothing on this page grants or implies access: check the agency map, posted signs and landowner permission before you fish.
20.8 of 64.1 mi on public land
Nothing on this page grants or implies access.
Listings marked Unclaimed are built from open map records and the business's own website: confirm licensing, rates, dates and hours directly.
10 guides name it on their website
Livingston, MT · 32 mi
Float trips · Wade trips · Missouri & Madison
Names this water
Livingston, MT · 33 mi
Float trips · Wade trips · Madison & Yellowstone
Names this water
Livingston, MT · 33 mi
Float trips · Wade trips · Yellowstone & Boulder
Names this water
Livingston, MT · 34 mi
Wade trips · Drift boat · Madison & Gallatin
Names this water
Absarokee, MT · 35 mi
Float trips · Walk-and-wade · Yellowstone & Stillwater
Names this water
Livingston, MT · 43 mi
Float trips · Wade trips · Madison & Gallatin
Names this water
Bozeman, MT · 53 mi
Float trips · Wade trips · Madison & Gallatin
Names this water
Bozeman, MT · 54 mi
Float trips · Wade trips · Madison & Gallatin
Names this water
The species the agency lists here; presence varies by reach and season.
Listed by the state agency
Species guide
Rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), illustration by Duane Raver for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Photo: Duane Raver, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Species guide
Brown trout (Salmo trutta), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service illustration. Photo: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Species guide
Brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis), illustration by Duane Raver for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Photo: Duane Raver, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Species guide
Cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii), photographed by James E. Johnson for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Photo: James E. Johnson, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
5 hatches charted for the region, not measured on this water. From Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks.
Mother's Day caddis (Grannom) (May) · Salmonfly (May to June) · Salmonfly (May to July) · Salmonfly (July) · Trico (August to September)
Bozeman & Livingston lists Boulder River among its waters, but the hub's centre is 53 miles away in a straight line, so the trip planner builds a trip around the water itself: the guides and shops listed within 40 miles of it, its gauges and its nearest towns and airports.
Lists this water · 53 mi away
Matched on the fish the agencies list for both waters first, then the same water type, an official designation or flagship listing on both, and a similar mapped size where USGS hydrography covers both.
At most two waters per country. A shared fish is a listing, not a promise: presence varies by reach and season.
Like the Boulder River? Same fish, overseas.
Flagship waterThe Tongariro River from the Tree Trunk Gorge track. Photo: Pseudopanax at English Wikipedia, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Freestone riverThe Sava Dolinka below the confluence with Beli potok. Photo: Savinjc, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Freestone riverThe Credit River at Streetsville. Photo: Mustang Joe, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
Flagship waterThe Clutha River / Mata-Au at Albert Town, near the Hāwea confluence. Photo: Photo by Lewis: Verduyn-Cassels, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Otago, New Zealand
Same fish: rainbow & brown trout · also a freestone river
Freestone riverThe Humber River at Raymore Park, south of Lawrence Avenue, Toronto. Photo: Risker, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Flagship waterThe River Moy at Banada Priory. Photo: Andreas F. Borchert, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Southern seasons open while ours close.
Flagship waterPenstock Lagoon, Central Highlands, Tasmania. Photo: Mike Cline, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Freestone riverRepresentative photo · not Río PetrohuéThe Río Puelo at Las Gualas, Cochamó. Photo: Nicolás from seno de reloncaví, Chile, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Río Petrohué.
Lake or reservoirRepresentative photo · not Lago LlanquihueThe Río Simpson passing Coyhaique, Aysén. Photo: Manxuc, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Lago Llanquihue.
Lake or reservoir
Flagship waterRepresentative photo · not Mataura RiverThe Oreti River near Lumsden, Southland. Photo: Krzysztof Golik, CC BY-SA 4.0, cropped, via Wikimedia Commons Not Mataura River.
Flagship waterGreat Lake, Tasmania. Photo: Peripitus, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
A wade-fishing checklist for big western trout rivers: a 9 ft 5–6 weight outfit, nymph, dry and streamer setups, waders, boots and a wading staff, with estimated prices by tier and where to buy.
9′ rod, 5–6 weight, floating line · Rainbow and brown trout, whitefish
Open the checklistSeams, shelves and soft water, shown on real rivers.
Public YouTube videos from established channels, chosen by us to support this page. Not sponsored; the creators are not affiliated with Legendary Fly Gear.
Not sponsored All videos on reading water
Indicator rigs, depth and detecting the take.
Public YouTube videos from established channels, chosen by us to support this page. Not sponsored; the creators are not affiliated with Legendary Fly Gear.
Not sponsored All videos on nymphing
Trip stories anglers chose to share publicly and tagged with Boulder River.
No stories from here yet.
Not a statement of access, fish presence or conditions.
A water page organises discovery. It does not assert public access, legal access, current fish presence, guide availability or fishing conditions.
Flows, gauge statistics and flood stages come from USGS and the National Weather Service when the page is shown. Regulations, stocking, species and season statements link to the agency that publishes them; this page copies only the species names and the quoted sentences. Guide and shop listings come from the Legendary directories. Position: the USGS gauge Boulder River at Big Timber MT. Water type is our own classification.
Caution: Low water: go quiet and stealthy
No water temperature here.
At Boulder River at Big Timber MT (USGS 06200000) Provisional USGS data
USGS 06200000 · NWS BTMM8
What the agencies suggest
Approach the stream carefully and with a low profileIowa Department of Natural Resources
Fishing upstream will usually spook fewer fish than working downstreamIowa Department of Natural Resources
Deep pools and undercut banks provide refuge during sunny days and low waterMinnesota Department of Natural Resources
General guidance from the readings and the published lines named above, not a fishing forecast. Local rules and closures come first.
Reading Nov 5, 3:00 PM MST · provisional USGS data
Much below normal for Nov 5 Steady · 24 h
Discharge, last 7 days: 167 readings from Oct 29, 6:00 PM MDT to Nov 5, 3:00 PM MST; ranging 116 to 149 ft³/s; latest 120 ft³/s.
USGS provisional data may be revised. Source: USGS Water Data API continuous values.
| Time | Discharge (ft³/s) | Gauge height (ft) |
|---|---|---|
| Nov 5, 3:00 PM MST | 120 | 1.22 |
| Nov 5, 2:00 PM MST | 118 | 1.21 |
| Nov 5, 1:00 PM MST | 118 | 1.21 |
| Nov 5, 12:00 PM MST | 120 | 1.22 |
| Nov 5, 11:00 AM MST | 120 | 1.22 |
| Nov 5, 10:00 AM MST | 123 | 1.23 |
| Nov 5, 9:00 AM MST | 125 | 1.24 |
| Nov 5, 8:00 AM MST | 125 | 1.24 |
| Nov 5, 7:00 AM MST | 127 | 1.25 |
| Nov 5, 6:00 AM MST | 127 | 1.25 |
| Nov 5, 5:00 AM MST | 130 | 1.26 |
| Nov 5, 4:00 AM MST | 127 | 1.25 |
| Nov 5, 3:00 AM MST | 130 | 1.26 |
| Nov 5, 2:00 AM MST | 130 | 1.26 |
| Nov 5, 1:00 AM MST | 127 | 1.25 |
| Nov 5, 12:00 AM MST | 130 | 1.26 |
| Nov 4, 11:00 PM MST | 130 | 1.26 |
| Nov 4, 10:00 PM MST | 127 | 1.25 |
| Nov 4, 9:00 PM MST | 132 | 1.27 |
| Nov 4, 8:00 PM MST | 130 | 1.26 |
| Nov 4, 7:00 PM MST | 130 | 1.26 |
| Nov 4, 6:00 PM MST | 127 | 1.25 |
| Nov 4, 5:00 PM MST | 125 | 1.24 |
| Nov 4, 4:00 PM MST | 127 | 1.25 |
| Nov 4, 3:00 PM MST | 123 | 1.23 |
| Nov 4, 2:00 PM MST | 125 | 1.24 |
| Nov 4, 1:00 PM MST | 123 | 1.23 |
| Nov 4, 12:00 PM MST | 125 | 1.24 |
| Nov 4, 11:00 AM MST | 123 | 1.23 |
| Nov 4, 10:00 AM MST | 125 | 1.24 |
| Nov 4, 9:00 AM MST | 125 | 1.24 |
| Nov 4, 8:00 AM MST | 127 | 1.25 |
| Nov 4, 7:00 AM MST | 125 | 1.24 |
| Nov 4, 6:00 AM MST | 127 | 1.25 |
| Nov 4, 5:00 AM MST | 130 | 1.26 |
| Nov 4, 4:00 AM MST | 130 | 1.26 |
| Nov 4, 3:00 AM MST | 132 | 1.27 |
| Nov 4, 2:00 AM MST | 132 | 1.27 |
| Nov 4, 1:00 AM MST | 132 | 1.27 |
| Nov 4, 12:00 AM MST | 132 | 1.27 |
| Nov 3, 11:00 PM MST | 132 | 1.27 |
| Nov 3, 10:00 PM MST | 132 | 1.27 |
| Nov 3, 9:00 PM MST | 134 | 1.28 |
| Nov 3, 8:00 PM MST | 137 | 1.29 |
| Nov 3, 7:00 PM MST | 134 | 1.28 |
| Nov 3, 6:00 PM MST | 134 | 1.28 |
| Nov 3, 5:00 PM MST | 137 | 1.29 |
| Nov 3, 4:00 PM MST | 137 | 1.29 |
| Nov 3, 3:00 PM MST | 134 | 1.28 |
| Nov 3, 2:00 PM MST | 137 | 1.29 |
| Nov 3, 1:00 PM MST | 139 | 1.3 |
| Nov 3, 12:00 PM MST | 137 | 1.29 |
| Nov 3, 11:00 AM MST | 139 | 1.3 |
| Nov 3, 10:00 AM MST | 139 | 1.3 |
| Nov 3, 9:00 AM MST | 142 | 1.31 |
| Nov 3, 8:00 AM MST | 142 | 1.31 |
| Nov 3, 7:00 AM MST | 142 | 1.31 |
| Nov 3, 6:00 AM MST | 142 | 1.31 |
| Nov 3, 5:00 AM MST | 144 | 1.32 |
| Nov 3, 4:00 AM MST | 142 | 1.31 |
| Nov 3, 3:00 AM MST | 142 | 1.31 |
| Nov 3, 2:00 AM MST | 144 | 1.32 |
| Nov 3, 1:00 AM MST | 142 | 1.31 |
| Nov 3, 12:00 AM MST | 142 | 1.31 |
| Nov 2, 11:00 PM MST | 144 | 1.32 |
| Nov 2, 10:00 PM MST | 144 | 1.32 |
| Nov 2, 9:00 PM MST | 144 | 1.32 |
| Nov 2, 8:00 PM MST | 144 | 1.32 |
| Nov 2, 7:00 PM MST | 147 | 1.33 |
| Nov 2, 6:00 PM MST | 144 | 1.32 |
| Nov 2, 5:00 PM MST | 147 | 1.33 |
| Nov 2, 4:00 PM MST | 144 | 1.32 |
| Nov 2, 3:00 PM MST | 144 | 1.32 |
| Nov 2, 2:00 PM MST | 149 | 1.34 |
| Nov 2, 1:00 PM MST | 147 | 1.33 |
| Nov 2, 12:00 PM MST | 147 | 1.33 |
| Nov 2, 11:00 AM MST | 147 | 1.33 |
| Nov 2, 10:00 AM MST | 149 | 1.34 |
| Nov 2, 9:00 AM MST | 149 | 1.34 |
| Nov 2, 8:00 AM MST | 149 | 1.34 |
| Nov 2, 7:00 AM MST | 147 | 1.33 |
| Nov 2, 6:00 AM MST | 147 | 1.33 |
| Nov 2, 5:00 AM MST | 144 | 1.32 |
| Nov 2, 4:00 AM MST | 147 | 1.33 |
| Nov 2, 3:00 AM MST | 144 | 1.32 |
| Nov 2, 2:00 AM MST | 144 | 1.32 |
| Nov 2, 1:00 AM MST | 142 | 1.31 |
| Nov 2, 12:00 AM MST | 142 | 1.31 |
| Nov 1, 11:00 PM MST | 144 | 1.32 |
| Nov 1, 10:00 PM MST | 139 | 1.3 |
| Nov 1, 9:00 PM MST | 139 | 1.3 |
| Nov 1, 8:00 PM MST | 137 | 1.29 |
| Nov 1, 7:00 PM MST | 137 | 1.29 |
| Nov 1, 6:00 PM MST | 132 | 1.27 |
| Nov 1, 5:00 PM MST | 130 | 1.26 |
| Nov 1, 4:00 PM MST | 127 | 1.25 |
| Nov 1, 3:00 PM MST | 125 | 1.24 |
| Nov 1, 2:00 PM MST | 123 | 1.23 |
| Nov 1, 1:00 PM MST | 125 | 1.24 |
| Nov 1, 12:00 PM MST | 125 | 1.24 |
| Nov 1, 11:00 AM MST | 123 | 1.23 |
| Nov 1, 10:00 AM MST | 125 | 1.24 |
| Nov 1, 9:00 AM MST | 123 | 1.23 |
| Nov 1, 8:00 AM MST | 125 | 1.24 |
| Nov 1, 7:00 AM MST | 123 | 1.23 |
| Nov 1, 6:00 AM MST | 125 | 1.24 |
| Nov 1, 5:00 AM MST | 123 | 1.23 |
| Nov 1, 4:00 AM MST | 125 | 1.24 |
| Nov 1, 3:00 AM MST | 123 | 1.23 |
| Nov 1, 2:00 AM MST | 125 | 1.24 |
| Nov 1, 1:00 AM MST | 125 | 1.24 |
| Nov 1, 1:00 AM MDT | 125 | 1.24 |
| Nov 1, 12:00 AM MDT | 123 | 1.23 |
| Oct 31, 11:00 PM MDT | 123 | 1.23 |
| Oct 31, 10:00 PM MDT | 123 | 1.23 |
| Oct 31, 9:00 PM MDT | 123 | 1.23 |
| Oct 31, 8:00 PM MDT | 123 | 1.23 |
| Oct 31, 7:00 PM MDT | 123 | 1.23 |
| Oct 31, 6:00 PM MDT | 123 | 1.23 |
| Oct 31, 5:00 PM MDT | 123 | 1.23 |
| Oct 31, 4:00 PM MDT | 125 | 1.24 |
| Oct 31, 3:00 PM MDT | 123 | 1.23 |
| Oct 31, 2:00 PM MDT | 125 | 1.24 |
| Oct 31, 1:00 PM MDT | 125 | 1.24 |
| Oct 31, 12:00 PM MDT | 127 | 1.25 |
| Oct 31, 11:00 AM MDT | 127 | 1.25 |
| Oct 31, 10:00 AM MDT | 127 | 1.25 |
| Oct 31, 9:00 AM MDT | 125 | 1.24 |
| Oct 31, 8:00 AM MDT | 125 | 1.24 |
| Oct 31, 7:00 AM MDT | 123 | 1.23 |
| Oct 31, 6:00 AM MDT | 125 | 1.24 |
| Oct 31, 5:00 AM MDT | 125 | 1.24 |
| Oct 31, 4:00 AM MDT | 123 | 1.23 |
| Oct 31, 3:00 AM MDT | 125 | 1.24 |
| Oct 31, 2:00 AM MDT | 125 | 1.24 |
| Oct 31, 1:00 AM MDT | 125 | 1.24 |
| Oct 31, 12:00 AM MDT | 125 | 1.24 |
| Oct 30, 11:00 PM MDT | 125 | 1.24 |
| Oct 30, 10:00 PM MDT | 125 | 1.24 |
| Oct 30, 9:00 PM MDT | 123 | 1.23 |
| Oct 30, 8:00 PM MDT | 123 | 1.23 |
| Oct 30, 7:00 PM MDT | 123 | 1.23 |
| Oct 30, 6:00 PM MDT | 125 | 1.24 |
| Oct 30, 5:00 PM MDT | 123 | 1.23 |
| Oct 30, 4:00 PM MDT | 123 | 1.23 |
| Oct 30, 3:00 PM MDT | 120 | 1.22 |
| Oct 30, 2:00 PM MDT | 118 | 1.21 |
| Oct 30, 1:00 PM MDT | 118 | 1.21 |
| Oct 30, 12:00 PM MDT | 116 | 1.2 |
| Oct 30, 11:00 AM MDT | 116 | 1.2 |
| Oct 30, 10:00 AM MDT | 116 | 1.2 |
| Oct 30, 9:00 AM MDT | 118 | 1.21 |
| Oct 30, 8:00 AM MDT | 116 | 1.2 |
| Oct 30, 7:00 AM MDT | 118 | 1.21 |
| Oct 30, 6:00 AM MDT | 118 | 1.21 |
| Oct 30, 5:00 AM MDT | 116 | 1.2 |
| Oct 30, 4:00 AM MDT | 118 | 1.21 |
| Oct 30, 3:00 AM MDT | 118 | 1.21 |
| Oct 30, 2:00 AM MDT | 120 | 1.22 |
| Oct 30, 1:00 AM MDT | 120 | 1.22 |
| Oct 30, 12:00 AM MDT | 118 | 1.21 |
| Oct 29, 11:00 PM MDT | 120 | 1.22 |
| Oct 29, 10:00 PM MDT | 118 | 1.21 |
| Oct 29, 9:00 PM MDT | 120 | 1.22 |
| Oct 29, 8:00 PM MDT | 118 | 1.21 |
| Oct 29, 7:00 PM MDT | 120 | 1.22 |
| Oct 29, 6:00 PM MDT | 120 | 1.22 |
Normal for Nov 5: 170–240 ft³/s (middle half of 77 years of record). Now: 120 ft³/s, much below normal.
Much below normal for this date. 120 ft³/s is below the 10th percentile of daily mean flow for Nov 5 at this gauge over 77 years of record: 10th 147, 25th 170, median 197, 75th 240, 90th 284 ft³/s.
Daily means on record for Nov 5: lowest 90 ft³/s, highest 433 ft³/s.
Classes as USGS labels them (hyswap: flow categories (WDFN_stats schema) (U.S. Geological Survey) ); percentiles from the USGS daily statistics (U.S. Geological Survey) (approved daily means; the reading is provisional and instantaneous).
Steady over 24 hours (−2.4% discharge). Rising or falling means a change of more than 10% in discharge (or 0.2 ft of gauge height) over 24 hours; our rule of thumb, not a USGS class.
NWS observation not current. NWS has no current observation at this gauge, so no flood category is shown.
Forecasts are issued as needed during times of high water, but are not routinely available.
Open the NWS gauge page · What the categories mean (National Weather Service)
No current water-temperature reading at this gauge, so no temperature guidance is given. Take a stream thermometer: the trout lines Montana FWP uses are 66°F, 68°F and 73°F.
Species the agency lists for Boulder River: Brook Trout, Brown Trout, Longnose Dace, Longnose Sucker, Mottled Sculpin, Mountain Sucker, Mountain Whitefish, Rainbow Trout, Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout.
Source: FISHMT :: Waterbody Details (Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks).
Turn Around Don't Drown. “A mere 6 inches of fast-moving flood water can knock over an adult.” No flow number makes a crossing safe; if in doubt, stay out.
Turn Around Don't Drown (National Weather Service)Guidance from the readings above and the published thresholds named with each line; not a fishing forecast, a safety guarantee or a statement about access. Local rules and closures come first.
Checked Nov 5, 4:45 PM MST; readings refresh at most every 15 minutes and statistics daily. Provisional USGS data can be revised. Conditions change: re-check before you go. This is general guidance, not a fishing forecast, a safety guarantee or a statement about access.
Among the state's most-fished waters (agency angler survey)The lower Yellowstone River at the Badlands Fishing Access Site near Terry, eastern Montana (far downstream of the Paradise Valley trout water). Photo: Bureau of Land Management Montana-Dakotas, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Montana · about 34 mi
Rainbow, brown & brook trout
1,560cfsFlow now · normal for the date
Spring creekThe upper section of DePuy Spring Creek near Livingston, Montana, in January. Photo: Mike Cline, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Among the state's most-fished waters (agency angler survey)Representative photo · not West Boulder RiverThe upper Gallatin River in the Yellowstone National Park section of the Gallatin valley. Photo: NPS / Diane Renkin, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons Not West Boulder River.
Montana · about 26 mi
Among the state's most-fished waters (agency angler survey)Representative photo · not Stillwater RiverThe Bighorn River from the Swinging Bridge, Montana. Photo: charkes, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Stillwater River.
Among the state's most-fished waters (agency angler survey)Representative photo · not Shields RiverThe Smith River canyon in early-season snow (US Forest Service work trip, 2010). Photo: USDA Forest Service, Northern Region, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons Not Shields River.
Among the state's most-fished waters (agency angler survey)Representative photo · not West Rosebud CreekThe Madison River flowing out of Earthquake Lake, Custer Gallatin National Forest. Photo: USDA Forest Service, Northern Region, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons Not West Rosebud Creek.
Big Timber, Montana
River cabins · 13 mi
