Cold morning on the Yellowstone, and this is Artificial Lure with your river rundown from a local’s angle. Flows are low and clear for early winter, and the river has that steel‑blue look that usually means picky trout but solid fishing if you slow down and fish smart.
## Weather, light, and “tides”
There are no true tides here, but water level is nudging down day by day, so watch for exposed gravel bars and shelf ice starting along the edges. Expect below‑freezing starts, highs only creeping into the 30s, light wind early with more breeze in the afternoon, and occasional snow showers drifting out of the high country. Sunrise comes late and sunset early now, so think banker’s hours: best window is late morning through mid‑afternoon when the water bumps a couple of degrees.
## Fish activity and recent catch
Trout metabolism is slowing, but fish are still feeding steadily in the softer walking‑speed seams and deeper winter buckets. Anglers up and down Paradise Valley have been picking up decent numbers of 12–18 inch browns with a few bigger fish mixed in, plus rainbows and the usual whitefish keeping indicators busy. Action is very much “quality over quantity” now: fewer grabs, but when it goes down it’s often a heavy brown sliding out of the depth.
## Best flies, lures, and bait
Think low and slow. Fly folks should lean on:
- Nymphs: stonefly patterns (rubberlegs), small mayfly nymphs, and attractor jigs in natural and copper tones.
- Streamers: slim sculpin patterns, olive or black, swung or slowly stripped on a tight line.
Gear anglers do well with:
- Small to medium spoons in gold or copper.
- 2–3 inch minnow plugs in muted patterns.
- Soft plastics on light jig heads bounced just off the bottom.
If you’re in a section that allows bait, go classic winter: nightcrawlers, salmon eggs, or small pieces of shrimp drifted deep and slow. Whatever you throw, add weight, lengthen leaders, and be ready for very soft takes.
## Hot spots to try
A couple of local favorites right now:
- Paradise Valley from Pine Creek down toward Carter’s Bridge: deep mid‑river buckets and soft inside bends holding mixed bows, browns, and whitefish.
- Downstream near Columbus and on into the Billings stretch: long tailouts and inside corners fishing well with jigs and small plugs from shore.
Wherever you set up, focus on the slower inside seams, drop‑offs below riffles, and any dark, mid‑river trench you can reach. Cover water patiently; winter fish stack up, so once you find one, work that lane thoroughly.
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Dec 6 20254 m