The oddly warm and dry winter persists here in the Greater Yellowstone Region. It was pushing 55 degrees here in Bozeman last weekend, and the 10-day forecast shows more warm temperatures. The lack of winter so far is a hot topic, leaving everyone wondering what the next few months will bring.
I thought I’d share my thoughts on what this means for the fishing in the Yellowstone Region and my perspective on what this fishing season may look like. I also plan to reflect on this blog post this fall, once we see how it all played out. I’d love to hear how you are feeling going into the 2026 fishing season in the comments.
Where Is Winter?
As I write this article, we are in the middle of one of the many warm spells we have had so far this winter. Temperatures consistently above freezing and bright sun have been the norm this winter. February is usually one of our coldest months and brings lots of precipitation. So far, we have not seen it.
Below is the current snowpack for the region. While the mountains have gotten more snow than the valleys, many mountain ranges remain below average. Now this can change drastically in a short period of time, but with how things have gone so far this winter, it is hard to see things changing.
All this warm weather here in Montana comes as the rest of the country is recovering from a major winter storm. From the Northeast to the South, many states have experienced abnormally cold and wet conditions. Meanwhile, here in Montana, it has felt like a warm spring day all winter long. It’s just weird, and every conversation around town starts with how oddly warm the weather has been.
Winter Fishing Has Been Stellar
Now, it has been a great winter to get out and do some fishing. With little snow on the ground and warm temperatures, many fisheries remain accessible and are fishing well. Rivers like the Gallatin and Yellowstone are usually chock full of ice this time of year, but are currently open and offer great fishing. As long as you can dodge the wind, there have been plenty of opportunities to get out and catch some fish this winter.
It is a double-edged sword with great winter fishing conditions now, but the potential for poor conditions this summer. I think we would all prefer that switched around, but it’s hard to complain when you’re catching fish on a 50-degree day in January.
Plan Your Fishing This Spring
Who knows how this all shapes out? We could get a wet spring, giving us excellent water conditions throughout the summer. That would be awesome, and it is still very much in play. I have hope that things change for the better.
But I can’t help but feel some concern as each day passes without snow. With how the past few summers have gone and with how consistent the warm weather has been this winter, it’s hard to believe we have a summer of cold water ahead of us.
With this in mind, I plan to focus much of my fishing on spring and early summer to take advantage of the cold water while we have it. March through June will probably be our best fishing with the coldest water and heaviest insect hatches. I wouldn’t be surprised if hatches come and go rather quickly (just like last year), and many rivers are put on hoot owl restrictions early in the summer. If you are planning a fishing trip to the Yellowstone Region, I’d lean toward earlier rather than later for the 2026 season.
Summer May Be Tough
Again, a lot can change from now until summer, and things could look great for July through September. There is plenty of time for the mountains to build snowpack, and historically, the next few weeks are our wettest. That is why I wanted to write this article: to reflect on it when it’s all said and done and see how it played out.
But as of now, I expect July and August to be rather tough for cold-water and match-the-hatch fishing. We have seen this the past few summers as well. Hoot owl restrictions, minimal hatches, and low water. Many of our famous and heavily guided rivers may have a tough time this summer, especially freestone rivers without a dam to keep water temperatures cool.
Now that is not to say there is not some good fishing to be had. The Yellowstone Region has some of the best trout fishing out there. There are many fisheries that keep cold water throughout the summer; you just have to be creative. Backcountry lakes and streams are the best way to find cold water. The higher in elevation you go, the more likely you will find cold water and happy fish. I recommend planning a few adventures to get into the backcountry and find some cold water this summer.
I hope you have been enjoying the light winter we have had thus far. It’s been nice being able to take my dog on long walks, have my old truck start with no issues, and squeeze in some fishing on the weekends. That being said, I have missed the cold mornings waking up to a fresh blanket of snow. I love having all four seasons here in the West, and feel like we have been jipped of what makes winter so beautiful. I hope things change soon.
All we can do right now is enjoy the weather, do some snow dances, and plan our fishing for when we expect the conditions to be best. We’ll see how it all shakes out.
Thanks for reading The Curious Angler,
Nick
