As of November 17th, the Yellowstone River in Montana is offering some excellent late-fall fishing opportunities, despite the chilly weather. Here’s what you need to know for a successful day on the water.

### Weather and Conditions
The weather is expected to be cool and potentially windy, especially in the Paradise Valley area, so make sure to check the localized forecasts. With the colder temperatures, water temperatures have plummeted, moving trout into slower, deeper runs.

### Sunrise and Sunset
Sunrise today is at around 7:30 AM, and sunset will be at approximately 4:30 PM. These times are crucial for planning your fishing day, especially for those targeting the afternoon Blue-Winged Olive (BWO) hatches.

### Fish Activity
Trout have moved into deeper and slower runs, so target the top of longer runs and the deeper pockets adjacent to riffles, shelves, and banks. Brown trout, particularly large ones, are preoccupied with spawning, making them more aggressive and susceptible to larger streamers.

### Types and Amounts of Fish
Yesterday saw a good number of trout caught, particularly rainbows and browns. The larger browns are actively pursuing smaller trout and baitfish, making streamer fishing highly effective. Nymphing is also producing well, especially with tandem nymph rigs.

### Best Lures and Bait
For streamer fishing, articulated sculpin imitations like Sculpzillas, Skiddish Smolts, and Zonkers are working well. If you prefer nymphing, beadhead Pheasant Tails, Copper Johns, Prince Nymphs, and Rubber Legs are top choices. For dry fly fishing, smaller parachutes like the Purple Haze, Sparkle Dun, and BWO cripple patterns in size 18 are effective during the afternoon hatches.

### Hot Spots
The sections of the Yellowstone River below Livingston and up into the park are fishing well. The Valley Garden section of the upper Madison River, which feeds into the Yellowstone, is also full of fish and worth a visit. For specific spots, look at the undercut banks and tailouts of long runs, and the deeper holes near Big Timber.

### Additional Tips
Avoid fishing near redds or through skinny water as this is brown trout spawning season. Use finer tippets and fluorocarbon lines due to the low, clear water conditions. If you see BWOs hatching, try extended body BWO patterns or film critic flies. For October caddis, twitching a size 12 royal chubby or size 14 orange stimulator can be very effective.

With the right gear and knowledge, you should have a productive and enjoyable day on the Yellowstone River. Just remember to dress warmly and be prepared for the cold and wind.