As of November 2, 2024, the Yellowstone River in Montana is gearing up for some excellent fall fishing, despite the recent unseasonably warm and sunny weather. Here’s what you need to know for today:

### Weather and Conditions
A significant cold front is moving in, bringing heavy rain and snow, which will finally push us into typical late fall weather. This change is expected to enhance fishing conditions significantly. Temperatures will drop, with highs barely reaching 62 degrees, and nights will be crisp, making the water temperatures more favorable for trout activity.

### Sunrise and Sunset
Sunrise today is at around 7:30 AM, and sunset will be at approximately 5:00 PM. These times are crucial as the best fishing will likely occur during the late morning to mid-afternoon.

### Fish Activity
With the cooler temperatures, trout activity is expected to increase. The fish will start feeding aggressively as they prepare for winter. Yesterday, anglers reported catching a mix of brown trout and rainbow trout, particularly in the deeper runs and tailouts of long sections.

### Types and Amounts of Fish
The recent warm weather had limited the brown trout run, but with the incoming cold front, we can expect more consistent and larger catches. Anglers have been reporting decent numbers of trout, especially when using the right techniques and flies.

### Best Lures and Bait
For the Yellowstone River, the following flies and techniques are recommended:
- **Streamers:** Articulated sculpin imitations, zonkers, and crayfish patterns have been effective, especially in the undercut banks and deeper holes.
- **Nymphs:** Tandem rigs with generalist nymphs like stoneflies, worms, eggs, prince nymphs, and perdigons are working well. Using nymphs with orange or pink beads can also be productive.
- **Dry Flies:** Blue-winged olives (BWOs) and October caddis are starting to show up. Extended body BWOs, film critics, and hatchback BWOs are good choices for dry fly fishing. For October caddis, try twitching a royal chubby or orange stimulator.

### Hot Spots
- **Near Livingston:** The river sections from Livingston up into Yellowstone National Park have been producing good results. Look for deeper runs and tailouts where trout tend to congregate.
- **Paradise Valley:** This area is known for its consistent fall fishing. The cooler and cloudier days here make it an ideal spot for dry fly fishing with BWOs and October caddis.

### Additional Tips
- Given the forecast, the river may get muddy for a day or two, but this should clear up quickly.
- Starting your day around 11:00 AM and focusing on the mid-afternoon is advised, as this is when the fish are most active.
- Dead-drifting Woolly Buggers under an indicator with a BWO nymph dropper can also be an effective technique in the rough water.

With the weather changing and the fish becoming more active, today is a great day to hit the Yellowstone River and enjoy some of the best fall fishing Montana has to offer.