Columbus / Absaroka
Stillwater River
Live Conditions
Stillwater River — Stillwater River near Absarokee
7-Day Flow
↓ Falling
24-Hr Pressure
26.28 inHg · → High/stable
Local Weather
Tough conditions — fish deep
Today
☁️Overcast
78° / 46°
Tomorrow
🌦️Drizzle
83° / 52°
0.06"
Sat
🌧️Rain
61° / 56°
1.81"
Sun
🌦️Drizzle
67° / 55°
0.02"
Cold front incoming — go deep with nymphs, surface activity likely slow.
Weather by Open-Meteo · No API key · Updated every 30 min
What should I fish today?
⚡ AIAI-powered recommendation using today's live flow, temperature, and hatch data.
8.6
Time of Day
Using: 377 CFS · 54.3°F · Hopper season continuing. BWOs returning
What should I pack?
Rod, flies, tippet, and safety gear specific to today's Stillwater River conditions.
🪰 Hatch Calendar
Stillwater River · September · Early Fall
🟢 Active now at 54.3°F water
🟡 Approaching — within 5°F of trigger range
Select month
Hopper season continuing. BWOs returning (size 18-20). Cooling water, active fish. Fall colors through the Beartooth-Absaroka spectacular and uncrowded.
🟢 Active · 🟡 Approaching · ⚪ Seasonal only
River Map
About Stillwater River
Despite the name, a fast freestone draining the Beartooth-Absaroka Wilderness south of Columbus. Pocket water full of wild rainbows, browns, and Yellowstone Cutthroat — a quieter alternative to the Yellowstone over the divide.
Regulations
Standard Montana trout regulations apply on the Stillwater; cutthroat and brown trout are the primary species. Montana fishing license required. Verify current regs at fwp.mt.gov before fishing.
Learn More
Guides to help you fish Stillwater River with more confidence.
Montana Fishing Regulations for Fly Anglers
Montana's Conservation License prerequisite and AIS pass, the third-Saturday-in-May to November 30 general stream season, blue-ribbon special regs on…
Trout Species of Montana
Montana's six salmonids and how to tell a harvestable brown from a release-required cutthroat or a protected bull trout. Missouri and Yellowstone…
Seasonal Guide to Montana Fly Fishing
Montana rivers are a completely different game each season — Salmonfly in late May, PMD and caddis in July, technical Trico on the Missouri in…