Tongue River
river in Wyoming
The Tongue River provides a diverse fishery, from its high-mountain origins to its lower reaches before crossing into Montana, known for its scenic beauty and productive waters.
What's working on Tongue River
- 01Excellent fall fishing opportunities on the Tongue River with clear skies and mild temperatures.
- 02Consistent Blue Wing Olive (BWO) hatches, especially on overcast afternoons, providing technical dry fly action.
- 03Active October Caddis hatch, offering opportunities for larger dry fly presentations.
- 04Streamer fishing is highly effective for aggressive brown trout in deeper runs and structured areas.
- 05Egg patterns are crucial as trout begin pre-spawn movements and feed on loose eggs.
Past reports week by week
5 weeksWhat to tie on
Picked from reports, hatches and the season. Tap a fly for the recipe and where else it works.
Mayer's Mini Leech
Small leech patterns effectively mimic sluggish baitfish and annelids in cold water, enticing strikes from larger, lethargic trout as water temperatures drop in the fall.
October Caddis (Dry)
The October Caddis is the largest caddis hatch of the year in many western rivers during the fall, providing a substantial meal for opportunistic trout.
Buy at AmazonHarvey Pusher
An excellent baitfish and sculpin imitation, highly effective for targeting large, aggressive brown trout during the fall streamer season.
Black Woolly Bugger
A slow-stripped or dead-drifted black streamer imitates leeches and sculpins, which are active even in near-freezing water, making it a high-searching pattern for larger, aggressive trout in fall.
Baby Brown Trout
This streamer is particularly effective in fall when larger brown trout become more aggressive and actively target smaller baitfish in preparation for spawning.
Blue-Winged Olive (BWO) Comparadun
Fall BWO hatches provide excellent technical dry fly opportunities, especially on overcast days, and this pattern is excellent for selective trout feeding on adults.
Buy at AmazonBlood Dot Egg
Fall is egg season for trout, and this pattern effectively imitates trout eggs below spawning fish, a high-calorie food source.
Buy at AmazonTravis Hi-Vis BWO Para Emerger
BWO emergers are crucial during fall hatches, and this high-visibility pattern helps spot subtle takes from trout keying on vulnerable insects in the film.
Where to fish and who to ask
Dayton Area Public Access
Accessible sections near the town of Dayton, offering convenient entry for anglers.
Hogan and Goose Creek Confluence
Productive areas where tributaries like Hogan and Goose Creek join the Tongue, creating ideal trout habitat.
Tongue River Canyon Trailhead
Access to the scenic canyon section, offering more challenging but rewarding fishing in a wild setting.
Fly shops within 40 miles
Fly Shop of the Bighorns
Rock Creek Anglers
Get Tongue River reports by email
Save this water and we'll email you a weekly summary of conditions, hatches and what's working.
Wyoming season by season
What changes on the water through the year, with the flies for each season.
Read before you go
Winter Fly Fishing: Essential Cold Weather Tips & Tactics
Master winter fly fishing with proven cold weather strategies, gear selection, and tactics for catching trout when temperatures drop.
How to Pick the Right Fly Rod Weight for Any Situation
Master fly rod weight selection with expert guidance on matching rod power to fish species, water conditions, and fishing techniques for optimal performance.
Fly Line Types Guide: WF, DT, Running & Shooting Heads
Master fly line selection with our comprehensive guide to weight forward, double taper, running lines, and shooting heads for every fishing situation.
Best Fly Fishing Waders of 2025 – Breathable vs. Neoprene
Expert comparison of breathable and neoprene waders with top 2025 models for every budget and fishing condition.
Fly Fishing Pack vs Vest: Which Setup Is Right for You?
Compare fly fishing packs and vests to find the perfect gear setup for your angling style and fishing conditions.
Best Fly Fishing Sunglasses: Lens Color & Polarization Guide
Master lens color selection and polarization technology for superior vision and fish detection on the water.
Quick answers
Common questions about Tongue River.
What flies work best on Tongue River?
Our top scored fly patterns for Tongue River right now are Blue-Winged Olive Comparadun (80% confidence), Elk Hair Caddis (80% confidence), Mother's Day Caddis (80% confidence). These picks are scored from recent fishing reports, hatch data, and seasonal patterns.
What fish species are in Tongue River?
Tongue River holds Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout, Cutthroat Trout, Brook Trout. See the species links on this page for fly recommendations and seasonal behavior for each.
What are current flow conditions on Tongue River?
Live USGS streamflow readings for Tongue River are charted in the sidebar of this page and updated automatically from the nearest gauge.
Is Tongue River fishing well right now?
We publish a fresh bite report for Tongue River each week based on recent on-the-water intel. The current report — with conditions, hatches, and what's producing — is on this page.