best fly fishing in montana

The river provides epic fishing for native cutthroat trout along with some rainbows. Head out to fish the Madison River for the afternoon. This is one of the best rivers in Montana for wading anglers. The Missouri River . The river contains rainbow, brown, brook, cutthroat, and brown trout. Fly fishing classes. A variety of big trout, including rainbow, brown, and cutthroat teem in this blue-ribbon river. Angler heading onto the Missouri River near Wolf Creek Bridge. A June salmonfly hatch always proves to be bountiful and puts the most fishing pressure on the river. Our Montana fly fishing guides offer unparalleled trips on North America's highest density of blue ribbon wild trout waters. Anglers come from across the world to land 16-inch rainbow and brown trout, which are in no short supply thanks to superb hatches. The gravel Rock Creek Road that parallels the water also makes finding spots on the river easy. 6 Smith River. For most of your fishing in Montana, a standard fast action nine foot five weight fly rod is best. After its journey through Gallatin Canyon, the river emerges from the high mountains to enter Gallatin Valley. Streamers, just about any time but especially in the fall for large brown trout. Only a small sliver of Yellowstone National Park is actually in Montana. Callibaetis and midges are the main bugs here. The area around Livingston, Montana is considered to be a Mecca of fly fishing by anglers the world over.We are located just north of Yellowstone National Park near many famous rivers in Paradise Valley. Commercial outfitters are happy to share their knowledge of the rivers to first-time fly casters. Ranging from high-mountain rock cliffs to rolling farmland, the Big Hole River presents a variety of landscapes. Due to the river’s large size, float fishing is probably the best bet although walk and wade anglers can find fish as well. Standard attractor dry flies are often the best approach on this fine trout stream. Though it's farther than the Gallatin, its proximity to Bozeman also makes the Madison popular. The far upper river is much like a spring creak. Stop by a park visitor center to get a current copy of the regulations. All those big lake fish head up into the Park waters starting in late summer. Montana is home to some of the best fly fishing rivers, spring creeks and lakes on Earth. Access is excellent all the way from the Yellowstone National Park Boundary down through Paradise Valley and beyond. The float usually takes four days to complete. The Sun River is born in the high elevations on the east side of the Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex. Anglers heading to the river between November and March need to prepare for potentially harsh conditions. These increasingly competitive permits are for the river’s most popular section, downstream from Camp Baker. Fly-fishing is growing all across the United States. Dry flies are often the best choice on this perfect fly fishing river. “ Our guides (Dan and Will) were extremely knowledgable, friendly and worked exceptionally hard to give us the best fishing experience possible. Drift boat fly fishing through the Alberton River Gorge on the Clark Fork River. The trout grow large here. Book your trip today! Hebgen Lake is a special trout fishery. In all seriousness, most anglers can find excellent fishing between late March through October. Ever since that first magical trip, I always try to make time to fish some of the best water in Montana anytime I am close. The rainbow trout are normally measured in pounds there with ten pound fish a distinct possibility. Whether you're staying in Bigfork, Kalispell, Columbia Falls, Whitefish, or in Glacier National Park, we will take care of you. Large rainbow and brown trout are common although hooking and landing them can be challenging. Montana. The best way to find success on this river is to hire a guide and float. Stay in Cooke City Montana and make the short drive into the Lamar Valley. Floating is another good way to enjoy this beautiful trout stream. Caddis are also very prevalent. Fishing to these risers out of a drift boat with callibaetis or trico imitations provides consistent action as long as the wind is not blowing too hard. This is the river for anglers looking to avoid the crowds. But how do you plan the perfect trip to a state that is home to a lifetime’s worth of amazing fly … Continued Good shoreline to walk and wade are more limited but not impossible to find. The Big Hole in the southwest part of Montana offers 150 miles of postcard Montana fly fishing. Thousands of anglers from across the world fly into this university town to fish the warmer seasons. The steep landscape and rapids here make fishing more challenging, though rainbow, cutthroat, and brown trout teem in the turbulent water. Streamers accounted for 20”+ brown trout for each of us. Rainbow trout are the main quarry on the Bitterroot although some cutthroat and brown trout can be found as well. The extra water adds significant girth to the river. The Bitterroot River offers some of the earliest season fishing with a spring Skwala hatch. This is one of the premier wilderness fly fishing destinations in the lower 48. Early season fishing during the skwala hatch is particularly good. However, since access is quite limited, floating is really the only way to fish this lower section. Their willingness to attack dry flies is what makes the cutthroat an angler favorite. It has information on individual local chapters and can be found here: There are many excellent fly shops across Montana. The Skwala Stonefly, a size 8-12 dark olive stonefly, crawls up on the rocks and hatches in late March and early April. Here you can fish such famed waters as the Lamar itself, Soda Butte Creek, or Slough Creek. Montana’s natural beauty never ceases to amaze. The next morning, we returned and changed tactics. Below Sun River Canyon, the river and fishing mellow out, with nice long riffles and runs. We offer a variety of angling experiences that include day trips, lodging packages and wilderness camping adventures. Bring a variety of leaders and tippet material. On the lakes, sinking line will help in the deeper water. This wild trout fishery flows through the Crow Indian Reservation. There are plenty of access points to launch a boat on Hebgen. The northeast corner of the Park is also a treat. Thankfully, this issue has largely been addressed through ongoing Superfund cleanup efforts and the river is being revived. The narrow stream presents its own challenges but plenty of fish make the effort worthwhile. Clean water, fresh air, mountain vistas, rich culture - what’s not to love in Montana? These gulpers are feeding on callibaetis mayflies as well as tricos depending on what’s hatching. The Gallatin is a fast flowing river with a high gradient. The river runs through Lolo National Forest for 30 miles, offering easy public access and gorgeous scenery. Best Places to Fly Fish in Montana. For many, fly fishing Montana is a way of life and for others it is a fly fishing trip of a life-time. Even better, take a break during the heat of the day and fish the evening hatch once other anglers have left the river. Montana fly fishing inherently means different things to different people and the destinations are many and varied. All the way to Ennis Lake is worth exploring although you won’t have the river to yourself. Access to the Big Hole River is relatively easy. Some sections of the Big Hole provide excellent access for wading. Once the river exits the National Forest, access becomes quite difficult with less than cooperative landowners. The most significant part of nymphing during winter is in getting a slow drag free drift. A particularly good plan is to fish the lake in the morning until the winds pick up. For the lakes, make sure you bring callibaetis and trico patterns as well as some leech and crawfish patterns. Another of Montana’s world famous fly fishing destination rivers, the Bighorn begins in Wyoming before it flows north into Bighorn Lake. Once outside the wilderness complex, the river flows through the imposing Sun River Canyon. The earthquake set off a huge landslide that dammed up the Madison River and created the lake. Today, angler’s come … The best time for the four-day float is in June, when the weather is a more reliably sunny, the high water has subsided, and the caddis are hatching. With its headwaters in Yellowstone National Park (see #21), the Yellowstone River flows north out of Wyoming and into Montana as a world class blue ribbon fishery. Fly fishing in Montana is grand and planning your fly-fishing trip in our home state should be fun and exciting, not a challenge. The Yellowstone River and Missouri River are the best destinations for anglers planning a fall fly fishing trip in Montana. Anglers looking to imitate these unique stoneflies put fishing pressure on the river in spring. ” Learn More The Missoulian Angler Fly Shop Missoula. Many of the large trout in Ennis Lake migrate upstream to spawn. This creek seems more like a river based on its size and provides a sanctuary for wade anglers. Access is difficult but the fishing can be good to excellent for adventuresome anglers. And the surrounding landscapes are straight from the postcards seen at the regional airports. While waiting for your big catch, take a moment to see the mountains cascade around you or catch a glimpse of Montana wildlife. With good hatches, the dry fly angler will particularly enjoy this river. Both wade fishing and float fishing are popular along this 30-mile stretch. This changing landscape affords several fly fishing opportunities. Below Yellowtail Dam, the Bighorn River tailwater provides world class fly fishing for rainbow and brown trout. The run gets stronger as you get deeper into fall. Fly fisherman on the Big Hole River near Melrose, Montana | U.S. Department of Agriculture / photo modified. Below Ruby Reservoir, the river becomes an excellent brown trout fishery. It is probably the best fishing of the year. The river has been deemed public property, but the surrounding tribal lands are private, with no trespassing allowed. Here is a guide to the best fly fishing in Montana. Gorgeous mountain peaks and forested slopes line the entire corridor. The river is one of the longest free-flowing waterways in the country. Fly fishing season in Montana occurs every day of the spring runoff, summer, and fall, depending on the river. I agree with the results of the shoot out and recommend the SKY G 590. Since this is often ambiguous, it is best to stay in the actual stream if you choose to fish through private water to avoid problems. Add in numerous hatches providing good dry fly action and you have a fly angler’s dream. Try night time mousing for huge rainbow and brown trout with guide Bryan Allison. Check current regulations if you intend to target bull trout to make sure that you stay legal. Challenging access and uncertain flows from irrigation dams lend to limited fishing pressure on the Sun River. Brown trout caught while fly fishing the Bighorn River. There are different patterns highly recommended. Golden Stonefly Nymphs, June and July, size 4-6 In a state world-renowned for big mountains and a landscape carved by glaciers, it’s fly fishing that best captures Montana's essence. The best fishing is usually from early to mid July through mid September in most years. Montana Angler … ” “ Lane is a top notch angler well versed in the history of Montana and fly fishing the Blackfoot River. © Copyright 2021 PlanetWare Inc. All rights reserved. You will want some type of watercraft if you are planning on fishing these lakes. Once it enters Montana, it flows through Hebgen Lake. The Clark Fork River originates between Butte and Deer Lodge and flows along Interstate 90 past Missoula to the Idaho border. Outside Yellowstone, the river flows for over 40 miles past Big Sky and through Gallatin Canyon. Read more about my recommended fly rods and other accessories at my RECOMMENDED GEAR PAGE(Links to Page). Find your next lifetime hobby with our list of the best spots to fly fish in Montana. And because of the calm waters regulated by the dam, a variety of fishing vessels take to the water. 1. Montana Fishing Guides is the top fly fishing outfitter in Montana. Rainbow and brown trout dominate although a few brook trout can be found in the upper reaches. Because it is not close to other famous Montana waters, a trip to the Bighorn is a dedicated single destination trip unless you have an abundance of time. Bull trout can be found, but most of the fishing here is for native cutthroat trout. On to the dry fly angler, so what it the best fly rod for Montana in the dry fly world. The fish are a bit more willing here than on some other Montana Rivers. 2 Yellowstone River. With the famed Madison River in Montana such a short drive away, we made certain that we took time to fish it. This upper section is like a giant spring creek. The best fishing usually coincides with the worst weather in mid to late October. The good news is that this river also features phenomenal mayfly and caddis hatches along with some stoneflies. With some of United States’ very best scenery to go with the amazing fly fishing, Montana is a must fish destination for any serious angler. One of the major tributaries of the Missouri, the Yellowstone River also happens to be one of the best trout streams in the country. Overall numbers of trout begin to decline as you head downriver from Livingston although there are some large trout and even a few sections that still have high densities. As with most cutthroat trout, standard attractor dry flies from size 8-16 are best. To be able to float the Smith River, you have to enter a drawing for a permit and hope you get one. Salmonflies, golden stoneflies, and yellow sallies are found on many streams and rivers. Standing dead trees are found throughout much of the lake. The length of the river makes it seem overwhelming to find the right spot to fish. The good news is that the Gallatin is a premier dry fly river. Even though new bugs are being developed every year, there are some bugs you simply can not beat. It’s the time of year that some of the biggest trout in the Bitterroot are willing to come out and gobble up a big foam dry fly, and catching fish on a dry fly in the spring will cure any cabin fever you might have from a long, cold winter. This is one of the only places in Montana where it is legal to do so although there are some limitations. It also happens to be the longest free flowing river in the contiguous United States. Consider streamer fishing on the upper Jefferson if you like targeting large brown trout in tight structure. Fly fishing season in Montana occurs every day of the spring runoff, summer, and fall, depending on the river. Add a name or favorite quote. This makes it a good sleeper stream. Tan and olive caddis in size 14-18 should cover most situations. The twisting-and-turning Gallatin River presents itself more as a meadow stream inside the park. We always love visiting Montana. Probably the best section is closer to Missoula below where Rock Creek and the Blackfoot River adds cool water into the river during the heat of summer. Native Yellowstone cutthroat abound here and are normally easy to catch. Fish rose until we couldn’t see anymore. Below Missoula, float fishing is the most common and best way to go. Tricos in late summer into the fall bring some of the most technical fishing of the year on this trout stream. If it is windy and you are fishing big water, a six weight might be a good idea to bring as well. The Bighorn River is also one of the rivers in the state to produce quality winter fishing. This river is not as pressured as some Montana waters although does get its fair share of anglers. We offer guided fishing trips across the state. While these permits are hard to get, the limited fishing pressure makes landing a fish easy on the Smith River. Check. Six months into the pandemic, when the travel itch became unbearable, I quelled my misgivings and took a 17-day trout-fishing trip to Montana and Wyoming. The fishing regulations can be found here: Information on fish stocking is found here: Fly Fishers International located in Livingston Montana has great information about fly fishing: Montana Trout Unlimited is also a great resource. A ten foot three weight or four weight is an excellent choice as long as the wind is not blowing too strong. The low pressure can also be attributed to the more remote nature of this river. If you take the time to drive up the gravel road there a few miles, you will discover two of the most beautiful mountain lakes in Montana. Wade into crystal clear lakes or pebble-filled trout streams. The only natural lake on the Madison River, Quake Lake was formed by a strong earthquake in 1959. 7 Yellowstone National Park. While trout numbers are not as high, if you hit it right it won’t matter. It’s almost a societal sin in Montana to not fish the state’s abundant waterways. Come prepared for true winter fishing conditions. The famous $3 Bridge wade access is always crowded, but there is good reason. Looking for something a little bit different? You may also find an occasional grayling here. This big river that meanders in southwest Montana offers miles of desirable trout habitat filled with riffles and pools. As a tailwater, the Bighorn fishes very well on standard tailwater patterns. There are both lakes and streams here. Stop to enjoy the scenery as often as possible. Nailing down the specifics on this run is tough, but if you hit it right you might catch the brown trout of a lifetime. What also makes fishing harder is that uniquely in the state, permits are required to float between public access points on the Smith River. The Bitterroot has some of the best spring fishing in Montana. Parts of the Gallatin are shallow enough to wade across the river. The Yellowstone cutthroat trout are plentiful here and will often rise to a well-presented dry fly. The shallow waters of Rock Creek have excellent trout habitats, including riffles, rock gardens, and deep pools. Of course, the Yellowstone River within the National Park is a must fish. Although these are mostly all privately owned making access somewhat pricey, the fishing is worth the price of admission. The majority of anglers head for the upper river immediately below Clark Canyon Dam. That is really the point though. A boat is the best way to fish this lake although some of the shoreline is accessible. Expect cutthroat and rainbow trout in the upper reaches with a transition towards rainbow and brown trout in the lower stretches of Rock Creek. And for good reason. This, along with Rock Creek, is a favorite with wading anglers. Some of this notoriety, as well as heavy opposition against a proposed gold mine, led to a revamped appreciation for the river. Also, keep an eye out for the grizzly bears that call the park home. Anglers often look at the river in two sections: the upper river above Missoula, and the lower river to the west. The rainbow and brown trout here can grow to large sizes. The Madison River also starts within Yellowstone National Park, at the confluence of the Firehole and Gibbon Rivers. The scenery here is spectacular. The summer season is the busiest on the Bighorn, and visitors shouldn’t be surprised to see a lot of anglers on the water. Montana may well be the very best state for the fly angler. Intense rapids make up much of the section below Quake Lake, adding to its reputation as one of the best white water rivers in Montana. If you want to fish on Yellowstone Lake, remember you have to kill all lake trout caught. Most of Montana's rivers and streams teem with trout. After the water settles down beneath Quake Lake, the river stretches for over 50 miles through Madison Valley to Ennis. If you’re a lucky lottery winner, you’ll be catching brown and rainbow trout that average 14-16 inches long. Backpacking or a horse pack trip is the best way to fish the South Fork of the Flathead. Don’t forget some spruce moth patterns as they are particularly plentiful on the Gallatin. The best time to target them is during the annual salmonfly hatch. Do yourself a favor and fish the fall run on the Madison River sometime. The river flows through Gallatin Canyon and Gallatin Valley from here. It is a further drive from places like Bozeman than the Madison or Gallatin. Anglers looking to catch some solitude should cast a line anywhere beyond Livingston. Winter fly fishing in Montana is mostly a game of nymph fishing, but there are exceptions. In US with ease top attractions in Yellowstone National Park, at the regional.... Stop to enjoy the scenery as often as possible its fair share of anglers trout from water! 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