The Best Fly-Fishing in Montana Shimmying into our waders early one morning at the Ranch at Rock Creek, we weren’t quite sure what to expect.Snow blanketed the mountains and meadows of the 6,600+ acre property, and a mixture of ice floes and running water danced down the rivers. There are a lot of access points in this section making it easy to get down to the river. Know before you go when you check out our Rock Creek fishing reports. The Skwala Stonefly, a size 8-12 dark olive stonefly, crawls up on the rocks and hatches in late March and early April. It’s one of the most picturesque places to fly fish in Montana. Don’t be dismayed if you’re planning on going and aren’t prepared, you can get on the river if you’re willing to try. The Yellowstone River begins in Yellowstone National Park and flows 692 miles until it joins the Missouri in North Dakota. The sections below Hegben Lake and Quake Lake are some of the most picturesque and productive pockets to fish. Montana is home to some of the best fly fishing rivers, spring creeks and lakes on Earth. Montana Trout Outfitters – Experience a Fishing Trip of a Lifetime. The Madison River is one of the best-known fly-fishing rivers in Montana. If people ask where you fished in Montana you’ll just say Nunya, Nunya business! It’s a typical tailwater with lots of fish being caught on smaller dries and nymphs. The Smith River is a blue-ribbon trout fishery and has been named as one of America’s 10 most endangered rivers. Fly Vines Original Recycled Fly Line Lanyard, Grizzly Hackle Heather Performance Long Sleeve Shirt, A Missoula Guided Fly Fishing Trip – FAQs, SEO Case Study: Blogging for The Grizzly Hackle Fly Fishing Guide Service - TOMIS. We are lucky enough to live in a state that boasts the best trout fishing in the United States and one could argue the Planet. The fishing is excellent and the majority of fish are rainbow and brown trout, although you can find some brook trout in the upper reaches. The Clark Fork has recovered from mining and floods in the early 1900s, to one of the most productive trout rivers in Montana today. Montana is a fly fisherman’s dream. Even though it isn’t your ideal trout habitat, the trout seem to come out of nowhere in the spring and fall with some great drake and BWO hatches as well as some really big fish being caught on streamers if you’re willing to throw the big fish for that “one” fish. Flathead is awesome fly fishing. Would like to do a wading trip and a drift boat trip. Due to this, access is limited and there are restrictions on the number of float trips allowed per year. Fishing is always good in the summer time! This section is home to a lot of crawfish, so remember to bring some good imitations to trick the bigger fish that live there. It fishes all year long due to the fact that it’s a tailwater, meaning that you will find a few fish to be caught, even in the winter! Your email address will not be published. Just cast out a size 18 purple haze and you’ll be set, Your email address will not be published. Top Fly-Fishing Towns. Here you have a chance at catching lots of browns and rainbows, everywhere from 14-18 inches with bigger fish being caught often. You won’t tell a soul and it will be just for you and your memories. If it’s in the western half of the state, there is most likely a trout in it. Montana is home to the Rocky Mountains, Yellow Stone National park and a whole host of other national forests. If you plan on going, it’s best to plan a 3-day trip or more to get the most out of it. Big Sky Country. It’s a great option when the days are very hot and other rivers may be less productive. Throw them back though as the Flathead isnt a secret any longer!! If a perfect trout stream were to exist, it has to be Rock Creek. I’m 82, grand son is 15, I’m in good health. Whether it’s PMD’s in June/July, Hoppers in August or our favorite Mahoganies in the fall there will be fish rising. Gauley River, West Virginia. It will be cold so come wrapped up warm for some icy conditions. The Missouri River is the longest river in North America and is where a lot of the best trout rivers in Montana eventually end up. Come see some of the most gorgeous landscape in the nation. Montana. From the mighty. All three forks offer something different. The Last Best Place. Required fields are marked *. The Beaverhead is basically an irrigation ditch with big browns and rainbows living in its waters near Dillon, MT. We are lucky enough to live in a state that boasts the best trout fishing in the United States and one could argue the Planet. Without further delay, here are our top choices for places to fly fish in Montana. In the summers, there are some fantastic evening caddis and mayfly spinner hatches that are well worth fishing into dusk for. If you really want to try and catch a monster, try fishing at night with a mouse pattern to lure out huge brown and rainbow trout. It has a huge number of rivers and lakes full of hungry trout that are surrounded by some incredible scenery and wildlife. South Fork of the Flathead River The best time to fish is early to mid-July until mid-September and you’ll find a lot of brown and rainbow trout plus some cutthroats and grayling. Fishing any time of year is all about being prepared, but even more so in the fall. Summer is the backdrop for many of our Montana fly fishing guides’ fondest memories of early days and late nights, on the water in pursuit of rising trout with anglers. Swing by our Missoula fly shop or check out our up-to-date Bitterroot fly fishing report before you hit the water! With its close proximity to Bozeman, MT, this is a great river to explore when visiting. With the average trout size exceeding 12 inches, it is no wonder the fly fish industry in the state generates nearly a billion dollars a year. The Gallatin River is a top dry fly stream and standard attractors and moth patterns work very well. There’s a high density of browns, rainbows, and cutthroats in this section and the numbers slowly taper off once you go past Livingston. The Big Hole is a freestone river in Southwest Montana near the town of Dillon, MT. The Ruby River below Ruby Dam is very similar to it’s brother the Beaverhead. Madison River, Montana In the heart of Montana ’s, ‘Trout Mecca,’ the Madison has a fish count higher than the number of feet in the mile of river where they live. We are from Southern California and into bass fishing but not trout. This video highlights my fly fishing adventures in Bozeman, Montana this past September. Springtime Skwala fishing, as well as fall Mahoganies, BWO’s and streamer fishing make this a “must fish” Montana fly fishing river. For some of the best dry fly fishing, head to the stretch below Holter Dam. The best hatches happen in spring and late summer with amazing caddis and mayfly hatches plus some stoneflies. The best fishing is found upstream from Livingston and here are some top sections for you to check out. In its lower trout water near Big Timber, you have a chance at catching some of the biggest browns in the state on big streamers. 215 W Front StMissoula, MT 59802(406) 721-8996info@grizzlyhackle.com, © 2018 GrizzlyHackle.com • All Rights Reserved • Made with by TOMIS • Outfitter #7521 - Privacy Policy, Fly fishing in Montana tops many a fly fisher’s bucket list. Southwest Montana is blessed with over 700 miles of blue ribbon trout streams, crystal clear spring creeks, and productive lakes. If you’re more of an adventurous angler, it’s worth the hike into the stretch in Beartrap Canyon. Although the Missouri can get busy, it’s well worth the trouble as there are plenty of fish to be caught. It is the longest free-flowing river in the contiguous United States and a world-class blue-ribbon trout river holding rainbows, browns and cutthroat trout. The Madison is best known for its Salmonfly hatch in late June, but there is good dry fly fishing through the summer and fall. There is a lot of easy road access in the National Forest and it’s a great river for unguided fly fishing. The Gallatin is one of the shorter rivers in Montana and is one of the most popular for wade fishing. The park has so many fishing options, you wouldn’t run out of new waters to try if you fished there every day for the rest of your life. Hosting monster wild rainbows and (subjectively) the hardest fighting trout in the state, it should be at the top of your destinations list for your next fly-fishing adventure. Brown trout are the dominant species, with a good number of rainbows mixed in. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. From fishing pocket water and riffles to it’s lower end braids and undercut banks, this river has it all. There’s also a campground below the dam which is a lovely place to stay that also has a boat ramp to launch your drift boat from if you have one. Depending on the time of the year and the hatches you’ll have dry fly fishing all day long. If you’re lucky, you’ll be able to do a multi-day float trip through arguably some of the most stunningly beautiful scenery in Montana. https://www.montanaanglingco.com/top-5-rivers-to-fly-fish-in-montana All major hatches happen here, but it’s best fished with nymphs and streamers. It’s a large river with a big flow and is not really suited to wade fishing unless you are there when river levels are low in early spring and late summer. The Bitterroot has some of the best spring fishing in Montana. The Bighorn near Fort Smith, MT is one of the states most famous tailwater rivers. It is certainly one of the top rivers to fish if you’re into dry fly fishing and sight-fishing for big trout. Though it's farther than the Gallatin, its proximity to Bozeman also makes the Madison popular. Although you can find some big trout and odd pockets of fish further down. Our advice is to get a map and find a blue line. This classic freestone is close to Missoula. The Best Time of Day. The Madison has a very diverse range of water and is one of the most beautiful rivers in Montana to fish. There are massive hatches of small Tricos and BWO’s depending on the time of year that make the fish rise with consistency. Cast your line in the Paradise Valley or on Flathead Lake, only two of many prized locations for anglers in Big Sky Country. The Treasure State. Today it’s very popular, well protected and if you’re into fly fishing, a place you have got to spend some time. Required fields are marked *. I’m wanting to put a trout fishing trip together for myself and grandson. Fly fishing in Montana tops many a fly fisher’s bucket list. The river meanders through stunning scenery and holds amazing waters that big cutthroats seem to thrive in. If you’re looking to wade fish and hunt down trophy cutthroats then the section between Yellowstone Lake and the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone inside the park is a great place to start. If you like fishing small dries or nymphs to big trout then this is the place for you. Although the Smith is not known for it’s trophy potential, the brown and rainbow trout fishing in the spring and early summer is fantastic. If you want a lazy day throwing attractor dries and willing fish then you want to make sure to fish this river. Down from the $3 Bridge to Ennis Lake, access to the Madison is easy and the sections are great for float fishing but it does get busy and you will not have the river to yourself. Each February a drawing for permits is held. This all makes for a smaller, by Montana standards, river that is full of browns, rainbows and cutthroat. Always fun! Best Time to Fly Fish in Montana One of the best parts of the park is the northeast section which holds a range of different rivers. Missoula is in the heart of some of the best fly angling in the world and people do not want to have their time wasted when they visit. Fishing in the park takes you even further into the wild. And we can’t blame them. But its yearlong fishing is just as wonderful as trout are always willing to eat a well presented dry fly, nymph or streamer. Fly shops are the backbone of the fly fishing community. But how do you plan the perfect trip to a state that is home to a lifetime’s worth of amazing fly … Continued The beauty and majesty of this river along with it’s bountiful trout make it top place to fly fish in Montana! The Missouri, a.k.a. However, this isn’t just a spring fishery because major stonefly, mayfly and caddis hatches happen all summer and fall as well. It’s been a famous fly fishing destination for a while and got it’s peak when it was featured in the film A River Runs Through It. Access is somewhat limited, floating is basically out of the question, but it’s a wade fishermen’s paradise. Here, you can expect to catch smallmouth bass, muskellunge, trout, and … No matter how long you plan to spend or what your fishing goals are, Montana Fishing Guides provides the best guided fishing trip in Montana on some of the best rivers and lakes in the country. From Missoula guided fly fishing, gear, and flies to our Blackfoot River fishing reports, we’ve got everything you need to have a great day on the Blackfoot River! Welcome to Montana Trout Outfitters, the premier guided fly fishing experience in Western Montana. There is also the Yellowstone River inside the park and Yellowstone Lake. Table of Contents [ hide] It’s one of the most coveted places to fly fish in Montana. Fly fishing in Montana is grand and planning your fly-fishing trip in our home state should be fun and exciting, not a challenge. You might find a stream or river with big fish that not many people know about. Smith River. If you like throwing dry flies to pods of rising fish then this is the river for you. This was one of the most epic fishing trips I have ever taken. This tributary to the Clark Fork has everything a fish could want – riffles, runs, pools, cutbanks, boulders, and strainers. It’s a bit harder to access compared to the sections outside the park but well worth the effort. This is a great caddis, PMD, and Terrestrial stream. The Missouri River is the longest river in North America and is where a lot of the best trout rivers in Montana eventually end up. Splendid family getaway by Gallatin River (from USD 115) If you are looking for a fishing experience … It’s also the logical home base for fly fishing many of the region’s great rivers—including the Missouri, Blackfoot, and Clark Fork rivers. Yellowstone is home to brown, rainbow, cutthroat and brook trout as well as grayline and mountain whitefish. To guarantee your success in winter fly fishing in Montana, you should focus on the slower and deeper runs holding fish. It’s small, intimate, and loaded with fish. If you’re looking for a good day of fly fishing in Missoula, the Bitterroot is home to some spectacular fish. In fact, you can have pods of 30 or more fish rising in a back eddy! The Bighorn is one of Montana’s world-famous trout rivers the best way to fish it is by boat. There is excellent wade fishing found at the 3$ bridge but it is always crowded. The section from where the river leaves Yellowstone National Park and flows through Paradise Valley to Livingston has geat access. This is one of the best rivers in Montana for … The miles of crystal clear trout streams surrounded by snow-capped peaks are enough to make many die-hards uproot their lives and move to the Big Sky State. The Smith River is one of the most amazing fishing spots in Montana… if you’re lucky enough to get there. But don’t be fooled into thinking you can only use small flies here. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Do not let this deter you though, there are big browns and rainbows that call the section home and will keep to engaged and busy for days. The Missouri begins at Three Forks where three of the most famous rivers in Montana, the Madison, the Jefferson and the Gallatin join to form the Missouri. Be Prepared. Although the Jefferson isn’t as well known as its headwater rivers like the Big Hole and Beaverhead, it needs to be on this list. The Jefferson’s past isn’t stellar, due to dewatering in the summers for irrigation. This section can also be wade fished but you may struggle to cover the ground and get the distance on your casts. The legendary waters have been producing trophy trout for years. The only way to float-camp this highly sought-after 60 miles is to draw a permit through a lottery system. Trout thrive in its green-blue water and love eating attractor dry flies. Your email address will not be published. This is a textbook, boulder-strewn river with a bit of whitewater mixed in. Fishing the Bighorn is a trek as it is a little isolated from other famous trout streams. The best way to target big browns is by fishing large streamers and if you can time your trip with the salmon fly hatch, you’ll likely experience some of the best fishing it has to offer. Only a tiny part of Yellowstone is actually in Montana and as a fly fisherman, you have got to go and fish inside it. The Smith is known for it’s amazing scenery, limestone canyon walls, and a wilderness feel. Unlike other Montana rivers, anyone who wants to fish the Smith River needs a permit. The river begins inside Yellowstone National park and the upper section inside the park is well worth fishing but the best fishing is found further downstream, particularly from Big Sky down to the canyon. If you haven’t got a permit, you can try and book a trip with a guide who does. Learn how your comment data is processed. Fall fishing on the stretch of the Madison inside the park is awesome, especially for large fish. The river gets larger here and is best fished by floating downstream on a drift boat. A short drive from Cooke City will take you into the Lamar Valley and give you access to the Lamar River, Soda Butte, and Slough Creek. Since I picked up a fly rod, my cousins and I have dreamed of fishing out west. Is the Fleathead river a good place to fly fish on? Best Montana Fly Fishing Trips—South Fork Flathead River Posted on May 13, 2020 by Greg Thomas It’s time to start dreaming about the best summer fly fishing trips for 2020, and if we are limited to doing so within our state borders this year, I drew a good card—Montana offers a lifetime of fly-fishing adventure and gas is cheap right now. There are a lot of places to fly fish in Montana that no one talks about and no amount of money or beer will get it out of those who hold those places close to their hearts. It’s the right size and float-fishing is prohibited which allows wade fishermen to go about their business undisturbed. These are by no means in order of importance, but they are places you want to make sure to fish at least once in your lifetime, if not more! If numbers are your game, it’s a great choice and it also has some big fish too. The Upper Maddison, above Ennis, MT, is known as a giant riffle. It’s a combination of intense scenic beauty, abundant access, and varied fishing conditions that makes it so great. This past summer we made that trip a reality and we can't wait to go back! The amazing diversity of wild trout waters ensures that there is destination to match nearly all interest and skill levels. While waiting for your big catch, take a moment to see the mountains cascade around you or catch a glimpse of Montana wildlife. We guarantee the best tailer designed fishing adventure in western Montana. It is best known for it’s Salmonfly Hatch in June when it gets most of it’s fishing pressure, but it really shines before and after the “big” hatch. One of the prettiest freestone rivers in the West is so popular with boaters that you … Since trout are naturally cold-blooded and feed when water temperatures reach their peak during the winter months, there is no need to bother fly fishing … Best Fly Fishing Resorts In Montana Mang Iings on December 20, 2020 December 20, 2020 Ranch orvis endorsed fly fishing lodge montana fly fishing s kootenai madison river fishing s ennis mt rock creek in montana detailed fly The fish here love small tailwater flies like scuds, sow bugs and small mayfly patterns. The big lake trout head upriver in late summer to spawn and the best fishing is in late October. The Madison is one of the most famous rivers in Montana as the fishing and the scenery is amazing. 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. So, get out and explore. The Yellowstone is Montana’s biggest un-dammed river, making it a cutthroat, rainbow and big brown paradise. The trout are willing dry fly eaters with hatches like Salmonflies, PMD’s, BWO’s, Caddis as well as terrestrials like Hopper, Ants and Beetles. For United States fly anglers, fly fishing Montana is nothing short of casting in paradise. Rock Creek. From huge catch and release bull trout to fat cutbows to 50 fish cuttie days. Here is a guide to the best fly fishing in Montana. This happens about a half-hour drive west of Bozeman and the stretch from Three Forks to the Canyon Ferry Reservoir outside of Helena is known for trophy trout fishing, especially in October when big brown trout head up the river from the lake. Will be checking in this summer on my travels, but I will thank you in advance if you can connect me with Erik. Montana fly fishing during the summer offers anglers the combination of excellent hatches, consistent conditions, and plentiful variety that makes for the best fly fishing of the year. From its headwaters south of Jackson, MT to its confluence with the Beaverhead River it snakes its way through amazing country. https://grizzlyhackle.com/18-places-to-fly-fish-in-montana-in-2018 The cookie-cutter rainbows and browns make for a great day of catching 13-16 inch fish on dries and nymphs alike. The Bighorn River actually starts as the Wind River in Wyoming and flows out into Montana at Devils Canyon and into Yellowtail Dam on the Crown Reservation just near Billings. From the mighty Clark Fork River, Blackfoot River, Bitterroot River, and other Missoula area rivers to the Yellowstone and Gallatin, we’ve gathered our 18 places to fly fish in Montana. Made famous by Norman Maclean in his book “A River Runs Through It,”  the Big Blackfoot is a magical place full of native Cutthroat trout, rainbows, and browns. Your email address will not be published. No experience fly casting. Hopper Imitations, mid to late summer, size 2-8 Golden Stonefly Nymphs, June and July, size 4-6 Streamers, just about any time but especially in the fall for large brown trout, Greetings from PA. Will be fishing the Kootenai for a week at the end of July, and planning to do some reconnaissance for a 2021 trip with my women’s fly fishing group, Del Val Women’s FFA. If you’re a lucky lottery winner, you’ll be catching brown and rainbow trout that average 14-16 inches long. Wendy, Hot up the north fork of the Blackfoot river! Get the insider scoop when you swing by our Missoula fly fishing shop or check out our Missouri River fishing report. It is certainly one of the top rivers to fish if you’re into dry fly fishing and sight-fishing for big trout. 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