Where Is The Best Montana Fly Fishing

Montanas Best Fly Fishing

Montanas Best Fly Fishing

As an outfitter and owner of Montana Angler Fly Fishing I am frequently asked when is the best time to fish? or what is the best river for Montana fly fishing? My answer is always it depends. Montana has a massive variety of high quality trout fishing with dozens of famous blue ribbon trout fisheries and millions of lesser known streams, lakes and spring creeks all full of willing trout. The truth is that trout eat every day, even in the winter which means that they can be caught year round. The fact that different anglers are looking for different experiences with their Montana fly fishing trip makes it impossible to deliver a simple answer to broad questions about when or where the best fishing is. The following tips can help to provide some specific tips for Montanas best fly fishing.

When is the best time to catch large trout?

Large trout can be caught on any day of the year, but there are two times of the year that yield a higher frequency of monsters. Although some anglers argue that early spring is a good time to catch trophy trout, I would put my money on post runoff and October. Run off usually ends in mid June-mid July depending on the river. Usually when the rivers just clear and are beginning to drop the big fish are dumb and hungry. As water drops and the season progresses they tend to get a bit smarter and harder to catch. October is also a great time of year to target big brown trout. Fishing pressure has dropped off and the fish are less wary. Large browns spawn in November and become more aggressive during the month of October. Some large browns also run out of large lakes into rivers like the Missouri and Madison making them more accessible to fly fisherman.

When is the best time to dry fly fish?

Probably mid summer. Early in the summer fishing is great but the water is still high and dry fly fishing is more variable. Once rivers drop dry fly fishing improves greatly. Dry fly fishing can also be good in the spring and fall, but it is often during windows that coincide baetis hatches. In the summer fish turn onto terrestrials in midsummer and are more willing to hit attractors or ant and hopper patterns during the day. Spring creeks are the exception to the rule since they produced great dry fly fishing during runoff (they arent affected by runoff).

What are the best regions for a large variety of rivers, lakes and creeks?

Bozeman, Ennis, Livingston, Dillon and Missoula offer the greatest variety on fly fishing trips. At each location it is possible to fish a different river each day if so desired. Many anglers enjoy a variety of river sizes and type while on a fishing vacation.

Which rivers are the best if Im fishing on my own?

Many of Montanas most famous fisheries can be difficult to fish successfully on a DIY trip. Rivers like the Madison, Yellowstone and Missouri are so large that you either need a drift boat or specific knowledge of where you can wade fish. Avoid the larger rivers if you are fishing on your own without a boat. Smaller waters like the Ruby, Gallatin, Upper Blackfoot, Boulder and Rock Creek are smaller and easier to read. Visiting anglers generally have a better experience on these smaller rivers. There are also ample small stream fisheries that are free of crowds and very productive. Call a local fly shop in the region that you are targeting and ask for advice for local small streams that you can easily wade fish without much knowledge of the fishery.

Which rivers have the best trout numbers?

The Bighorn, Missouri and Beaverhead have the highest trout concentrations. All three rivers are tail waters (below dams) and the productive fishing. These tail waters also produce the most fishing pressure so expect to see a lot of other fisherman (by Montana standards). Actual catch rates on rivers such as the Yellowstone and Madison often equal those on the tail waters because the fish receive less pressure and are not as wary.

A good idea before you plan a Montana fishing vacation is to develop a list of things that are most important to you. Think about factors like trout size, catch rates, style of fishing, lodging options, weather, etc. If you are planning a guided trip use this priority list to help your chosen outfitter help you design the perfect trip.

by: ike Jukov

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