Terrestrial Insects and Montana Fly Fishing

These land-dwelling insects are blown into rivers by wind or fall into the water from overhanging vegetation. Once they hit the surface, they become an irresistible food source for trout during a time when aquatic insects are relatively inactive.

Grasshoppers are especially important in August and September on the Montana rivers near Bozeman. Their high protein content and erratic movement on the water mimic struggling prey. Ants and beetles, though smaller, also attract attention from trout. Winged ants often form colonies near rivers, and beetles fall from grasses or trees. For anglers, this time period is among the most coveted time of year to dry fly fish in Montana.

The 5 Best Montana Rivers for Terrestrial Fly Fishing

1. Upper Madison River - Known as the "Fifty-Mile Riffle," the Upper Madison River is legendary for its terrestrial fly fishing. The sections between Lyon’s Bridge and Ennis are world-renowned for trophy brown trout slow rising to hopper and flying ant patterns. The steady currents make it easy to drift large hopper patterns effectively, particularly while floating.

2. Yellowstone River – Hopper fishing and the Yellowstone River go hand in hand. From Paradise Valley to Columbus, long drifts through its riffles and glides are easily achieved by the floating angler. While hoppers are the main draw for anglers, ants and beetle patterns become increasingly important as the trout become wary of big dry flies in late summer.

3. Bighorn River - Prolific insect life extends to terrestrials in late summer. Aquatic insects like PMD and trico mayflies hatch during the cool, morning hours and the trout quickly turn their focus to hoppers once these hatches wane. The Bighorn River sections between Bighorn and Two Leggings fishing access sites are Montana fishing guide favorites for hopper fishing in early to mid-August.

4. Gallatin River - The river’s small size and clear water make it ideal for dry fly fishing with terrestrial patterns like spruce moths, ants, and small hoppers. Focus on sections of the Gallatin River upstream of Big Sky, where grassy meadows and overhanging vegetation provide a steady supply of grasshoppers and ants. The Gallatin Canyon sections are renowned among Montana anglers for dry fly fishing when spruce moths first begin to show in midsummer.

5. Blackfoot River - Made famous by "A River Runs Through It," the Blackfoot River offers excellent hopper and spruce moth fishing from July through September. Trout are most active in the sections between Ovando and the mouth of the Clearwater River during the heat of summer. Early morning starts are essential to angling success when fly fishing the Blackfoot River during prime terrestrial season.

Top 10 Dry Flies for Terrestrial Fly Fishing in Montana

Top 5 Hopper Patterns for Flyfishing Montana

1. Chubby Chernobyl (sizes 10-14) – The modern day “gold standard” of attractor dry flies is available in a wide range of sizes and colors. The tan and pink colors are among the most productive colors for imitating hoppers.

2. Morrish Hopper (sizes 8-12) – A Ken Morrish original, this co-founder of Flywater Travel ties highly effective dry flies with just foam and rubber legs. The pink, golden, and tan colors are a must have for summertime fly fishing in Montana.

3. Parachute Hopper (sizes 8-10) – Ed Shroeder’s classic hopper pattern continues to be a reliable choice for anglers flyfishing Montana rivers as unique as the Madison and Missouri.

4. Thunder Thigh Hopper (size 8-12) - High floating and highly visible, the Thunder Thigh is a guide favorite as its both easy to see and effective. A “go to” for dry/dropper rigs, the pink or golden colors are standard for fly fishing near Bozeman in August.

5. Water Walker (sizes 6 – 12) – A low sitting foam dry fly that works great as a nocturnal stone or hopper imitation created by Wyoming’s Will Dornan. Available in several colors, Bozeman fly fishing guides prefer the circus peanut and royal purple colors for fly fishing the Madison and Yellowstone rivers in August and September.

3 Best Ant Patterns For Montana Fly Fishing

6. Two-Tone Parachute Ant (sizes 14-18) – A longtime favorite ant pattern for fly fishing the many iconic Montana rivers in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. The highly visible parachute post makes this ideal for both floating and wading anglers.

7. Bloom’s Parachute Flying Ant (sizes 14-16) – This Dave Bloom pattern is ideal for fly fishing flat water river sections on the Missouri, Bighorn, and Bitterroot rivers of Montana.

8. Morpho Flying Ant (sizes 16-18) - The hi-viz parachute post is appreciated by experienced anglers fly fishing in the low light summer evenings on the upper Madison River sections rich with flying ants between Varney Bridge and Ennis, Montana.

Our Favorite Beetle Patterns for Montana Fly Fishing

9. Quick Sight Beetle (sizes 12-18) – The orange hot spot on this black foam-bodied dry fly aids the angler with tracking the fly through riffles and heavy current seams where trout hold during the heat of summer.

10. Deer Hair Beetle (sizes 12-18) – The hollow deer hair fibers aid in buoyancy for anglers fishing spring creeks and technical flatwater fisheries like the Bighorn and Missouri rivers where wary trout carefully inspect late season presentations.

Angling Tips for Terrestrial Season Fly Fishing in Montana

Best Time of Year

Late summer, particularly August and September, is peak terrestrial season for anglers fly fishing in Montana. Grasshoppers are most active during warm, sunny days and trout quickly key into them when winds blow them into rivers. Ants and beetles become increasingly important as fish become wary from summertime angling pressure by early September.

Presentation Technique

Drag-free drifts near grassy banks, seams, and undercut banks are the standard. Hoppers often land with a "plop," so don’t be afraid to make a sloppy presentation and slow twitch the fly during long drifts. For beetles and ants, a subtle presentation works best for highly selective trout holding in slow water next to structure and the bank.

Rod and Fly Line Recommendation

A 9-foot, 5-weight rod paired with a weight-forward floating line is versatile for summertime fly fishing in Montana. The St. Croix Evos, Sage R8 Core, and Scott Centric are a few of our Bozeman fly fishing guides’ favorites for handling the variable Montana weather. An “all-around” taper like that found in the design of the Elite Rio Gold fly line is a great choice for the variable techniques associated with late season conditions on Montana rivers.

Best Time of Day

Mid-morning through late afternoon is the most productive time for hopper fishing. On windy days, trout may feed well into the evening as more insects are blown onto the water. Summer heat typically slows down fish activity by mid-afternoon in late July and early August, so be prepared to get out early for the best success.

Experience Montana Fly Fishing with Fins and Feathers

There’s no place like Montana when it comes to fly fishing during hopper season. The big, western rivers like the Yellowstone, Madison, and Clark Fork are perfect for long drifts while floating. Fins and Feathers Guide Service has been outfitting Montana fly fishing trips for over 20 years and hopper season is unquestionably our favorite time of year on our home waters near Bozeman for both novice and experienced anglers.

Contact our team of Montana fly fishing experts for help with planning your Montana fly fishing vacation. Reservations can be placed online, via e-mail, or by calling us at 1-406-468-5019.