Bozeman Fly Fishing: June

June marks a pivotal transition in the Bozeman fly fishing season. As spring runoff begins to wane, anglers are greeted with a dynamic mix of challenges and opportunities. The month unfolds with swollen rivers and high flows, gradually giving way to clearer waters and prolific hatches that signal the onset of summer fishing.

Early June: Navigating Runoff

The onset of June often presents anglers with high, turbid waters due to snowmelt. Freestone rivers like the Gallatin, Yellowstone, Big Hole, and Jefferson are typically heavily affected, making fishing conditions challenging. However, tailwaters such as the Madison, Missouri, and Beaverhead Rivers offer more stable conditions. The best fly fishing near Bozeman, during the runoff season, can be found on the Madison River.

Mid to Late June: The Emergence of Hatches

As the month progresses, water levels begin to stabilize, and clarity improves, setting the stage for some of the most anticipated hatches of the year.

• Salmonfly Hatch: By mid to late June, the legendary salmonfly hatch commences on rivers like the Upper Madison and Gallatin. These large stoneflies draw significant attention from trout, leading to explosive surface action. Anglers targeting the Upper Madison during this period often find success fishing large dry flies tight to the banks. Early mornings and late evenings are particularly productive times to capitalize on this hatch.
• Brown Drakes on the Lower Madison: Around Father's Day, the Lower Madison experiences a robust Brown Drake hatch. Evening spinner falls during this period can produce exceptional dry fly fishing, with large brown trout feeding aggressively in the shallows.
• Golden Stones, Yellow Sallies, Green Drakes, and Pale Morning Duns: Although the big bugs draw the anglers, the myriad other hatching insects add to the activity to keep trout feeding actively throughout the day.

Planning and Preparation

June's changing conditions require flexibility. Anglers should monitor streamflows and weather forecasts, adjusting their plans when one river suddenly starts to fish well with dropping flows. Booking guided trips well in advance is recommended, especially during peak hatches like the salmonflies. With careful planning, June can offer some of the year's most memorable fly fishing experiences in Montana.

Bozeman Fly Fishing Trips in June

If you’re planning a fly fishing trip to Bozeman this June, expect to run into some high water conditions during the early weeks of the month. May was unusually cold, bringing more snow to the high country during a time of year when it is usually running down the mountains instead. Our Bozeman fly guides will be focusing on their efforts on the world-renowned Madison River - both lower and upper river sections - throughout the month. The Big Hole and Beaverhead rivers will be solid options for experienced anglers on multi-day guided trip itineraries during the early stages of the month. As the month progresses, the Yellowstone and Gallatin rivers will come into prime, early summer fly fishing conditions with heavy hatches and cooperative fish lining the banks.

Our Bozeman fly fishing guide service has been a premier Montana fly fishing outfitter since 2000. June marks the kickoff of our summer season with incredible hatches and dynamic fly fishing for the wild Montana trout on the legendary waters near Bozeman. This is an excellent time of year for intermediate to advanced fly anglers to experience some of the best fly fishing in Montana.

Bozeman fly fishing trips can be booked online, via e-mail, or by calling us at 1.406.468.5019.

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