The last two weeks of pre-runoff conditions on the renowned Bozeman fly fishing rivers were excellent for our guides and guests, despite the wildly volatile weather. Spring weather can make planning difficult as one day it’s t-shirts and flip flops followed by gumboots and down jackets the next.

This spring has lived up to this standard, but it did give anglers a grand opening as the Mother’s Day Caddis hatch kicked into high gear on the lower Madison in late April. Intermittent rain showers in the valleys and snowstorms in the alpine kept the days interesting as mayflies like March Browns and blue-winged olives kept the trout looking up when caddis activity would wane with cooler temps.

Our small crew of Bozeman fly fishing guides was able to get on the water quite a bit the last two weeks with a promising start to the 2025 season. Kaden, Coleman, and Will all found some great fish on the upper and lower Madison with small groups of experienced anglers. Tristan, Hannah, and Brendan got their nets wet for the first time this year with a couple of larger groups of inexperienced anglers that just happened to get lucky with some nice weather. All in all, it was one of the better pre-runoff periods that I’ve seen on the waters around Bozeman in a long time.

The office space at 4-corners is coming along nicely, but slowly. We have had painters, electricians, and woodworkers in and out for the last few weeks as we race to have it all set by late June. This is a great meeting spot for our guide trips with lots of parking and room to “stretch out” as our guides and guests become acquainted before heading to the river.

The runoff is finally here, and we expect everything near Bozeman to be pretty tough for a couple of weeks. Watch our Bozeman fishing reports closely over the next few weeks as “windows of opportunity” will pop up from time to time on the Madison, and we will be sure to let you know when we think it’s worth a shot!

In the meantime, mid-June through mid-July is looking prime for experienced and intermediate-skilled anglers around Bozeman. Fish hold tight to the banks during that time when flows begin to drop and salmonflies begin migrating to the edges before emerging. This is always a fun time on the water that will test the angler’s casting and fish-fighting skills in heavy water.

Overall, Southwest Montana has had a good moisture year in terms of spring rains and winter snow, setting us up for one of the best Bozeman fly fishing seasons in recent years. More crazy rains and cold temperatures are in store for us this coming week, but that is spring in Montana – always unpredictable and not for the “fair-weather-minded angler.”

Join our crew of Montana fly fishing guides to experience the legendary Montana fly fishing near Bozeman in 2025. This is our 25^th season of outfitting Bozeman fly fishing trips on the various rivers, lakes, and streams that we call our home waters and it’s shaping up to be one of the most memorable with great water and a very talented team of fun, engaging, and - of course – incredibly fishy fly fishing guides.

Reservations can be placed online, via e-mail, or over the phone by calling us at 1-406-468-5019. As of now, the whole summer is looking good in terms of water conditions. Novice anglers should plan their trips for July and August, while experienced anglers can expect to find success on the rivers near Bozeman, anytime from June 15 to early October.

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