However, there are trout slowly rising to midges on mild winter days on the Madison, Gallatin, and Yellowstone rivers well into April.

Midges are abundant throughout the region and become the focus of both angler and trout during the winter months as they hatch year-round. The best days to find fish rising to Midges are those few, calm and cloudy days from January through the end of March. Afternoons on cloudy days are the best, otherwise feeding fish can be found throughout the day in slower water and deep back-eddies.

On sunny days, I head to either the Beartrap Canyon on the lower Madison or the Gallatin River near Big Sky as they are often covered by shadows which help keep both hatching insects and feeding trout more active. The entire Madison, accessible areas on the Yellowstone near Livingston, and low elevation rivers like the East Gallatin or Boulder are all great choices any winter day when conditions are appropriate.

Midges have a lifecycle that is described as “Complete Metamorphosis” which can be summarized as the organism matures through various stages which include egg, larva, pupa, adult. The pupa stage tends to be the most active and important to feeding trout as the insects are most active in the water column while in the pupa stage. Fish can be found feeding on them both below and on the surface during this stage of the insect’s lifecycle. If that all sounds foreign to you, pick up a copy of “Hatch Guide For Western Streams” and you will quickly pick up on many of the entomological nuances of fly-fishing for trout that you may very well be missing.

For the winter angler in the Bozeman area, prolific winter Midge hatches are a quick cure to cabin fever and offer the opportunity to hone your fly-fishing skills on slow-rising, selective trout. Accuracy in the presentation is often the key to success here and this is where those casting cues like “keep your rod on the same plane through the casting stroke” begin to matter!

I prefer a rod with a moderate action and a soft tip as these make delicate presentations simpler to execute and provide fine tippet protection when setting the hook as 6X is often the norm. The Sage Trout LL, Winston Pure or Montana Brothers (I love the 904 rod when fishing selective, slow-rising trout) in 4 weight configurations are great. Pair the rod with a line designed for turning over long leaders and delicate presentations like the RIO Technical Trout or Scientific Anglers Trout fly lines in weight-forward tapers.

Winter fly-fishing options are abundant in the Bozeman area, with midge-sipping trout being the highlight for many local anglers. Understanding entomology and trout physiology are essential aspects to become a successful freshwater trout angler and winter midge fishing is an ideal “laboratory” in which to put that information to the test. Dress warm, grab your sunglasses and favorite 4 weight as you head to the waters around Bozeman for a welcomed break from the winter blues.

When the weather is appropriate, we offer guided fly-fishing trips around Bozeman during the winter months. Consider booking a day of guided fly-fishing with one of our professional guides to learn more about teh winter Midge fishing opportunities right outside your front door.