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A Simple Fly Fishing Guide to Montana
Posted by: Toby Swank
Date: 04/05/2024
Fly fishing Montana can feel intimidating. Numerous books detail intricate variables and complicated approaches to catching trout in this vast state...
The Essential Details
...not to mention the magazine articles, blog posts, social media feeds, and YouTube videoscovering the subject. If you tried to consume all the resources explaining how to fly fish in Montana, you’d never actually get around to fly fishing.
Fly fishing in Montana (like anywhere else) can be as complicated as you enjoy making it. Some anglers relish this sport for the complexity, minutiae and, technical depth, but a rank amateur can have as much fun fly fishing as much as a 40 year veteran. If you want a few leisurely hours on the water catching fish with a fly rod in Montana, I’m here to help.
Where to Go
Most trout rivers cut through the western half of the state, but that still leaves about 450 miles of designated “blue-ribbon” water. Even if you spend the rest of your life fly fishing here, you’ll never experience everything Montana has to offer. So don’t try. Pick an area that looks interesting and focus.
You’ll have more fun getting to know a couple rivers, a single river, or even a section of river, than running all over the place and constantly starting over. You can always come back. A few particular regions offer relatively easy access and high concentrations of fishing opportunity.
Bozeman Fly Fishing
I’ve lived, fished, and guided around Bozeman for the past 32 years. I consider this one of the best fly fishing regions in the world. Within a half hour of Main Street, you can fish four iconic rivers: the Gallatin, Madison, Yellowstone, and Missouri, plus small creeks, mountain lakes, suburban ponds—just about every kind of fly fishing you could want.
Bozeman offers a nice balance, plenty of water within an hour’s drive, plus the comfort and amenities of a mid-sized town—great restaurants, varied accommodation options, and plenty of family friendly, non-fishing activities.
Missoula Fly Fishing
I’m not going to wade into the turbulent Bozeman vs. Missoula argument. They’re both exceptional trout fishing towns surrounded by incredible rivers.
Missoula’s local waters include the Clark Fork, Bitterroot, and Blackfoot Rivers, as well as world-class smaller streams like Rock Creek. Located on the west side of the continental divide, Missoula's winters are mild when compared to Bozeman and the runoff is a few weeks earlier. Renowned for early season fly fishing, the rivers near Missoula do not fish as well as the Southwest Montana in July and August.
Ennis Fly Fishing
If an authentic Montana town sounds good to you, Ennis might just be the place for you to experience to best Montana fly fishing vacation. The eclectic cast of local and visiting characters make for some entertaining evening sessions around downtown.
The world famous Madison River runs along the east side of town with convenient wade fishing access sites within a short walk of the Gravel Bar. The Ruby, Beaverhead, Big Hole, and Jefferson rivers are all within easy drives for DIY day trips or guided fishing with one of our Montana fishing guides.
Craig Montana Fly Fishing
The Missouri River near Craig, Montana might just be the greatest trout fishery in the Lower 48 States. Its unique combination of fish density and average size means you can catch a lot of big fish on any given day. Boat fishing, wade fishing, dry flies, nymphing, streamers, trout spey—this stretch of the Missouri has it all.
The only drawbacks are a lack of alternative fishing options nearby, and the scant amenities in town (two bars, one restaurant). But if you’re looking for one river to fish in Montana, this stretch of the Missouri River is probably it.
Fort Smith Fly Fishing
This town sits at the literal end of the road, where the Bighorn River pours from Yellowtail Dam. The first few miles of the Bighorn below Yellowtail dam boasts the highest trout concentration in Montana. If your sole focus is catching a lot of fish, this is probably the river for you.
The Bighorn doesn’t offer the breathtaking mountainous scenery you’ll find in other parts of the state, and Fort Smith has even fewer amenities (and fishing options) than Craig on the Missouri, but you can’t beat this river for numbers of trout.
When To Go
As with so many things in life, timing is everything. When you fish is often more important than where or how well you fish. If you find yourself on the water during one of those magical days when every fish is eating, just about any river in Montana can provide the day of a lifetime.
The weather, water conditions, hatches, and fish biology all are important factors that contribute to the determining the best time of year to go fly fishing in Montana. I can’t predict exactly when those days will happen, but I can give some guidance to narrow down your timing and increase your chances.
Spring
March through May is a magical time in Montana. Warming water temperatures and increased insect activity cause the fish to feed more aggressively. Tailwaters (rivers that are dam controlled) come alive this time of year. Because they are less affected by runoff, Montana’s big tailwaters (Madison, Missouri, Bighorn) usually fish very well even when other rivers swell with snowmelt. Peak summer tourist crowds have not yet arrived, though fishing-specific destinations (Craig and Fort Smith) get busy. The first big hatches of the season on the rivers near Bozeman usually start in late April and early May, but the tailwaters can see good dry fly fishing as early as late March.
Summer
June and July are prime fishing months in Montana, with prolific hatches on all the major rivers. These months often provide the rare combination of good fishing and comfortable weather. The freestone rivers (Gallatin, Yellowstone, Bitterroot, Blackfoot, Clark Fork) offer their best fishing of the year. By August, water temperatures start to creep above the optimal range for trout, and mid-August can bring some of the tough fishing conditions in the late afternoons. Our fly fishing guides go out early to beat the heat as hatching insects and the trout are most active during the coolest part of the day. Trout are focused on grasshoppers, which means aggressive fish on big dry flies.
Fall
September and October shine in Montana and give anglers the opportunity to experience exceptional trout fishing against the backdrop of glowing fall foliage. Just about every river in the state fishes well this time of year. September brings cooler weather and happier fish. Late season mayflies hatch, and terrestrials (grasshoppers, ants, beetles) still float around. October’s a transitional month, as the bugs dwindle and the fish start to prepare for winter. Late October and November usually bring good streamer fly fishing. The weather can turn quickly, though. One day might be mid-60s and lovely; the next morning you could wake up to snow on your windshield, so come prepared.
What to Bring
I've been in the fly fishing industry as a fly shop owner and Montana fly fishing outfitter for nearly 25 years. In addition to making a living at hooking anglers up with the best gear and awesome days on the water, I also fish a lot on my own and am always on the lookout for the best fly fishing gear.
If you'd like a more comprehensive list of the gear that I recommend for fly fishing in Montana, be sure to check out our top picks online. Guided fly fishing trips typically include complimentary use of of the essentials; our packing list is helpful when preparing for a day trip.
Fly Rod
Most resource guides will tell you that a 5-weight, 9-foot, fast-action rod makes the best all-around fly rod for trout fishing in Montana. If you’re a small stream aficionado, a shorter, lighter rod will fish much better in tight cover and thin water. I would choose an 8-foot 6-inch 4-weight (or even a 3-weight). If, on the other hand, you’re planning to fish Montana’s big rivers, you should bring a 9 foot 6-weight. You’ll appreciate the added heft when casting a heavy nymph rig or punching casts into a stiff wind (pretty common here).
5-weight rods are popular because they work really well in most Montana fly fishing situations. Pick your rod (or rods) based on the waters you’re planning to fish. You don’t need the most expensive rod on the market, just something you’re comfortable with. Instead of getting the nicest rod you can afford, consider getting a couple of mid-range, versatile fly rods. That way you have the right tool for different situations and a back-up in case one breaks.
Fly Reel
When trout fishing, your reel is usually just a line holder, so it doesn’t need to be fancy or expensive. Nice reels feel better in hand and create a more balanced outfit. Look for reels that are fully machined rather than cast as these will be lighter, stronger, and more durable. An adjustable drag helps with everything from managing slack fly line to playing hard-fighting wild trout on light tippets. Although not necessary for freshwater conditions, a fully sealed drag system will give you many years of maintenance-free use.
Ross, Orvis, Sage, and Lamson are a few brands that offer a wide range of reels at multiple price-points. Hatch Reels are in a league of their own and our favorites as they last forever with very little maintenance.
Fly Lines
You should buy the highest quality fly line you can afford and make sure it’s the correct weight for your rod. Modern fly lines come in myriad variations related to their tapers, colors, and weights. High end fly lines utilize advanced coatings and textures which make them easier to cast, more durable, and float longer than base or even mid-priced fly lines.
When in doubt the Elite Rio Gold or Scientific Angler Amplitude Smooth Infinity are reliable, all-purpose floating fly lines that work well on modern fly rods. Ask the staff at your local fly shop for recommendations when looking for an application-specific fly line.
Leaders and Tippet
A few 7.5 foot 3X tapered leaders and spools of tippet from 2X to 5X will allow you to rig for nearly every fly fishing situation in Montana. If you plan on primarily fishing dry flies, then you will also want to have some 9 foot 4X leaders on hand. Add extra tippet for techincal situations on spring creeks or match the hatch scenarios. Nylon leader and tippet material, like Rio Powerflex is great for all-purpose use. Fluorocarbon tippet material come in handy when nymph fishing tailwaters or during the late season when rivers are low and clear.
Flies
Here are ten general patterns that will catch trout across Montana much of the time: parachute Adams, elk hair caddis, chubby Chernobyl, parachute ant, bead head hare’s ear, bead head prince, brown rubber legs, bead head pheasant tail, olive wooly bugger.
That’s a start, but I can’t give you a comprehensive list of every fly you might want on a fishing trip to Montana. Visit local fly shops to find out what flies are working on a particular river at that exact time.
Montana Fly Fishing Gear Guide
I've been in the fly fishing industry as a fly shop owner and Montana fly fishing outfitter for nearly 25 years. In addition to making a living at hooking anglers up with the best gear for them and awesome days on the water, I also fish a lot on my own. If you'd like a more comprehensive list of the gear that I recommend for fly fishing in Montana, be sure to check out our top picks online.
Seek Local Advice
Reading books, watching videos, and reading articles like this one will never give you the same level of knowledge you can get from area experts. Even if you enjoy DIY fishing, I recommend hiring an outfitter for a day or two of guided fly fishing in a particular area of Montana. That guide will help get you dialed in on the current conditions, what the fish are eating, and where they are in the river. That will make your solo fishing time much more productive and enjoyable.
If you end up planning a fly fishing trip to Southwest Montana and would like to fish with a local fly fishing guide as you get the "lay of the land," contact us to get a day or two on the books with one of our pros at Fins and Feathers Guide Service near Bozeman. We have been outfitting Montana fly fishing trips throughout Big Sky Country for over 20 years and welcome anglers of all skill levels on our guided fly fishing trips.
