Meeting The Guide: Jackson Krause
Posted by: Alex
Date: 04/17/2026
I caught up with guide Jackson Krause and asked him a few questions about what he loves about guiding, what he has been doing, and what he’s looking forward to this season.
Bozeman Fly Fishing Guide Jackson
"If you want a FANTASTIC day on the river… book a fly fishing trip and soak in the breathtaking views while catching some AMAZING varieties of trout! Guided trips makes it much more enjoyable and adds to the overall experience!!! HIGHLY RECOMMEND… you won’t regret it."
- Kim C.
We've fished with Fins and Feathers over several seasons and different rivers and always had a great time. The guides have been on time and ready to go. They have even volunteered on occasion to row upstream to give us another shot at casting into the right spot! They are quick to change our fly rig if it isn't working, and help untangle messes when we miscast. They provide a very high level of service.
- Karl G.
Meeting With Montana Fly Fishing Guide Jackson Krause
What have you been up to this off-season? How has your winter been?
It’s been a good winter so far. I was hoping for a little more snow, but I’ve made the most of it. I applied to a bunch of law schools, so right now I’m just waiting to hear back and see what the next chapter looks like for me. Other than that, it’s been a mix of skiing, fishing, and just being outside.
What two hatches are you most excited for this year?
The salmonfly hatch on the Big Hole River, and then brown drakes on the Lower Madison River. It’s hard to beat throwing big foam flies like water walkers during salmonfly season on the Big Hole. And those evening brown drake hatches on the Lower Madison, I really enjoy headhunting those rising fish.
What’s your favorite Bozeman-area river to fish, and what time of year?
I’d say the Upper Madison River. There’s just a lot of variety in that river, from the braids and Valley Garden to the faster water up high. The scenery doesn’t hurt either. You’ve got good numbers of fish, consistent bug life, and a lot of different ways to fish it. October is probably my favorite time out there.
What technique and fly rod do you enjoy the most?
My favorite rod right now is the Sage R8. I’ve got it in both an 8-weight and a 5-weight. The 8-weight is great for throwing bigger streamers or fishing for pike, bass, or anything like that. The 5-weight is just a really solid all-around rod. It handles dry flies well, but you can still throw bigger rigs with it. It’s one of those rods that can do a little bit of everything.
When do you think is the best time to plan a fishing trip to Montana?
April or October. Bozeman fly fishing in April is that pre-runoff window when fish are starting to get active and there’s not a lot of pressure. October is tough to beat if you like streamer fishing. Cooler nights, bigger fish moving, and just a different feel to it.
What techniques or styles of fishing do you enjoy most?
It kind of goes both ways. I like fishing small dry flies to rising fish on places like the Missouri River, but I also enjoy throwing big streamers on the Bighorn River. Just depends on the day, but those are probably the two that stand out.
Have you picked up any new gear recently?
Yeah, I got a new boat this year, a RO Guide. I’m pretty excited about it. It’ll be great for both guiding and personal use. It sits a little higher, handles water well, and should be able to handle just about anything I want to take it through.
A Memorable Trip to Canada
About a year and a half ago I went up to Fernie, British Columbia to fish for bull trout with a buddy. First day we showed up and the river was blown out, just chocolate milk from rain the night before. We still fished it hard for about eight hours and didn’t touch a fish.
The next day we switched rivers. It was cold, raining a bit, not great conditions, but clear water. About ten feet from the boat ramp my buddy hooks a big bull trout, and we knew it was going to be a good day. From there we just kept getting into fish all day. It ended up being a pretty solid turnaround from the first day and just a really good trip overall.
