Almost 2/3 of the land owned by a variety of state and federal agencies making public access the norm rather than the exception. Wild, trout-filled waters cover the map of the western half of the state, presenting seemingly endless opportunities to the prospective visiting angler. However, the fly fishing here is unique, diverse, and challenging so being prepared makes the difference between ending the day a satisfied angler, rather than a frustrated fisherman.

Toby Swank has been immersed in the fly fishing “world” for over 30 years, nearly 25 of those have been spent as a fly fishing guide and fly shop owner in Bozeman, Montana. We recently asked him for a few thoughts to pass along to both new and experienced anglers fly fishing in Montana. After some deliberations, he came back to us with these Montana fly fishing guide tips based on his 2+ decades of experience.

Know The Water

Montana has a tremendous diversity of trout water that includes spring creeks, freestone streams, tailwater rivers, reservoirs, and natural lakes. Each type of fishery has unique attributes that can play a significant role in the habitat quality and biomass composition. The angler fishing in Montana need not worry too much about the details here, but a general understanding is absolutely essential.

• Freestone streams, creeks, and rivers flow unimpeded by man-made structures like dams or spillways. Streamflow can vary dramatically throughout the year and typically have a diverse invertebrate population that might include – in the trout stream world – several species of stoneflies, caddisflies, mayflies, and midges among others. The Yellowstone, Boulder, Jefferson, and Gallatin rivers near Bozeman are examples of freestone rivers.
• Tailwater streams and rivers are sections of flowing water with origins downstream of reservoirs - typically flowing out of dams used for either irrigation storage or hydroelectric production. Montana trout fisheries of this category typically have less biodiversity more biomass than a nearby freestone stream. Water temperatures and streamflow are relatively consistent with gradual, seasonal changes. Mayflies, caddis, and midges are the most prevalent hatching insects in these fisheries renowned for prolific, seasonal hatches. Examples of tailwater trout fisheries in Montana include the Missouri, Beaverhead,Madison, and Bighorn rivers.
• Spring creeks are small to mid-sized streams that originate from underground sources of water commonly referred to as a “spring.” Their most common characteristics are relatively consist, year round water temperature and streamflow. Similar to tailwaters, invertebrate diversity is relatively small with a handful of species making up the majority of biomass. Depuy's, Nelson, and Sixteen Mile Creek are a few of the more renowned Montana spring creeks.
• Reservoirs are man made stillwaters resulting from river or creek streamflow impediment by dams. They are often stocked with Trout by private and/or government agencies as they typically lack sufficient spawning habitat to support a self-sustaining population. Callibaetis and Trico mayflies hatch in good numbers on most reservoirs in Montana throughout July and August. Leech and minnow imitations can be effective year-round, especially when retrieved from the bank using an intermediate sinking fly line. Hebgen, Holter, and Ennis Lake are well-known Montana reservoirs with excellent trout populations.
• True lakes are most common in the high country of Montana and coveted destinations for dedicated wilderness anglers. Many of the alpine lakes in Montana are only free of ice for a few months each year and support sparse populations of Trout. Most alpine lakes are stocked by state and federal agencies with a variety of gamefish including Cutthroat, Golden, and Rainbow Trout or even Grayling. Cliff and Wade Lake are a couple of lower elevation lakes easily accessible near $3 Bridge on the upper Madison River.

Know The Fish

The trout angler does not need to know scientific names or the difference between a caudal and adipose fin. A cursory understanding, however, of a Trout’s lifecycle, diet, and metabolism will help arm the angler with a few essential tools for fly fishing a new area or water for the first or even 100^th time.

• Fish (specifically Trout) are ectothermic, meaning that they are “cold blooded,” and rely on external sources of heat to regulate their body temperatures. Different fish species thrive in different conditions, Trout are generally most active when the water temperature is between 40 – 65 degrees Fahrenheit. Their “ideal zone” typically lies between the low 50’s and 60’s. Knowing this, the angler should look for holding water like deep, slow moving water when water temperatures are cold rather than fast, shallow riffles. When water temperatures are in the high 50’s, Trout can be encountered feeding in all types of water.
• Rainbow Trout spawn in the spring while Brown Trout spawn in the fall. This is important to know from both an angler and a conservationist’s viewpoint. Expect fish to be more active and aggressive before their spawning cycle and be sure to avoid walking in areas of rivers or streams with shallow water and small gravel substrates. Post-spawn, fish are in poor condition and hold in areas where they expend little energy while recovering and feeding.
• Growth rates of Trout vary and depend on many factors such as species, habitat, water temperatures, abundance of food sources, diet, and more. In Montana, Trout that anglers catch are usually 1-3 years old. Trout that live in the upper Gallatin River versus the lower stretches grow at a slower rate as they have a shorter “growing season” in higher elevations.
• The abundance and types of food sources that are available to Trout depends on several factors, some of which include habitat, water quality, and time of year. Fly fishing for Trout in Montana is largely centered around insect activity and lifecycles. Keen fly anglers pay close attention to insect activity by watching the water’s surface and inspecting rocks or detritus near the riverbank when first approaching a stream or lake. A small seine net is a useful tool to help identify subsurface insect activity when exploring new waters. Small fish, crayfish, leeches, and even small mammals are all important food sources for Trout as well.

Know the Bugs

There is no need to sift through articles on mayflies or stoneflies in scientific journals before that next fly fishing outing in Montana. Insect life is varied and prolific throughout the region, so a basic understanding is usually all that is needed. A quick online search will yield scores of results for queries related to insect life and fly fishing, enabling anglers to easily satiate their curiosity to levels unimaginable by the modern fly fishing pioneers of the 1960’s.

• Montana anglers will quickly improve their success by learning the lifecycles of the most prevalent aquatic insect orders found in these waters. Knowing how a Caddis pupa swims and that Salmonflies emerge from their nymphal shucks outside of the water are great examples of essential invertebrate knowledge for the fly fisher. A brief review of mayfly, caddisfly, stonefly, and chironomid development is a key to angling success. Pick up a copy of “Hatch Guide for Western Streams” and spend some time on websites like Bugguide.net to develop these identification skills.
• Fly selection is a significant and remarkably complex process to anglers of all skill levels. Anglers with the ability to tell the difference between a Yellow Sally and a Caddis, for example, can quickly narrow down their fly choices whether they are nymph or dry fly fishing. A pheasant tail or hare’s ear nymph is a great place to start when fishing subsurface during a mayfly hatch – just match the size. When the basics don’t work, try variations that more precisely imitate colors and profiles. Ask questions when browsing fly selections in a fly shop and peruse the websites of fly manufacturers like Umpqua and Rio to learn more about fly patterns and what they are intended to imitate.

Master The Craft

Every day on the water is an opportunity to improve one’s fly fishing skills while enjoying and connecting to the natural world. There is no substitute for on-the-water experience when honing essential skills like reading water, maintaining a drag-free drift, and perfecting the reach cast. Practice, practice, practice…both on and off the water. Regardless of an angler’s skill level and experience, each day on the water is brings chance for improvement while also learning new tricks and techniques.

• Practice fly casting – it’s NOT an “intuitive” motion. Novice anglers shouldn’t settle for a two-minute casting session in the driveway on the night before their first fly fishing trip to Montana. Skills like distance casting, accuracy, or maintaining a tight loop in the wind are always worth improving for experienced anglers. Although fly casting seems intimidating, it is much easier to pick up than many believe. Most guides are eager to help anglers with a few, essential fly fishing casting tips at the start of the day.
• “Pause on the back cast” and “leave it” are two phrases I repeat time and time when offering fly fish casting tips while guiding anglers in Montana. The first comment speaks for itself – when the fly falls short of the intended target in a sad tangle of line and leader, remember those words on your next attempt. When the cast is “good enough” with fly, leader, and fly line all landing in seemingly nice order – leave it – fish it, even if it’s not exactly where you were aiming.
• Identify causal relationships between the type of water, insect activity, time of year, and fly selections to add to one’s angling knowledge base.
• Get the best gear you can afford - there really is a difference between high end and entry level, “knock off brands.” Better gear lasts longer and is easier to use – strive for the best and check it out in person before purchasing.
• Rely on the local expertise when looking for application-specific gear such as wading boots for the upper Madison, fly lines for nymph-fishing, or a Paradise Valley spring creek fly rod.
• Change flies, add weight, use finer tippet, let the fly swing at the end of the drift, and speed up the retrieve are just a few expert fly fishing tips to help “mix things” up when the bite “seems to be slow.” Sometimes our best theories are wrong, the best anglers are the first ones to test their theories through experimentation.
• Rely on local fly shops and online fishing reports for expert fly fishing tips about local fisheries. Check out digital mapping tools when exploring new waters or locales. Montana is a big state with trout water that varies from one drainage to the next, so do some research and make local connections.
• Hire a fly fishing guide, take a fly fishing class, learn to tie flies, or attend a fly fishing show to find ways to improve your skills. Fly fishing is just complicated enough that there is no substitute for experience when it comes to flattening the learning curve.

Many anglers today – especially participants new to the sport since the pandemic – struggle with finding success while fly fishing in Montana. The information and resources available online are incredibly helpful, but lack of experience can make asking the correct questions impossible. Queries into the best flies, places, hatches, or time of year for fly fishing in Montana require a causal understanding of their relationships to be the meaningful. These 4 best fly fishing guide tips from an experienced Montana fishing outfitter will help anglers improve their skills and success on the water.