Drift Boats For Montana Fly Fishing

Drift Boat Fly Fishing in Montana

Fly fishing in Montana is legendary for its abundance of blue-ribbon wild trout water throughout the central and western parts of the state. Montana is the 4^th largest in the country and has nearly 170,000 miles of rivers crisscrossing the Treasure State.

Anglers fishing in Montana for the first time are amazed by the sheer scope of the rivers, region, and quality trout waters. Once they put their eyes on one of the renowned Montana fly fishing rivers like the Yellowstone, Madison, Gallatin, or Missouri, first-time anglers are quick to understand why floating is preferred to wading when fly fishing in Montana.

Dirft boats are as integral a part of Montana fly fishing as a 9’ 5 weight fly rod, a chubby chernobyl dry fly, and our two strains of native cutthroat trout. Floating is the best way to experience fly fishing the iconic trout rivers throughout the state.

Why fly fish from a drift boat in Montana ?

· Access to long stretches of river: Many Montana rivers run through private land, so floating allows you to cover miles of water that would be hard (or impossible) to get to while wading.

· Fish aren’t spooked: You can drift quietly into productive runs and seams.

· Efficiency: You can cover miles and miles of water in a day, hitting all sorts of riffles, pools, and banks.

· Comfort: You carry multiple rods rigged for dries, nymphs, or streamers, plus a cooler and all your gear. Anglers can fish either sitting or standing up, these purpose-built crafts are equipped with standing braces and padded, swivel seats.

· Fish better: Anglers fish from a slightly raised position which is advantageous in many ways, including casting, line management, spotting wary trout, and landing the monster trout everyone hopes for.

Tips for drift boat fly fishing in Montana

· Line management: Manage that slack line so that there is very little between your rod tip and the fly or strike indicator; this is very helpful with quick pickups and hooksets.

· Keep that backcast high: Stop your rod tip close to 2 o’clock on that backcast for quick, accurate casts while floating.

· Mend, mend, mend: Mend that fly line to keep your flies slightly downstream of the working distance of line for clean drifts and easy pickups

· Follow the fly: Point that rod tip low and at your flies to minimize drift and allow the length of the fly rod to do the work when mending, picking up line to recast, and setting the hook.

· Cast Ahead: Whether you are in the front or back of the boat, always cast slightly ahead (typically downstream) of your position in the boat for optimal presentations.

10 Iconic Drift Boat Fly Fishing Rivers in Montana

· Madison River: The “50-Mile Riffle” between Lyon’s Bridge and Ennis is perhaps the most iconic Montana fly fishing river for float anglers.

· Yellowstone River: Fly fishing while floating through Paradise Valley takes the angler through scenic river bends surrounded by towering mountain peaks in every direction.

· Big Hole River: The diverse river sections between Wise River and Glen are legendary for big brown trout and spectacular landscape vistas.

· Jefferson River: Characterized as big trout water with relatively small populations, the Jeff is ideal for the floating angler seeking solitude and trophy trout opportunities early and late in the season.

· Gallatin River: Floating downstream of Manhattan takes the angler through a meandering river bottom that fills with rainbow and brown trout when conditions are prime.

· Missouri River: Missouri River fly fishing on the river sections downstream of Holter Dam are ideal drift boat water with long runs and glides that are often inaccesible to wade anglers.

· Bitterroot River: Smaller and oftentimes full of debris and logjams, the Bitterroot River is a western Montana classic where purpose-built rafts outshine the traditonal fiberglass drift boats.

· Blackfoot River: Spectacular canyon landscapes open to dramatic vistas for anglers floating and fly fishing between Ovando and Bonner on the renowned Blackfoot River.

· Clark Fork River: From Missoula to Plains, the “lower” Clark Fork River is a summertime favorite for drift boat anglers who prefer fishing dry flies on big water.

· Bighorn River: This one and only south-central Montana fly fishing destination below Yellowtail Dam is among the best rivers in the state for float and wade combination trips.

The Most Popular Drift Boats in Montana

McKenzie-style drift boats are where modern drift boats get their origins. The elevated bow and stern design is referred to as being “rockered.” Flared sides are high to shed water when navigating rapids and long wave trains. Highly regarded for navigating shallow riffles, the flat bottom design gives these boats a shallow draft and enables them to easily slide over partially submerged rocks and boulders.

· Classic Drift Boat: Made from fiberglass, aluminum, plastic, or wood, this “pointy bow” design is the standard for anglers fly fishing in Montana.

· Skiff: Originally designed to be fished out of while sitting, these modified drift boats have a square bow and stern to give anglers stability underfoot and are highly maneuverable.

· Rafts: Available in myriad shapes and sizes, rafts used for fly fishing feature specialized frames with raised seats and accessories like rod holders, leg locks, and anchor systems.

Choosing a drift boat can be a daunting task as there are more models, options, and variations than even before. Weekend anglers gravitate towards boats that perform best on their local or primary rivers. Enthusiasts often prefer a raft for their versatility when it comes to launch sites, rapids, and larger capacities. Guides tend to gravitate towards models that row well with a design eye towards interior comfort. As with many things in fly fishing, the best game plan is to lean on friends with boats to get their feedback and compare a few different models - on the water if possible - before buying.

Bozeman MT Fly Fishing Guide Boats

The Fins and Feathers Guide Service team of Bozeman fly fishing guides represents a wide swath of drift boat designs and brands amongst the team. Each guide has their preferences, but they all prioritize guest comfort and safety above all else.

We primarily use fiberglass drift boats that are approximately 16’ in length from bow to stern. The guide sits in the middle of the boat and rows against the downstream current to maneuver the boat into optimal fishing zones for the anglers. There is an angler station in the bow and stern of each boat, fitted with braces to lean into when fly fishing while standing in the boat. These 300-400 pound boats are incredibly stable, comfortable, and maneuverable with a skilled oarsmen at the helm.

Inflatable rafts are occasionally used by Bozeman fly fishing guides when targeting river sections with big rapids or undeveloped boat. Rafts “open up” more water to anglers as there are some rivers in the region that are just too difficult to access via wading or a hard boat. By contrast, many of the Montana fly fishing guides in Missoula utilize rafts as their primary drift boat.

Experience Bozeman fly fishing from a drift boat for a truly authentic angling outing under the Big Sky. Cover miles and miles of less pressured river sections on world class wild trout rivers easily accessed from the Fins and Feathers Guide Service HQ in Bozeman, MT. Enjoy spectacular scenery and make the most of all the benefits that come with drift boat fishing with our staff of pro fly fishing guides.

Contact us to learn more about our Bozeman MT fly fishing guide trips. Reservations can be placed online, via e-mail, or by calling us at 1-406-468-5019.

Drift Boat Fly Fishing Gallery

Additional Bozeman Fly Fishing Guide Trip Resources

From the Montana Fly Fishing Blog