Insect Species to Know When Fly Fishing in Montana
Trout fishing in Montana is among the best anglers will encounter anywhere in the world because of the cold, clean water that feeds our rivers and streams. Insects thrive in the freestone, tailwater, and spring creek wild trout fisheries because of the steady flow of well-oxygenated, clean water. Year-round insect activity promotes angling opportunities at anytime, but the best times of year to fly fishing in Montana closely mirror peak insect activity between March and September.
Montana fishing guides and experienced anglers know that understanding the relationship between trout activity and insect activity is essential to Montana fly fishing success. Whether it's the Mother's Day Caddis hatch, salmonfly hatch, hopper fishing, or the challenges of match the hatch mayfly emergences - timing your Montana fly fishing trip around key periods of insect activity is essential for angling success.
Top Montana Fly Fishing Insect Species: An Anglers Guide
Salmonfly
The largest stonefly in Montana, salmonfly hatches are legendary for trophy trout taking big dries on Montana rivers in early summer..
Golden Stone
These large stoneflies are active throughout the summer months and trout feed on both their nymphs and adults on Montana rivers...
Skwala
The Montana dry fly fishing season kicks off with the skwala hatch in March as these large insects emerge en masse on the Bitterroot River...
Yellow Sally
Prolific hatches of these small stoneflies are encountered mid-day on the legendary Montana fly fishing rivers near Bozeman, like...
Nemura
Active during the early spring, primarily on freestone rivers in Montana, these nymphs and adults are both important food sources...
Mother's Day Caddis
White Miller
