Boulder River Fly Fishing in April
The Boulder River, south of Big Timber, Montana, is a freestone river that originates high in the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness. The river has a protracted winter and remains very cold throughout the spring. Anglers fishing the Boulder River in April can expect low flows and cold water temperatures.
Wading at the Boulder Forks Fishing Access Site near McCloud, Montana this time of the year can provide a few hours of productive fly fishing. Mild, overcast days bring trout to the surface during blue-winged olive (BWO) and midge hatches. Fish mid-day, when both water temperature and insect activity peak, for the best shot at the river’s resident rainbow, brown, and cutthroat trout.
Boulder River Fly Fishing Hatches in April
Midge and BWO mayfly hatches are generally sporadic in early spring and grow in intensity with longer days and warming water.
Caddis appear in good numbers later in the month, as water temperatures and river levels rise. Although the insects will be abundant, water conditions on the Boulder are generally high and off-color during this hatch.
Bozeman Fly Fishing Guides Pro Tip:
March brown mayflies hatch on the lower Boulder River, near Big Timber, on overcast days in mid-late April and bring some large brown trout into shallow riffles. The Big Timber City Park has convenient access with shallow runs where fish can be found steadily rising when conditions are just right.
Boulder River Fly Fishing Techniques in April
Nymphing with tandem rigs is the most productive fly fishing technique for covering the pocket water and holes of the lower river section. Use a 7.5-foot tapered leader with 4X tippet and set your strike indicator around five feet above the first fly. Experiment with your weight, adding split shot until you’re able to slow the drift and reach trout holding near the bottom.
Cold water temperatures are not ideal for streamer fishing, as the trout’s metabolism remains sluggish. Swinging small, articulated streamers using a floating fly line with a fast-sinking tip section through deep pools will sometimes find trophy brown trout in the lower river, before runoff.
Boulder River Fly Box for April
Boulder River Fly Fishing Trips in April
Fins and Feathers Guide Service has been outfitting Montana fly fishing trips for over two decades. We know that Early April fly fishing in Montana is often unpredictable, so flexible plans are key to successful fly fishing near Bozeman this time of the year. Our guides will occasionally recommend a wade-fishing day trip near Big Timber in April for advanced anglers looking to explore.
These Bozeman fly fishing trips are recommended for experienced anglers with excellent mobility who are comfortable wading in various water speeds and depths on uneven rocks. The typical Bolder River fly fishing trip in April will often include a few hours of wading the lower Yellowstone River as well.
The Madison and Yellowstone Rivers are well suited to anglers of all skill levels and will be the standard recommendation of our Bozeman fly fishing guides for day trips in April. However, a Boulder River fishing trip is worth considering for single anglers with previous fly-fishing experience.
Montana fishing trips with Fins and Feathers Guide Service can be secured online, via e-mail, or by calling us at 1-406-468-5019. Contact us for more information on Boulder River fly fishing trips, as well as our entire suite of fly fishing in Montana day trips during April.