Bozeman Fly Fishing in July
The summer sun sits high in Big Sky Country as the world-class trout rivers near Bozeman come alive in July. Area fisheries buzz with hatching insects and trout feed freely from sunrise to sunset. Montana fly fishing in July is tough to beat.
Everywhere around Bozeman fishes well through mid-July. First time anglers fishing in Montana can’t go wrong this time of the year. Experienced anglers know that early morning starts puts them on the water hours before any summer crowds.
July Highlights
- Expect to find salmonflies in the Lyon’s Bridge area on the upper Madison and upper Paradise Valley reaches of the Yellowstone River around July 4th. Hatches of caddis, PMD, yellow sally, and golden stones will be thick during the late morning hours. This is the time of year when Chubby Chernobyl patterns are the daily standard.
- The lower Madison and Jefferson Rivers start to warm by mid-July so anglers focus more on the Gallatin, lower Yellowstone, and upper Madison as the month progresses. Hatches begin to wane in late July, but Grasshoppers start to become active and quickly grab the attention of resident trout.
- Early morning streamer sessions find brown and rainbow Trout feeding aggressively in fast-moving riffles on all the rivers around Bozeman.
Bozeman Fly Fishing Guide Pro Tip:
Nocturnal Golden Stones become prevalent in late July. Their exoskeleton shucks will cover rocks along the riverbank, but the sighting of the adults is rare. Fish a Chubby Chernobyl with a Brown and Tan Pat’s Rubberleg as a dropper in a size 10 on about 3-feet of tippet on the Yellowstone River in Paradise Valley.
Explore Bozeman Fly Fishing Options In July
Yellowstone River
July is the best time of year to fly fish in Montana on the Yellowstone River through Paradise Valley as heavy hatches and dropping flows create ideal situations for feeding...
Upper Madison
Flav, Green Drake, and PMD mayfly hatches coincide with the tail end of the major stonefly emergences, keeping trout looking up through the early afternoon on the river...
Gallatin River
Summertime attractor dry fly fishing begins in the canyon sections for wade anglers while the lower river just begins to come into perfect shape for floating with our guides...
Lower Madison
Warming water temperatures and recreational crowds impact the afternoon fishing here during the summertime, however anglers can still expect solitude and big fish chances...
Bozeman Fly Fishing Trips in July
River conditions are constantly changing through late June in Montana. Stable flows and clear water become the norm in July, so trout settle into their summer holding lies and the fly fishing experience is reliable and consistent.
With over two decades of experience outfitting Bozeman fly fishing trips, the Fins and Feathers guide staff looks forward to the primetime days of July. Anglers of all skill levels can expect success on area rivers through late July on our guided day trips.
Water temperatures begin to warm in late July, so we encourage anglers to plan on early morning starts as the heat of summer slows the afternoon action.
July is the most popular month of the year for Montana fly fishing trips and we encourage guests to book early to ensure availability. Reservations with the Fins and Feathers guide staff can be secured online, via e-mail, or by calling us at 1-406-468-5019.
