Montana offers the greatest diversity of flyfishing waters anywhere
in the world. From floating the big rivers and casting large salmon
flies and streamers or matching the hatch on one of the spring
creeks--Montana has everything for the visiting angler. My outfitting
operation is quite different than most. I am not tied to
one river, flyshop or lodge and am constantly traveling to be
on a river when it is fishing its best. I encourage you to consider
sampling different streams while you are here.
The trout fishing season begins in late April on the Bighorn River.
The river produces incredible hatches of midges and small mayflies
until the end of May. This is an excellent time for the fisherman
who likes to fish light lines and small flies to rising trout.
It is demanding fishing that requires precise presentations, but
the trout are very hungry after the long winter. It is also time
for the Mother's Day caddis hatch on the Yellowstone River near
Livingston. Just before runoff begins, blanket hatches of tan
caddis flies cover the surface of the water. If you are coming
to fish at this time of year, I would recommend that you plan
your trip to combine these two rivers by flying into Billings
and leaving from Bozeman.
June is the beginning of salmon fly season when this large stonefly
brings a carnival-like atmosphere to rivers like the Bighole and
the Madison. If casting large dry flies and watching the
slashing strike as a large trout tries to inhale your fly is what
you like, this is your season. June and early July are the best
months to catch big trout feeding on top. The nearby Beaverhead
River is also available for small stream fishing and has
prolific hatches of pmd's and small stoneflies home to some of
the largest trout you will ever see. It is the supreme challenge
of big trout and light tippet fishing. The town of Butte has an
airport that is served by most major airlines and is only thirty
miles from these two rivers.
The Fourth of July is the true beginning of summer in Montana.
There are still some stoneflies around especially on the Yellowstone
River which begins to clear at this time. Many of the smaller
and lesser-known streams are fishing at their best from July until
the end of summer. Casting grasshopper imitations from the boat
is at its best in August. The Missouri River also fishes
well in July and August. Caddis, pmd's and trico hatches are abundant
on this smooth flowing stretch. The rainbow trout are fast and
challenging, and if you ever wondered what all the backing is
for, try these fish on 6-x tippet! Accommodations can be difficult
to obtain so make your plans early if you are coming during the
prime summer months.
Fall is a beautiful time of year when the crowds are down, the
fish are in great shape, and most of the streams are low and fishing
well. The Bighorn can be exceptional with tremendous hatches of
caddis and early morning tricos. The Bighole is also a sure bet
in fall.
As you can see, there is not a bad time to fish in Montana and
if you are flexible during your trip and willing to travel, the
fish will be biting somewhere. My last bit of advice is plan early,
fish often.