Rivers We Fish
Fly Fish Montana provides Experienced Guides on the Best Water to ensure you have a Successful and Memorable fishing trip.
Rivers We Fish
The rivers around Bozeman Montana offer some of the best trout fishing in the world. With options ranging from large tailwaters to tight technical creeks - the rivers, lakes, and streams around southwest Montana offer something for everyone. This area is truly a fly fishing paradise!
Here’s where the Best Fishing is:
The Upper Maddison
Known as the "50 mile riffle," the Upper Madison is a scenic stretch or river that flows through the Madison Valley from Quake Lake to Ennis Lake. Tucked between the Madison Range to the east and the Gravelly mountains to the west, the upper Madison offers some the most spectacular scenery found anywhere in Montana.
In addition to breath taking views, the Upper Madison offers some of the most consistent fishing found anywhere in the state. Fish counts average more than 3,000 fish per mile, most of which are strong and healthy rainbows and browns. Hooking into a 20+ inch trout on the Upper Madison is not uncommon and pound for pound these fish are stronger than most.
This is exciting and sometimes challenging fishing where good fly selections and long drifts are the key to success. With many different hatches occurring, knowledge and experience makes a difference. Our years of experience on the upper Madison provide great opportunity for success on this scenic and exciting river.
The Lower Maddison
Beginning downstream of Ennis Dam, the Lower Madison flows through a twelve mile stretch of wilderness known as Bear Trap Canyon. This stretch of river demands expert oaring skills as it drops though class IV whitewater. Once the river exits Beartrap Canyon, it opens up into expansive vistas as it meanders its way to the headwaters of the Missouri River near the town of Three Forks.
This stretch of river is much slower than the upper Madison and provides ideal drift boat fishing during the spring and fall months. The Lower Madison is known for large rainbows and browns that gorge on a variety of insects and larger prey such as crayfish and sculpins. This stretch of river is ideal for targeting large fish tucked under shallow weed beds. Located only 30 minutes from Bozeman, the Lower Madison is a great option for half day as well as full day float trips.
The Yellowstone
The Yellowstone River is the longest free flowing river in the continental United States. It flows over 680 uninterrupted miles from its origin in Yellowstone Park to its confluence with the Missouri River in North Dakota. This river is as diverse as it is long, providing anglers with a wide variety of fishing options.
Due to difficult wading conditions, the Yellowstone River is the perfect river for drift boat fly fishing. The most popular section of the Yellowstone River is the picturesque Paradise Valley outside of Livingston, Montana. This iconic stretch is surrounded by mountains on all sides and offers some of the most spectacular scenery found anywhere. In addition to breath taking views, the Paradise Valley stretch offers incredible fishing for wild cutthroat, brown and rainbow trout.
The Gallatin
The Gallatin is a stunning freestone river that originates in Yellowstone Park and flows approximately 120 miles north to its confluence with the Missouri River. It is one of three rivers, along with the Jefferson and Madison, that converge near Three Forks, Montana, to form the Missouri. The upper portion of the river runs through the beautiful Gallatin Canyon, surrounded by thick timbered forests and large rock walls. The lower section of the Gallatin runs through the cottonwood bottoms and ranchlands of the picturesque Gallatin Valley.
Although the Gallatin is sometimes overshadowed by larger rivers, it offers a wide variety of fishing options in a spectacular setting. Wild rainbows and browns are the majority in the Gallatin, but cutthroat and grayling can also be caught in the upper stretches of river. Due to the smaller nature of the Gallatin, wade fishing is the norm, but the lower stretches can be floated if conditions permit. Its numerous public access points and close proximity to Bozeman make it a great option for both half day and full day walk wade trips.
Missouri River
The Missouri River is the longest river in North America, outstretching the Mississippi by a mere 23 miles. This incredible river system originates near Three Forks, Montana where the Gallatin, Madison, and Jefferson Rivers converge. As the river flows north, it runs into a series of dams creating a diverse system of reservoirs and tailwaters.
The section between Wolf Creek and Craig Montana below Holter Dam is by far the most popular, but the tailwaters below Hauser and Toston Dams shouldn’t be overlooked. The stretch running from Hauser Dam to Hauser Lake is appropriately named Land of Giants (LOG) where trout measuring 24-30” are not uncommon. If you are looking for a true Montana Fly Fishing experience, the Missouri River needs to be on your list.
Boulder River
The Boulder River is appropriately named as it harbors countless granite boulders from its origin in the Absaroka Beartooth Wilderness to its confluence with the Yellowstone River near Big Timber, Montana. The Boulder is a pristine river that is stacked with gorgeous rainbows and browns. These fish are hungry and willing to attack both dry flies and nymphs.
With limited public access and water made for inflatable rafts, the Boulder is a great option for a scenic and adventurous day on the river. Wade fishing and float fishing are both productive methods when targeting deep pools and long runs. Thanks to a very healthy fish count, it’s not uncommon to pull numerous large trout out of one hole. The Boulder is a unique option for those seeking an adventurous day on the water combined with excellent fishing.
Let’s Go Fishing!
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