webpchecker

Montana Fishing Map

406-223-2488

Category: Hatch Watch

March Brown Mayflies

Posted on by Eric Adams
Montana Fly Fishing Tripschoose All Inclusive Inset

It’s mid April and in Southwest Montana we should be starting to see some March Brown mayflies particularly on the Yellowstone River.  Fellow Montana Fly Fishing Guides, Eric Paramore, was doing some river scouting today and say a good hatch of March Browns on the lower Yellowstone River at the Otter Creek fishing access near Big Timber.

Eric Adams is pictured with a great looking Cutthroat trout caught east of Livingston, Montana last spring.  All of us Montana anglers are looking forward to a repeat of that great hatch from last season.

The predicted weather for this week is looking good for encouraging our mayfly friends to start hatching in earnest, so as always we’ll keep you posted!

To learn more about March Browns and other insects check out our Hatch Chart.

Hatch Watch – Salmonflies on the Yellowstone

Posted on by Eric Adams
Montana Fly Fishing Tripschoose All Inclusive Inset

We have confirmed reports of Salmonflies at Loch Leven access on the Yellowstone River as of yesterday. The numbers were small, but pay attention as they can go quickly.

CAUTION: only extremely skilled oarsmen should venture on the river right now as the sheer volume of water (12,000cfs) is very powerful and even advanced rowers should be very careful. If you need real world examples 3 boats sunk on the Missouri River this past week – fortunately no one was seriously injured or killed. If you do decide to go on the Yellowstone be safe and wear you life jacket!

Stay tuned and we’ll keep you posted.

Hatch Watch – Pale Morning Duns

Posted on by Eric Adams

It’s June and anglers from around the world are starting to filter into the world famous spring creeks of Armstrong, DePuy, and Nelson.  Starting in the next week (June 15th) or so we should start seeing steady hatches of Pale Morning Duns.  These great mayflies are a pale yellowish/olive and range in size from 12 to 16.  Anglers obsess about PMDs as they are a larger mayfly and trout can’t help but look up to eat the dry fly.

We stopped by DePuy Spring Creek just the other day and turned over a few rocks and saw good numbers of PMD nymphs starting to stage up in the riffles.  Based on our observations the nymphing should continue to get better throughout the week and dry fly action should start in the next 10 days.

For a hatch chart and more detailed information on these awesome trout, snack visits our Interactive Hatch Chart.

We still have a few spring creek rods available on Armstrong Spring Creek so if you’d like to book a guided fly fishing trip please contact us.

Mother’s Day Caddis Update 04/27/10

Posted on by Eric Adams
Montana Fly Fishing Tripschoose All Inclusive Inset

Happy Mother’s Day Caddis hatch!  We hope you can get out and fish it today, because some nasty weather is rolling our way.  Highs over the next few days will continue to drop while the chance of rain will increase through Friday.

Not to worry the fishing will still be very good as we have a great March Brown and Baetis hatch that will be prolific with the cloud cover.

In the video fishing report you’ll see that the caddis hatch really just started yesterday.  While the number of bugs on the water are not epic they are starting.  Farther downstream near the 89 bridge the hatch was much heavier and we expect to see more of that today.

Stay tuned and we’ll keep you posted!

ENTIRE RANGE

BOULDER RIVER

We describe our Boulder River fly fishing trips as half fishing half raft trip – in other words exciting fly fishing.

While your guide expertly rows the raft through class I, II & III rapids you’ll be hitting the pocket water in this fast paced fly fishing adventure. The Boulder River is a Blue Ribbon trout stream with quality rainbow and brown trout. This may be one of the best dry fly small streams in all of Montana. It has unusual purity giving it a unique clarity and beauty. Fly fishing the Boulder River depends on water levels and is typically floatable between late July and early August.

BEST TIME TO FISH THE BOULDER RIVER

  • Jan
  • Feb
  • Mar
  • Apr
  • May
  • June
  • July
  • Aug
  • Sept
  • Oct
  • Nov
  • Dec
Learn More

GALLATIN RIVER

The Gallatin River, near Bozeman Montana is small in size, which to many means little fish, but not so on this hidden gem.

This is a classic small Montana stream with shallow riffles leading to long runs and deep pools with undercut banks. Typically this is a hunting ground for large brown and rainbow trout using streamers and large crawfish patterns. We typically float the Gallatin River in a raft or drift boat due to the many braids and channels – it’s a long day of fishing, but it can be very rewarding for those anglers looking for that 20+ inch trout.

BEST TIME TO FISH THE GALLATIN RIVER

  • Jan
  • Feb
  • Mar
  • Apr
  • May
  • June
  • July
  • Aug
  • Sept
  • Oct
  • Nov
  • Dec
Learn More

MADISON RIVER

Want a famed Madison River fishing trip?

The Madison River originates in Yellowstone National Park and flows nearly 150 miles before joining the headwaters of the Missouri river. The Madison river fishing is divided into the upper stretch and lower stretch each of which seems to be completely different waters. Both the Upper Madison and Lower Madison are some of Montana’s premier wild trout rivers and it has been classified as a “Blue Ribbon” trout stream. Every foot of the river is capable of producing rainbow and brown trout eager to rise to a dry fly, grab a drifting nymph or a swinging streamer.

BEST TIME TO FISH THE MADISON RIVER

  • Jan
  • Feb
  • Mar
  • Apr
  • May
  • June
  • July
  • Aug
  • Sept
  • Oct
  • Nov
  • Dec
Learn More

MISSOURI RIVER

Missouri River Fly Fishing

Join Us for a Missouri River Fishing Trip

A Missouri River fishing trip is a truly unbelievable home for trout below Holter Lake through the town of Craig and downstream to Cascade, Montana. It boasted the highest trout population in the state of Montana in 2012 with over 8,000 fish per mile and 20′′ fish are common. Obviously, chances of having a good day while Missouri River fishing are high. Not only are the fish numerous, but like most tailwaters the Missouri river is abundant in aquatic bug life, making for exceptional sight and dry fly fishing. We offer this trip only during the best fishing time of the year which is from April until early July and then again in late September into November.

BEST TIME TO FISH THE MISSOURI RIVER

  • Jan
  • Feb
  • Mar
  • Apr
  • May
  • June
  • July
  • Aug
  • Sept
  • Oct
  • Nov
  • Dec
Learn More

SMITH RIVER

Smith River fly fishing trips can be summed up in almost one word – secluded.

Our Smith River fly fishing trips take place on the upper section of the Smith River, between its origin and above the Smith River Fly Fishing Access Site, flows through gently rolling prairie, flanked by the tall peaks of the Big Belt Mountains and Little Belt Mountains. It is beautiful country, with sweeping wide­ open vistas and incredible views. Other than the small town of White Sulphur Springs, the area is also very remote. Agricultural fields surround the river in this section, with extensive brush along its bank. A number of pools are also found on this stretch. Generally, the Smith River flows at a slow to moderate pace in this section, depending on water levels.

BEST TIME TO FISH THE SMITH RIVER

  • Jan
  • Feb
  • Mar
  • Apr
  • May
  • June
  • July
  • Aug
  • Sept
  • Oct
  • Nov
  • Dec
Learn More

SPRING CREEKS

The Paradise Valley Spring Creeks of Armstrong, DePuy and Nelson should be on every angler’s wish list.

These world famous creeks are a sight fishing wonderland – with consistent hatches of midges, baetis, Pale Morning Duns, and Sulphur’s anglers can test their skills against wary trout. Dry fly fishing, sight-nymphing and reach casts on 6X are useful tools to have in your angling arsenal, but don’t worry if you need a little more practice our guides will teach you these techniques and make you a better angler after just one day! Please make sure to plan ahead as these private locations have limited availability and in prime season reservations can book up to a year in advance.

BEST TIME TO FISH THE SPRING CREEKS

  • Jan
  • Feb
  • Mar
  • Apr
  • May
  • June
  • July
  • Aug
  • Sept
  • Oct
  • Nov
  • Dec
Learn More

STILLWATER RIVER

Don’t let the name fool you, our Stillwater River fishing trips take place on a wild and fast flowing river.

The beautiful Stillwater River begins in the Absaroka ­Beartooth Wilderness and flows north toward the town of Columbus, Montana where fishing access sites are good. Typically fishing this stream starts by mid July and August via rafts, but good wade fishing can also be had in the early spring with very good mayfly hatches starting around early March. This is definitely a dry fly fishing river and fishing this pocket water stream with a big hopper or stonefly pattern can be awesome.

BEST TIME TO FISH THE STILLWATER RIVER

  • Jan
  • Feb
  • Mar
  • Apr
  • May
  • June
  • July
  • Aug
  • Sept
  • Oct
  • Nov
  • Dec
Learn More

TROPHY LAKES

If you’re looking for trophy lake fly fishing trips then you need to check out a couple of the private trophy waters in the Livingston area.

They offer outstanding stillwater fly fishing for rainbows, browns and cutthroat trout. Fly fishing on these trophy lakes is more intense than most anglers realize. Stalking large trout and sight casting to gulpers can give even the most experienced angler the casting jitters. These trophy lakes have prolific hatches of damselflies, Callibaetis mayflies, midges and terrestrials. These lakes are also the ideal starting point for both beginner anglers and those younger anglers looking to bend the rod for the first time.

BEST TIME TO FISH THE TROPHY LAKES

  • Jan
  • Feb
  • Mar
  • Apr
  • May
  • June
  • July
  • Aug
  • Sept
  • Oct
  • Nov
  • Dec
Learn More

YELLOWSTONE RIVER

This is a classic western river and should be on every angler’s life list

Our Yellowstone River fishing trips include guiding on over 120 miles of blue ribbon trout water starting at Yellowstone National Park. The Yellowstone River is our home water and one of the great fly fishing trout streams of the world. It is the longest undammed river in the lower 48 states, and there is excellent trout water from its tributaries high inside Yellowstone Park, downstream through Gardiner, the Paradise Valley, Livingston, and on to well below Big Timber – a stretch of nearly 150 river miles. We float many different stretches of the prime water between Gardiner and Big Timber, depending on the Yellowstone River fly fishing conditions and water levels.

BEST TIME TO FISH THE YELLOWSTONE RIVER

  • Jan
  • Feb
  • Mar
  • Apr
  • May
  • June
  • July
  • Aug
  • Sept
  • Oct
  • Nov
  • Dec
Learn More

YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK

Fly Fishing in Yellowstone National Park

Our Nation’s first National Park offers some of the most famous fly fishing waters in the country. Slough Creek, Soda Butte Creek, Lamar River, Yellowstone River and many other small streams are all within driving distance of Livingston, Montana. Our Yellowstone Park fly fishing guides have detailed knowledge of the waters in Yellowstone National Park and have spent decades learning these waters. They are pleased to show you some secrets to catching more trout in this amazing environment.

BEST TIME TO FISH YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK

  • Jan
  • Feb
  • Mar
  • Apr
  • May
  • June
  • July
  • Aug
  • Sept
  • Oct
  • Nov
  • Dec
Learn More