Top 10 Rivers to fish around Livingston, Montana
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
we fish out west every summer in montana , wyoming canada new mexico. we like the big horn and the upper missouri. we want to explore the Livingston area of mont. this year starting around sept.3 . trying to do some research. we generally like to do a guided trip then walk wade on our own. of course i’ll contact some fly shops before we depart from Brooklyn New York.
Don,
We love the Missouri and Big Horn too, but we usually fish them in the spring while the rivers around here are in full run-off.
We have a number of great rivers in the Livingston area during September including the Yellowstone, Boulder, Stillwater, Madison and many of the waters in Yellowstone National Park. Definitely a lot of options.
Let us know if you’re interested in a guided trip and we’d be happy to arrange that for you and give you some pointers for some out-of-the-way small streams to walk wade on your own.
Thanks.
Hi there, myself and a few buddies are looking to fish the Livingston area late spring or early summer. We are interested in a guide for a couple of float days and then fish on our own a couple of more. What’s the best time to come during that period? Thanks, Kevin
Kevin,
Thanks for the inquiry. Sorry for the late response – our wedding was this past week and I’m just getting back into the office.
I would recommend either mid to late April or July for a trip. Our annual spring run-off, where the mountain snows melt and flood a majority of the rivers in Montana typically occurs between May and June. If you plan on a lot of wade fishing on your own, April would probably be best. Feel free to email me directly at [email protected] and we can discuss the options in more detail. Thanks.
What rivers in the Livingston area would be best to fish in late July/early August? We are thinking about making a trip to Livingston next summer
Hi Michael. I’d recommend the Yellowstone River, maybe the Boulder, and possibly the Lamar River in YNP – all depending on the river conditions/flows. Let me know if I can help out any further. [email protected]