Montana’s Madison River has long been one of the most famous and revered rivers in the world. The river often is listed as the number one trout river in North American and appears in books with titles like “50 places to fish before you die”. In the mid 90s everything changed for the river when a microscopic invader had a devastating impact on the river. Whirling disease is a small microbe that affects rainbow trout. The parasite causes deformation in the spinal cord of young trout that causes them to swim in circles, usually resulting in death. In some reaches of the river, mortality of rainbow trout reached levels over 90%. News of the outbreak quickly spread throughout the angling community and the number of fisherman visiting the river drastically decreased. The Madison river became the poster child for whirling disease and the microbe quickly hitchhiked to other rivers around the West producing similar results. Some states, like Colorado, tackled the problem by stocking rainbow trout fingerlings. In Montana, where there all trout in rivers are wild and there is not a hatchery program, fisheries biologists decided to let nature run its course. The gamble paid off, and the trout that did survive the initial massive die offs began showing some resistance to the disease.
Madison River fly fishing has returned to greatness, and although whirling disease is still present in the river, rainbow trout levels have rebounded to pre whirling disease levels. The Madison is once again one of the favorites of Montana’s fly fishing guides and outfitters. Many guides also feel that the brown trout fishing in the river is better than it has ever been with numerous fish over 20” frequently being caught. Each of the last few years a few lucky fisherman have managed to hook and land monster browns the taped at over 30” and weighed over 10lbs.
Montana fly fishing articles, information, and updated fishing reports
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Fly fishing in Montana should be on the short list for any angler that enjoys chasing trout in beautiful mountain rivers. Montana is home to an astounding number of high quality blue ribbon rivers, lakes and spring creeks. It’s northern latitude and proximity to numerous mountain ranges that produce and ample source of cool snow melt that help to make the state a trout factory. Montana’s trout streams are filled exclusively with wild fish. Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks has a very limited hatchery program and stocking is restricted to high mountain lakes and reservoirs where trout reproduction is limited. Montana fly fishing guides are some of the best in the planet. Hot beds for fly fishing like Bozeman, Missoula, Ennis, West Yellowstone and Dillon attract some of the worlds best professional guides and outfitters. The combination of productive rivers, great scenery, and high quality outfitters make Montana a prime destination for anglers from around the world. With the vast number of high quality trout rivers, outfitters, fly shops and lodges in Montana planning a fishing vacation to Montana can be overwhelming. Here are five tips to help you plan the perfect Big Sky state fishing trip.
Tip 1: Choose your lodging accommodations carefully
Your choice of lodging will be a big factor in your enjoyment of your fishing vacation. Lodging can be broken down into Montana fishing lodges, hotels, vacation rentals and outfitted camping trips. Fishing lodges are the most expensive option, but also provide a lot of amenities. Lodges are often located in beautiful rural settings and frequently have direct access to rivers. Montana fishing lodges usually include all meals (generally very high quality dining!). Since all of the guests are also fly fishing lodges provide for a social atmosphere with like-minded guests. Hotels are a great option to save some money and explore Montana on your own. Many Montana towns like Bozeman and Missoula have a vibrant night life that many guests enjoy by staying at an in-town hotel. Vacation rentals are a great option for families and larger groups and allow your crew to cook your own meals. Vacation houses and cabins are often located in beautiful settings and can offer a lot of room. If you have four our more people in your group they can also be cheaper than hotels. Many outfitters in Montana also offer overnight camping trips either as float trips on rivers or as wilderness horse pack trips into the mountains. Outfitted camping trips are surprisingly “deluxe” and guests enjoy great food while still “roughing” it.
Tip 2: Decide which rivers or regions you would like to target
Do you have a specific target river in mind or do you want to sample a lot of different fishing options. Rivers like the Bighorn are world famous, but do not have many other high quality trout fisheries nearby so if you plan a vacation there you will be fishing the same river each day. Other regions like Dillon, Bozeman and Missoula have numerous rivers in their prospective regions allowing angler to sample different rivers each day. If variety is important, make sure to ask outfitters or lodges what the different fishing options are in the region.
Tip 3: Decide what type of fishing is most important
There are a variety of different techniques used in the sport of fly fishing including nymph fishing, streamer fishing and dry fly fishing and many anglers prefer one over another. Each river also has its own character, some stretches have huge trout but lower numbers and others provide fast action with small fish. Fishing conditions also change during the course of the year and different seasons showcase different styles of fishing. Beginning anglers generally are most interested in having some action and experiencing the sport. The perfect trip for an entry level angler will most likely center around nymph fishing on rivers with a high fish count that produce a lot of action. Seasoned fly fisherman may prefer to target dry fly fishing. As an outfitter, I always try to determine what a client is looking for. Do they want to target big trout, dry fly fishing, lots of action, etc. Make sure you discuss your ideal style of fishing and what is important to you when you talk to a lodge or outfitter.
Tip 4: Consider non-fishing activities
What do you plan on doing during your down time on your Montana fishing trip? Will you fish every day of your trip or do you want to take off a few days to sight see? Do you enjoy larger college towns or want to be as remote as possible? Are there any members of your group (like a spouse) that won’t be fishing? There is such a large quantity of great fishing in Montana that you should be able to target exactly the kind of trip that you are looking for. Often non-fishing activities are an important part of the equation. Some areas, like Ennis are great fishing towns, but do not offer as many non-fishing activities as a place like Big Sky or Bozeman. This is an especially important consideration if you have a non-fishing spouse or if your group takes some time off from fishing.
Tip 5: Book as early as possible
Prime dates and the most experienced and knowledgeable guides begin booking as early as a year in advance. While we still book trips as late as a week out even during the summer, the longer lead time we have the more flexibility there is in designing a trip and the better the odds that we can match clients up with the perfect guide.
Tip 1: Choose your lodging accommodations carefully
Your choice of lodging will be a big factor in your enjoyment of your fishing vacation. Lodging can be broken down into Montana fishing lodges, hotels, vacation rentals and outfitted camping trips. Fishing lodges are the most expensive option, but also provide a lot of amenities. Lodges are often located in beautiful rural settings and frequently have direct access to rivers. Montana fishing lodges usually include all meals (generally very high quality dining!). Since all of the guests are also fly fishing lodges provide for a social atmosphere with like-minded guests. Hotels are a great option to save some money and explore Montana on your own. Many Montana towns like Bozeman and Missoula have a vibrant night life that many guests enjoy by staying at an in-town hotel. Vacation rentals are a great option for families and larger groups and allow your crew to cook your own meals. Vacation houses and cabins are often located in beautiful settings and can offer a lot of room. If you have four our more people in your group they can also be cheaper than hotels. Many outfitters in Montana also offer overnight camping trips either as float trips on rivers or as wilderness horse pack trips into the mountains. Outfitted camping trips are surprisingly “deluxe” and guests enjoy great food while still “roughing” it.
Tip 2: Decide which rivers or regions you would like to target
Do you have a specific target river in mind or do you want to sample a lot of different fishing options. Rivers like the Bighorn are world famous, but do not have many other high quality trout fisheries nearby so if you plan a vacation there you will be fishing the same river each day. Other regions like Dillon, Bozeman and Missoula have numerous rivers in their prospective regions allowing angler to sample different rivers each day. If variety is important, make sure to ask outfitters or lodges what the different fishing options are in the region.
Tip 3: Decide what type of fishing is most important
There are a variety of different techniques used in the sport of fly fishing including nymph fishing, streamer fishing and dry fly fishing and many anglers prefer one over another. Each river also has its own character, some stretches have huge trout but lower numbers and others provide fast action with small fish. Fishing conditions also change during the course of the year and different seasons showcase different styles of fishing. Beginning anglers generally are most interested in having some action and experiencing the sport. The perfect trip for an entry level angler will most likely center around nymph fishing on rivers with a high fish count that produce a lot of action. Seasoned fly fisherman may prefer to target dry fly fishing. As an outfitter, I always try to determine what a client is looking for. Do they want to target big trout, dry fly fishing, lots of action, etc. Make sure you discuss your ideal style of fishing and what is important to you when you talk to a lodge or outfitter.
Tip 4: Consider non-fishing activities
What do you plan on doing during your down time on your Montana fishing trip? Will you fish every day of your trip or do you want to take off a few days to sight see? Do you enjoy larger college towns or want to be as remote as possible? Are there any members of your group (like a spouse) that won’t be fishing? There is such a large quantity of great fishing in Montana that you should be able to target exactly the kind of trip that you are looking for. Often non-fishing activities are an important part of the equation. Some areas, like Ennis are great fishing towns, but do not offer as many non-fishing activities as a place like Big Sky or Bozeman. This is an especially important consideration if you have a non-fishing spouse or if your group takes some time off from fishing.
Tip 5: Book as early as possible
Prime dates and the most experienced and knowledgeable guides begin booking as early as a year in advance. While we still book trips as late as a week out even during the summer, the longer lead time we have the more flexibility there is in designing a trip and the better the odds that we can match clients up with the perfect guide.
Big Sky Fly Fishing
Big Sky, Montana is home to the largest skiing area in the United States. The outstanding winter sports combined with numerous summer activities like fishing, horseback riding, hiking, mountain biking and rafting have made Big Sky a popular year round destination for vacationers craving outdoor recreation. Big Sky fly fishing also happens to be some of the best in North America.
Gallatin River
If you close your eyes and envision a perfect trout river, the Gallatin River would surely remind you of the river in your dreams. This gorgeous fishery begins in Yellowstone National Park a short jaunt from Big Sky. The scenery along the Gallatin was made famous by Robert Redford’s classic “A River Runs Through It” where all of the fishing scenes were filmed. After tumbling out of the park it flows past Big Sky junction and enters the Gallatin Canyon of the next 30 miles. Upon leaving the canyon the Gallatin becomes a beautiful meadow river lined with cottonwoods on its journey to form the Missouri near Three Forks. Gallatin River fly fishing is great throughout its course. The highest trout numbers occur below the Big Sky junction after numerous underground springs improve the productivity of the river. The canyon boasts thousands of trout per mile and fishing can often be fast and furious. Rainbow trout in the 10-17” range dominate the fishery here, but the occasional brown trout provides some diversity. The trout in the canyon are not terribly picky and a well presented attractor dry fly or small bead head nymph is all that is needed to provide steady action. Once the Gallatin leaves the canyon trout numbers begin to drop but trout size increases. The Lower Gallatin produces fish in the 20-28” range each year and is a favorite destination in the fall for those searching for trophy fish.
Madison River
The Madison River is frequently rated as North America’s number one trout stream. This legendary fishery originates in Yellowstone National Park and flows through one of Montana’s most picturesque valleys on its journey to form the Missouri river. The Madison river has it all: great hatches, spectacular scenery, huge trout and great water. A day float fishing the Madison from a drift boat is prerequisite for any Montana fishing trip. The upper portion of the River is designated for wade fishing only and is an ideal location to target large, strong and healthy browns and rainbows in swift rocky pocket water. The large rocks and swift current are not for the faint of heart, but those that are willing to do some aggressive wading are always rewarded. Throughout most of the Upper Madison Valley, the river flows through what is fondly referred to as the 50 mile riffle. This swift, shallow stretch of water offers ideal trout habitat from bank to bank. This amazingly productive stretch holds lots of browns and rainbows of all year classes with fish up to 30” caught each season. Below Ennis Lake, the river changes character dramatically as it enters the tumultuous Bear Trap Canyon. Big Sky Angler guides Brian and Miles McGeehan are two of a very small handful of guides qualified to offer fishing trips through the class V whitewater run. Bear Trap is safely the premier one day float fishing trip in North America. After exiting Bear Trap canyon, the Lower Madison slows in gradient as its currents wash over large weed beds filled with sculpins, mayflies and crayfish. Some of the largest trout in the Madison reside in its lower waters and it is a prime destination in the spring and fall when water temperatures are ideal for trout fishing.
Yellowstone River Fishing
The Yellowstone is the longest undammed river in the lower 48. After carving its way throughout the length of Yellowstone National Park, it travels through Paradise Valley and eventually across the state of Montana to join the Missouri River in North Dakota. This large river is ideal for float fishing and offers some of the best dry fly fishing in Montana. Most Big Sky Angler trips take place on the 100 miles of water from Gardiner at the park boundary to just beyond Big Timber. Impressive hatches of caddis flies, stoneflies and mayflies bring fish to the surface from April through July and again in the fall. In the late summer months, the Yellowstone is home to some of the best terrestrial fishing in Montana, including some awesome grasshopper fishing. Numerous alfalfa fields near the river fill up with the large insects in late July through September and are frequently blown into the river on breezy afternoons. Large trout become reckless when chasing these large tasty morsels and a day of “hopper” fishing ranks high on the list of many international anglers.
Small stream fishing
Big Sky is surrounded by small mountain streams that are filled with eager trout ready to pounce on a well presented dry fly. Speciman creek, Fan creek, Portal Creek, Moose Creek, Storm Castle Creek, Swan Creek, Hell Roaring Creek and the Taylor Fork all offer secluded fly fishing to small trout. A short three or four weight rod and a box of attractor dry flies is all that is needed to have an action packed day on these small creeks.
Gallatin River
If you close your eyes and envision a perfect trout river, the Gallatin River would surely remind you of the river in your dreams. This gorgeous fishery begins in Yellowstone National Park a short jaunt from Big Sky. The scenery along the Gallatin was made famous by Robert Redford’s classic “A River Runs Through It” where all of the fishing scenes were filmed. After tumbling out of the park it flows past Big Sky junction and enters the Gallatin Canyon of the next 30 miles. Upon leaving the canyon the Gallatin becomes a beautiful meadow river lined with cottonwoods on its journey to form the Missouri near Three Forks. Gallatin River fly fishing is great throughout its course. The highest trout numbers occur below the Big Sky junction after numerous underground springs improve the productivity of the river. The canyon boasts thousands of trout per mile and fishing can often be fast and furious. Rainbow trout in the 10-17” range dominate the fishery here, but the occasional brown trout provides some diversity. The trout in the canyon are not terribly picky and a well presented attractor dry fly or small bead head nymph is all that is needed to provide steady action. Once the Gallatin leaves the canyon trout numbers begin to drop but trout size increases. The Lower Gallatin produces fish in the 20-28” range each year and is a favorite destination in the fall for those searching for trophy fish.
Madison River
The Madison River is frequently rated as North America’s number one trout stream. This legendary fishery originates in Yellowstone National Park and flows through one of Montana’s most picturesque valleys on its journey to form the Missouri river. The Madison river has it all: great hatches, spectacular scenery, huge trout and great water. A day float fishing the Madison from a drift boat is prerequisite for any Montana fishing trip. The upper portion of the River is designated for wade fishing only and is an ideal location to target large, strong and healthy browns and rainbows in swift rocky pocket water. The large rocks and swift current are not for the faint of heart, but those that are willing to do some aggressive wading are always rewarded. Throughout most of the Upper Madison Valley, the river flows through what is fondly referred to as the 50 mile riffle. This swift, shallow stretch of water offers ideal trout habitat from bank to bank. This amazingly productive stretch holds lots of browns and rainbows of all year classes with fish up to 30” caught each season. Below Ennis Lake, the river changes character dramatically as it enters the tumultuous Bear Trap Canyon. Big Sky Angler guides Brian and Miles McGeehan are two of a very small handful of guides qualified to offer fishing trips through the class V whitewater run. Bear Trap is safely the premier one day float fishing trip in North America. After exiting Bear Trap canyon, the Lower Madison slows in gradient as its currents wash over large weed beds filled with sculpins, mayflies and crayfish. Some of the largest trout in the Madison reside in its lower waters and it is a prime destination in the spring and fall when water temperatures are ideal for trout fishing.
Yellowstone River Fishing
The Yellowstone is the longest undammed river in the lower 48. After carving its way throughout the length of Yellowstone National Park, it travels through Paradise Valley and eventually across the state of Montana to join the Missouri River in North Dakota. This large river is ideal for float fishing and offers some of the best dry fly fishing in Montana. Most Big Sky Angler trips take place on the 100 miles of water from Gardiner at the park boundary to just beyond Big Timber. Impressive hatches of caddis flies, stoneflies and mayflies bring fish to the surface from April through July and again in the fall. In the late summer months, the Yellowstone is home to some of the best terrestrial fishing in Montana, including some awesome grasshopper fishing. Numerous alfalfa fields near the river fill up with the large insects in late July through September and are frequently blown into the river on breezy afternoons. Large trout become reckless when chasing these large tasty morsels and a day of “hopper” fishing ranks high on the list of many international anglers.
Small stream fishing
Big Sky is surrounded by small mountain streams that are filled with eager trout ready to pounce on a well presented dry fly. Speciman creek, Fan creek, Portal Creek, Moose Creek, Storm Castle Creek, Swan Creek, Hell Roaring Creek and the Taylor Fork all offer secluded fly fishing to small trout. A short three or four weight rod and a box of attractor dry flies is all that is needed to have an action packed day on these small creeks.
Montana's "best" fly fishing
As an outfitter and owner of Montana Angler Fly Fishing I am frequently asked “when is the best time to fish?” or “what is the best river for Montana fly fishing?” My answer is always “it depends”. Montana has a massive variety of high quality trout fishing with dozens of famous blue ribbon trout fisheries and millions of lesser known streams, lakes and spring creeks all full of willing trout. The truth is that trout eat every day, even in the winter which means that they can be caught year round. The fact that different anglers are looking for different experiences with their Montana fly fishing trip makes it impossible to deliver a simple answer to broad questions about when or where the best fishing is. The following tips can help to provide some specific tips for Montana’s best fly fishing.
When is the best time to catch large trout?
Large trout can be caught on any day of the year, but there are two times of the year that yield a higher frequency of monsters. Although some anglers argue that early spring is a good time to catch trophy trout, I would put my money on post runoff and October. Run off usually ends in mid June-mid July depending on the river. Usually when the rivers just clear and are beginning to drop the big fish are dumb and hungry. As water drops and the season progresses they tend to get a bit smarter and harder to catch. October is also a great time of year to target big brown trout. Fishing pressure has dropped off and the fish are less wary. Large browns spawn in November and become more aggressive during the month of October. Some large browns also run out of large lakes into rivers like the Missouri and Madison making them more accessible to fly fisherman.
When is the best time to dry fly fish?
Probably mid summer. Early in the summer fishing is great but the water is still high and dry fly fishing is more variable. Once rivers drop dry fly fishing improves greatly. Dry fly fishing can also be good in the spring and fall, but it is often during windows that coincide baetis hatches. In the summer fish turn onto terrestrials in midsummer and are more willing to hit attractors or ant and hopper patterns during the day. Spring creeks are the exception to the rule since they produced great dry fly fishing during runoff (they aren’t affected by runoff).
What are the best regions for a large variety of rivers, lakes and creeks?
Bozeman, Ennis, Livingston, Dillon and Missoula offer the greatest variety on fly fishing trips. At each location it is possible to fish a different river each day if so desired. Many anglers enjoy a variety of river sizes and type while on a fishing vacation.
Which rivers are the best if I’m fishing on my own?
Many of Montana’s most famous fisheries can be difficult to fish successfully on a DIY trip. Rivers like the Madison, Yellowstone and Missouri are so large that you either need a drift boat or specific knowledge of where you can wade fish. Avoid the larger rivers if you are fishing on your own without a boat. Smaller waters like the Ruby, Gallatin, Upper Blackfoot, Boulder and Rock Creek are smaller and easier to read. Visiting anglers generally have a better experience on these smaller rivers. There are also ample small stream fisheries that are free of crowds and very productive. Call a local fly shop in the region that you are targeting and ask for advice for local small streams that you can easily wade fish without much knowledge of the fishery.
Which rivers have the best trout numbers?
The Bighorn, Missouri and Beaverhead have the highest trout concentrations. All three rivers are tail waters (below dams) and the productive fishing. These tail waters also produce the most fishing pressure so expect to see a lot of other fisherman (by Montana standards). Actual catch rates on rivers such as the Yellowstone and Madison often equal those on the tail waters because the fish receive less pressure and are not as wary.
A good idea before you plan a Montana fishing vacation is to develop a list of things that are most important to you. Think about factors like trout size, catch rates, style of fishing, lodging options, weather, etc. If you are planning a guided trip use this priority list to help your chosen outfitter help you design the perfect trip.
When is the best time to catch large trout?
Large trout can be caught on any day of the year, but there are two times of the year that yield a higher frequency of monsters. Although some anglers argue that early spring is a good time to catch trophy trout, I would put my money on post runoff and October. Run off usually ends in mid June-mid July depending on the river. Usually when the rivers just clear and are beginning to drop the big fish are dumb and hungry. As water drops and the season progresses they tend to get a bit smarter and harder to catch. October is also a great time of year to target big brown trout. Fishing pressure has dropped off and the fish are less wary. Large browns spawn in November and become more aggressive during the month of October. Some large browns also run out of large lakes into rivers like the Missouri and Madison making them more accessible to fly fisherman.
When is the best time to dry fly fish?
Probably mid summer. Early in the summer fishing is great but the water is still high and dry fly fishing is more variable. Once rivers drop dry fly fishing improves greatly. Dry fly fishing can also be good in the spring and fall, but it is often during windows that coincide baetis hatches. In the summer fish turn onto terrestrials in midsummer and are more willing to hit attractors or ant and hopper patterns during the day. Spring creeks are the exception to the rule since they produced great dry fly fishing during runoff (they aren’t affected by runoff).
What are the best regions for a large variety of rivers, lakes and creeks?
Bozeman, Ennis, Livingston, Dillon and Missoula offer the greatest variety on fly fishing trips. At each location it is possible to fish a different river each day if so desired. Many anglers enjoy a variety of river sizes and type while on a fishing vacation.
Which rivers are the best if I’m fishing on my own?
Many of Montana’s most famous fisheries can be difficult to fish successfully on a DIY trip. Rivers like the Madison, Yellowstone and Missouri are so large that you either need a drift boat or specific knowledge of where you can wade fish. Avoid the larger rivers if you are fishing on your own without a boat. Smaller waters like the Ruby, Gallatin, Upper Blackfoot, Boulder and Rock Creek are smaller and easier to read. Visiting anglers generally have a better experience on these smaller rivers. There are also ample small stream fisheries that are free of crowds and very productive. Call a local fly shop in the region that you are targeting and ask for advice for local small streams that you can easily wade fish without much knowledge of the fishery.
Which rivers have the best trout numbers?
The Bighorn, Missouri and Beaverhead have the highest trout concentrations. All three rivers are tail waters (below dams) and the productive fishing. These tail waters also produce the most fishing pressure so expect to see a lot of other fisherman (by Montana standards). Actual catch rates on rivers such as the Yellowstone and Madison often equal those on the tail waters because the fish receive less pressure and are not as wary.
A good idea before you plan a Montana fishing vacation is to develop a list of things that are most important to you. Think about factors like trout size, catch rates, style of fishing, lodging options, weather, etc. If you are planning a guided trip use this priority list to help your chosen outfitter help you design the perfect trip.
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Montana fly fishing ramping up in the fall
Fall fishing in Montana is starting to heat up. Browns are getting some great color and will be moving soon. Cool weather has also brought baetis hatches. Crowds are disappearing and the fish are becoming dumb again. It is a great time to fish montana with Montana Angler. www.montanaangler.com
Monday, May 10, 2010
Caddis have arrived
The Mother's Day Caddis has arrived and is in full stride on local rivers. The Yellowstone has been exceptionally good and should hold out for several more days until the river blows out. The Lower Madison is also a good bet and will stay fishable througout most of May.
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Caddis have arrived
Caddis have arrived on the Yellowstone and Lower Madison. Cooler weather will put an end to the bump in flows and once the weather slowly warms expect some amazing dry fly fishing in early May. Time to call in sick and get out on the rivers because it is going to be really good very soon!!!
Thursday, April 22, 2010
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Montana Spring Fly Fishing Update
The wife and kids were gone all last weekend so I took the opportunity to get out on the water for a few days with some of our guides. On Friday we hit the Ruby River and had a blast fishing over a morning midge hatch and an afternoon baetis hatch. The water is still very low, no irrigation calls yet. At 36cfs the Ruby is similar to a spring creek. We were able to spend most of the day sight fishing to browns and bows in the 15-20" class. Once the baetis hatch started the entire river turned on and caught fish both on dries and emmergers.
On Saturday we floated Bear Trap Canyon with three rafts. The water was still a bit green from the sediment in the lake that was kicked up by some windy days. The fishing was slow but steady. It should get much better once the clarity improves...Either way it was a great feeling to be back in Bear Trap Canyon for the first time in 2010.
On Sunday we scouted out a new put in on the Yellowstone. We put it right on the YNP boundary in the town of Gardner. The catch is the only access is a 200 yard long trail to the river so we used two elk carts to roll the rafts down. A lot of hard work but the payoff is 3 miles of untouched water. The water had bumped up a bit from warm weather so the fishing was off, I can't wait to get back in there under productive conditions...it should be a late summer gem for dry fly fishing to trout that are still dumber than a box of rocks!!!
On Saturday we floated Bear Trap Canyon with three rafts. The water was still a bit green from the sediment in the lake that was kicked up by some windy days. The fishing was slow but steady. It should get much better once the clarity improves...Either way it was a great feeling to be back in Bear Trap Canyon for the first time in 2010.
On Sunday we scouted out a new put in on the Yellowstone. We put it right on the YNP boundary in the town of Gardner. The catch is the only access is a 200 yard long trail to the river so we used two elk carts to roll the rafts down. A lot of hard work but the payoff is 3 miles of untouched water. The water had bumped up a bit from warm weather so the fishing was off, I can't wait to get back in there under productive conditions...it should be a late summer gem for dry fly fishing to trout that are still dumber than a box of rocks!!!
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
fly fishing the baetis hatch in Montana
Baetis are a genus of mayfly that hatch in the spring and the fall. These small insects have olive-bodies and gray wings. They are frequently referred to as "blue winged olives", "BWOs" and "olives". There are multiple species baetis, but they all look similar to the non-entemologist. In Montana baetis hatch from March-May and from late Septmber-November. The hatch is often 20-50 times more prolific on cloudy, rainy, snowy days.
On sunny days, baetis are still very imortant. Dry fly fishing can be found in back eddies that concentrate cripples. The best fishing will be subsurface fishing nymphs. Pick your favorite top fly but hang a baetis nymph or emerger 18" as the trailer. Many people don't realize that emergers actually work great when below some split shot and fished deep. The baetis usually start emerging in the very late morning and continue until late in the afternoon. This coincides with the best fishing of a spring or late fall day, even if you are throwing streamers. The presence of the insects simply gets trout thinking food!
On cloudy days it is time to grab the dry fly rod and target rising trout. Rainbows will typically pod into groups...typically in size classes while browns will be solitary. Pay close attention to the rise forms...if fish are porpoising or you can see their backs, they are probably eating emergers or cripples just below the surface. If you see bubbles or fish snouts they are eating the duns on the surface that are drying their wings. A great strategy is to target both by fishing a small dry like a parachute, thorax or cripple dry on top with an emerger fished just 12" behind tied to the bend of the hook. CDC emergers are a great choice for the second fly...no need to grease them.
On sunny days, baetis are still very imortant. Dry fly fishing can be found in back eddies that concentrate cripples. The best fishing will be subsurface fishing nymphs. Pick your favorite top fly but hang a baetis nymph or emerger 18" as the trailer. Many people don't realize that emergers actually work great when below some split shot and fished deep. The baetis usually start emerging in the very late morning and continue until late in the afternoon. This coincides with the best fishing of a spring or late fall day, even if you are throwing streamers. The presence of the insects simply gets trout thinking food!
On cloudy days it is time to grab the dry fly rod and target rising trout. Rainbows will typically pod into groups...typically in size classes while browns will be solitary. Pay close attention to the rise forms...if fish are porpoising or you can see their backs, they are probably eating emergers or cripples just below the surface. If you see bubbles or fish snouts they are eating the duns on the surface that are drying their wings. A great strategy is to target both by fishing a small dry like a parachute, thorax or cripple dry on top with an emerger fished just 12" behind tied to the bend of the hook. CDC emergers are a great choice for the second fly...no need to grease them.
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
The baetis hatches have started!
Saturday produced some great cloud cover and with it the first good baetis hatches of the year on the Yellowstone and Lower Madison. Kevin Guettler was on the Lower and caught 9 or 10 on top in less than two hours on top. Cloudy days should produce awesome dry fly fishing for the next two months!
Spring creeks are also getting better by the day. Five of us hit the spring creeks on Sunday and fishing was very good. There already a lot of river fish moving in from the Yellowstone. In one good spawning riffle we spotted 40 or 50 bows in the 15-20" range. Most of the fishing was still on nymphs as it was bright and sunny with egg patterns and midges bringing most of the fish.
We had a 5 boat trip out on the Yellowstone yesterday. A ton of fun with a few dads and a bunch of kids ranging from 8-14 years. Everyone caught fish and had a blast. All of the trout were still holding in the slower water with just a bit of current.
Big Sky Angler lodging packages
We have been working hard to develop partnerships with several of the regions top tier fishing lodges and are happy to report that we will be offering fishing packages with with three of the best: the Madison Valley Ranch, the Gallatin River Lodge and the Yellowstone Valley Lodge.
All three lodges offer private access to world class rivers, multi course dining prepared by executive chefs, and superb settings.
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Montana Fly Fishing: Carp on the Fly?
Montana has deservedly gained a reputation for offering some of the world’s finest fly fishing for wild trout. Visiting anglers come to Montana in search of pristine waters, large trout, great hatches and unparalleled scenery. Carp fishing on a Montana fishing trip is not usually what most fisherman envision when they travel to the Big Sky state, but visiting anglers that give it a try are rarely disappointed.
Although the headwaters of most of the famous trout rivers in the state are too cold for carp, several reservoirs and a few of the larger rivers such as the Missouri hold them in abundance. The Upper Missouri river between Three Forks and Canyon Ferry Reservoir has been gaining notoriety amongst local fisherman as a must fish destination during the summer. On a float trip on the Upper ‘Mo it is common to see hundreds of carp during the course of the day, each between 5 and 15 pounds. Carp fishing with a fly rod is almost entirely done by site fishing to shallow cruising fish. The experience of hunting carp with the eye and then making a quick accurate cast to the surprisingly spooky golden ghosts, followed by a hookup on a monstrous hard charging fish is one that becomes addictive to almost every fly fisherman that tries it.
The allure of catching 15-pound fish on hoppers in August is so addictive that several local guides and outfitters completely forego chasing trout on their days off during the peak of the summer in order to go “carping”.
Carp fishing is best done on hot summer days when the fish are more active. Sunny days are best because in order to catch carp you must see them before they see you. Cloudy days produce a glare on the water that makes visibility much more difficult. Most guides that go carping build special decks on their drift boats that help to elevate the anglers position in order to aid spotting fish. While floating in drift boats, the oarsman lines the boat up to pass by shallow slow water flats on the edges of gravel bars. The casters fire flies to spotted fish. The best flies for carp are often medium brown colored patterns resembling crayfish and sculpins. Saltwater bonefish patterns like Crazy Charlies are also very effective. It helps to have a weighted head on the flies to help them sink fast and to keep the flies right on the bottom. Casts should be made about five feet upstream of the fish so that the fly has time to sink and drift into position. Once the fly is close to the fish a slow strip retrieve frequently produces a follow and strike. Setting the hook is best done with a strop set similar to that used when fishing for bonefish and redfish on saltwater flats. Once hooked, carp always make a long powerful run so be ready to let the fish take some line.
Dry fly fishing for carp is one of the great thrills in freshwater fly fishing. Carp are generally thought of as bottom feeders, but they readily and frequently feed off of the surface when the opportunity arises. Carp are especially found of rising in giant foam eddies that occur on the Missouri river. These large eddies collect debris that is in the water and a rich foam of organic material develops on the surface. Trapped within this foam is often a slurry of mayflies, caddis flies, grasshoppers, ants and other insects. Large schools of up to 50 carp at a time will congregate in these eddies while feeding aggressively at the surface. Fooling these “gulpers” is harder than it looks. The fish are incredibly spooky, and all it takes is setting off one fish for the whole pod to go down. Carp can also be caught during hopper season when they take up feeding stations along the banks of the river. A properly presented hopper cast just upstream of the spotted carp will often produce a strike.
Montana’s carp are large fish, and the traditional trout fishing tackle are generally too light. Saltwater rods suited for bonefish and redfish are perfect for carp. An stout 7 wt or 8wt is the preferred rod of choice for many local anglers and guides. The heavier rods are useful when fighting the strong muscular fish. Leaders should also be stout, there is really no need to fish anything below 3X, with 2X the most common tippet strength. Flourocarbon is probably not needed, but most of our guides use it just in case when sight casting to the spooky fish in clear water. Flourocarbon should only be used on subsurface presentations and not for dry flies.
Carp have not achieved the celebrity status that trout have claimed in Montana, but they are certainly a worthy game fish. Many of the guests that we fish with at Big Sky Angler each year have come in search of terrific trout fishing on legendary rivers like the Madison and Yellowstone. Occasionally we are able to convince folks to take a shot at the golden ghost. Every client that we have ever guided on a carp fishing trip has requested to do it again on future trips!
Although the headwaters of most of the famous trout rivers in the state are too cold for carp, several reservoirs and a few of the larger rivers such as the Missouri hold them in abundance. The Upper Missouri river between Three Forks and Canyon Ferry Reservoir has been gaining notoriety amongst local fisherman as a must fish destination during the summer. On a float trip on the Upper ‘Mo it is common to see hundreds of carp during the course of the day, each between 5 and 15 pounds. Carp fishing with a fly rod is almost entirely done by site fishing to shallow cruising fish. The experience of hunting carp with the eye and then making a quick accurate cast to the surprisingly spooky golden ghosts, followed by a hookup on a monstrous hard charging fish is one that becomes addictive to almost every fly fisherman that tries it.
The allure of catching 15-pound fish on hoppers in August is so addictive that several local guides and outfitters completely forego chasing trout on their days off during the peak of the summer in order to go “carping”.
Carp fishing is best done on hot summer days when the fish are more active. Sunny days are best because in order to catch carp you must see them before they see you. Cloudy days produce a glare on the water that makes visibility much more difficult. Most guides that go carping build special decks on their drift boats that help to elevate the anglers position in order to aid spotting fish. While floating in drift boats, the oarsman lines the boat up to pass by shallow slow water flats on the edges of gravel bars. The casters fire flies to spotted fish. The best flies for carp are often medium brown colored patterns resembling crayfish and sculpins. Saltwater bonefish patterns like Crazy Charlies are also very effective. It helps to have a weighted head on the flies to help them sink fast and to keep the flies right on the bottom. Casts should be made about five feet upstream of the fish so that the fly has time to sink and drift into position. Once the fly is close to the fish a slow strip retrieve frequently produces a follow and strike. Setting the hook is best done with a strop set similar to that used when fishing for bonefish and redfish on saltwater flats. Once hooked, carp always make a long powerful run so be ready to let the fish take some line.
Dry fly fishing for carp is one of the great thrills in freshwater fly fishing. Carp are generally thought of as bottom feeders, but they readily and frequently feed off of the surface when the opportunity arises. Carp are especially found of rising in giant foam eddies that occur on the Missouri river. These large eddies collect debris that is in the water and a rich foam of organic material develops on the surface. Trapped within this foam is often a slurry of mayflies, caddis flies, grasshoppers, ants and other insects. Large schools of up to 50 carp at a time will congregate in these eddies while feeding aggressively at the surface. Fooling these “gulpers” is harder than it looks. The fish are incredibly spooky, and all it takes is setting off one fish for the whole pod to go down. Carp can also be caught during hopper season when they take up feeding stations along the banks of the river. A properly presented hopper cast just upstream of the spotted carp will often produce a strike.
Montana’s carp are large fish, and the traditional trout fishing tackle are generally too light. Saltwater rods suited for bonefish and redfish are perfect for carp. An stout 7 wt or 8wt is the preferred rod of choice for many local anglers and guides. The heavier rods are useful when fighting the strong muscular fish. Leaders should also be stout, there is really no need to fish anything below 3X, with 2X the most common tippet strength. Flourocarbon is probably not needed, but most of our guides use it just in case when sight casting to the spooky fish in clear water. Flourocarbon should only be used on subsurface presentations and not for dry flies.
Carp have not achieved the celebrity status that trout have claimed in Montana, but they are certainly a worthy game fish. Many of the guests that we fish with at Big Sky Angler each year have come in search of terrific trout fishing on legendary rivers like the Madison and Yellowstone. Occasionally we are able to convince folks to take a shot at the golden ghost. Every client that we have ever guided on a carp fishing trip has requested to do it again on future trips!
Monday, March 1, 2010
Spring Creeks are Heating Up!
I just got a great report from friend and fishing fanatic Doug Casey that the Livingston Spring creeks are heating up. He hit DePuy's yesterday and cleaned up. Lots of rainbows have already moved into the creek from the Yellowstone. Doug observed a few fish already establishing reds. Temps today are in the 40s and the days are getting longer. Spring is soon approaching and the fish know it!
Only a handful of trout were rising, but they were voraciously eating nymphs. Stick to egg patterns and midge larva. Doug hung quite a few on a pink scud trailed by a small midge larva pattern.
Fishing in the "creeks" should only improve as more and more large rainbows move in from the Yellowstone River prior to spawning.
Only a handful of trout were rising, but they were voraciously eating nymphs. Stick to egg patterns and midge larva. Doug hung quite a few on a pink scud trailed by a small midge larva pattern.
Fishing in the "creeks" should only improve as more and more large rainbows move in from the Yellowstone River prior to spawning.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Lower Madison fishing well
The Lower Madison has been fishing well lately. The fish are still in the deeper slower buckets and runs which is typical during winter fishing. Rainbows are starting to enter the pre-spawn mode and this seems to make them a little dumber and than normal. Anything pink seems to be the ticket. Some of our guides fished the Madison recently and did well on pink san juan worms, pink scuds and pink lightning bugs. Fishing should only improve into March. The spring creeks are also fishing well right now...we'll be heading over to Nelsons soon to play. Midges are starting to hatch on the spring creeks and yellowstone making dry flies a possible option!
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Snowpack looking good for spring and early summer fishing
Our snowpack continues to hold at around 80% with snow forecast all week. If the cards continue to play out this way, we should have good water this summer without an extended run off like we saw the last two years. We have a really good shot at catching both the Mother's Day caddis on the Yellowstone in late April/early May as well as the salmonfly hatch on the stone. Some years run off interferes with these hatches. The same hatches also occur on the Madison and are usually fishable on all years because of the protection of dams.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Montana fly fishing: off the beaten path
Article of the month: Fly Fishing Montana off the Beaten Path
by Brian McGeehan
It is hard to pull a fly fishing magazine off of a shelf and not find an article or photo of Montana. The shear number and density of world class trout rivers in the state rivals any other location in the world. Rivers like the Madison, Yellowstone, Bighorn, Missouri, Gallatin, Big Hole, and Jefferson have long been on the short list of passionate fly fisherman from around the world.
The quality, fame and number of productive rivers in Montana also attract some of the fly fishing industries best guides, outfitters, writers and photographers. Montana is a sparsley populated state with an overall population that is less than 1 million people and a population density of 6 people per square mile. Despite the rural environment and low population, the annual influx of fisherman from around the world brings moderate pressure to many of the most famous rivers. Although never crowded when compared to rivers in the Eastern U.S. or Southern Rockies, the angling pressure still comes into play for our guides when fishing rivers like the Yellowstone, Gallatin and Madison. Trout that were aggressively pounding hopper imitations in late July become a little more wary by the end of August after seeing several versions of foam hoppers float by. On popular floats on the Madison or Yellowstone that are frequented by the regions fly fishing guides, aggressive smashing takes become subtle delicate grabs later in the season.
One of our strategies when guiding our clients on local waters is to take advantage of the terrific fly fishing that can be found off of the proverbial beaten path. There is nothing more satisfying than working harder than the next guide to help our guests access unpressured fishing to eager and willing wild Montana trout. Our guides focus on four strategies for accessing fishing that most guides, outfitters and visiting anglers bypass: using whitewater rafting techniques, gaining permission on private ranches, using specialty boats to access difficult to reach floats without boat ramps and finally being willing to hike or row harder than others to get into great fishing.
One of our favorite ways to get off of the beaten path is to use whitewater rafts and whitewater trained guides to float fish reaches of rivers with whitewater. Even mild class two whitewater is enough to keep the majority of the regions guides that only have fiberglass drfit boats away from these sections. The low fishing pressure on these canyon reaches, combined with impressive scenery, great trout habitat and aggressive trout make these floats a hit with may of our guests. Because these trout just haven’t seen many flies, they usually aggressively take our imitations and produce a terrific fight.
Another terrific way to access gullible, unsuspecting trout is to gain permission on private ranches that limit access to the angling public. Several of the ranches in our region have phenomenal fishing opportunities ranging from small canyon streams, productive spring creeks and trophy wild trout reservoirs. Some of these ranches allow fishing based on a rod fee system that ranges from $40-$100 per rod. Other ranches allow us free access with advanced notice.
Montana is famous for its float fishing for trout on large rivers like the Yellowstone and Madison. The vast majority of anglers floating these blue ribbon rivers are using the services of the regions many fly fishing guides and outfitters. The popularity of float fishing in the Northern Rockies has spawned terrific advances in the production of fiberglass drift boats. These boats are made for one purpose, fly fishing on large rivers and they are a joy to use. The downside of these boats is that they weigh just under three hundred pounds and must be trailered into and out of rivers via boat ramps. Although our guides all have drift boats for the larger classic float trips, we also use small lightweight rafts with custom fishing frames that allow us to access some of the smaller rivers that lack boat ramps. Fishing these untapped resources often produces fast action without another fisherman for miles.
by Brian McGeehan
It is hard to pull a fly fishing magazine off of a shelf and not find an article or photo of Montana. The shear number and density of world class trout rivers in the state rivals any other location in the world. Rivers like the Madison, Yellowstone, Bighorn, Missouri, Gallatin, Big Hole, and Jefferson have long been on the short list of passionate fly fisherman from around the world.
The quality, fame and number of productive rivers in Montana also attract some of the fly fishing industries best guides, outfitters, writers and photographers. Montana is a sparsley populated state with an overall population that is less than 1 million people and a population density of 6 people per square mile. Despite the rural environment and low population, the annual influx of fisherman from around the world brings moderate pressure to many of the most famous rivers. Although never crowded when compared to rivers in the Eastern U.S. or Southern Rockies, the angling pressure still comes into play for our guides when fishing rivers like the Yellowstone, Gallatin and Madison. Trout that were aggressively pounding hopper imitations in late July become a little more wary by the end of August after seeing several versions of foam hoppers float by. On popular floats on the Madison or Yellowstone that are frequented by the regions fly fishing guides, aggressive smashing takes become subtle delicate grabs later in the season.
One of our strategies when guiding our clients on local waters is to take advantage of the terrific fly fishing that can be found off of the proverbial beaten path. There is nothing more satisfying than working harder than the next guide to help our guests access unpressured fishing to eager and willing wild Montana trout. Our guides focus on four strategies for accessing fishing that most guides, outfitters and visiting anglers bypass: using whitewater rafting techniques, gaining permission on private ranches, using specialty boats to access difficult to reach floats without boat ramps and finally being willing to hike or row harder than others to get into great fishing.
One of our favorite ways to get off of the beaten path is to use whitewater rafts and whitewater trained guides to float fish reaches of rivers with whitewater. Even mild class two whitewater is enough to keep the majority of the regions guides that only have fiberglass drfit boats away from these sections. The low fishing pressure on these canyon reaches, combined with impressive scenery, great trout habitat and aggressive trout make these floats a hit with may of our guests. Because these trout just haven’t seen many flies, they usually aggressively take our imitations and produce a terrific fight.
Another terrific way to access gullible, unsuspecting trout is to gain permission on private ranches that limit access to the angling public. Several of the ranches in our region have phenomenal fishing opportunities ranging from small canyon streams, productive spring creeks and trophy wild trout reservoirs. Some of these ranches allow fishing based on a rod fee system that ranges from $40-$100 per rod. Other ranches allow us free access with advanced notice.
Montana is famous for its float fishing for trout on large rivers like the Yellowstone and Madison. The vast majority of anglers floating these blue ribbon rivers are using the services of the regions many fly fishing guides and outfitters. The popularity of float fishing in the Northern Rockies has spawned terrific advances in the production of fiberglass drift boats. These boats are made for one purpose, fly fishing on large rivers and they are a joy to use. The downside of these boats is that they weigh just under three hundred pounds and must be trailered into and out of rivers via boat ramps. Although our guides all have drift boats for the larger classic float trips, we also use small lightweight rafts with custom fishing frames that allow us to access some of the smaller rivers that lack boat ramps. Fishing these untapped resources often produces fast action without another fisherman for miles.
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Fly fishing film tour
Went to the fly fishing film tour the other night at the Emerson in Bozeman (http://www.flyfishingfilmtour.com) recently with a few friends. Some fantastic fishing from clips of several different films rangin from wilderness steelheading in BC to new zealand. I love these new Warren Miller style fishing flicks!
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Cold snap...brrr
-22 driving to school today. No fishing for the next few days, time to tie some flies!
Monday, January 4, 2010
DePuy's Winter Fishing
Doug Casey and I fished DePuy's spring creek on New Years Eve day. Temps were in the 20s and the wind was pretty stout. After building a nice fire in one of the warming huts we set out to fish in short 45-60 minute blasts. The fishing was actually quite good when we were able to punch the wind and each of us managed to bring in 7 or 8 over the course of three hours. Nymphing was the ticket and we were using a pink scud on top trailed by a small zebra midge on 6x flourocarbon tippet. The fish where in their typical winter lies: slower deeper water. The spring creeks are the best game in town during the winter since they maintain nearly constant water temperatures at their source. I've also heard the Gallatin around Big Sky has been productive on warmer days.
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