Our spring fly fishing season is officially here. Our Montana fly fishing guides are on the water working as well as fishing on their day's off. With our sporadic spring weather that is so common right now, we haven't yet seen regular hatches of Blue Winged Olives and March Browns, but it is still "Go Time" for our spring fly fishing season here in southwest Montana!
Be sure to read our Best Not-So-Secret Places to Fish in Montana This Spring and check our Instagram and Fishing Reports regularly for all the latest and greatest.
To get some useful knowledge and to expand your fly fishing horizons, be sure to read some of our recent blog posts featuring: 9 Great Flies for Large Trout Anywhere in the World, What Do Trout Need And How to Use That to Catch More Fish, Best Not-So-Secret Places to Fish in Montana This Spring, and The Mayfly You Need to Know: Catch More Fish by Understanding Blue Winged Olives.
Southwest Montana Fishing Reports Overview
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It is shaping up to be an ideal weekend forecast for popping the top on another angling season here in Montana. Spring is here in Montana. While the mountains are still covered with snow and will be for awhile, the valleys are mostly clear of snow and things are slowly greening up. We are seeing...
Yellowstone River Fishing Report
- Good
Be sure to be legal before going fishing! Get your new license here. The Yellowstone River has moved out of winter mode and is now in spring mode...which means some days it can fish well and some days it is windy, cold and tough fishing. And because the Yellowstone River is a freestone, the good...
Upper Madison River Fishing Report
- Good
The Upper Madison is one of the best options for fishing near Big Sky and Bozeman for the next few weeks. For those that know, mid April can be a pretty fun time to fish the walk-and-wade section, and the entire river all the way down to Ennis is free of shelf ice and all boat ramps are clear which...
Lower Madison River Fishing Report
- Good
Fishing on the Lower Madison right now is all about the wind....or hiking up into Beartrap Canyon to get out of the wind! Even with the wind of the past few days and the prospect for more wind in the coming days, the Lower Madison has been fishing well for wading and floating anglers. Flows are...
Gallatin River Fishing Report
- Good
Spring is here on the Gallatin River near Big Sky and Bozeman and outside of Yellowstone National Park. Like with so many rivers this time of year, the time of the day that you fish is crucial to success. During the months of March, April, and in early May the fishing action starts later in the day...
Montana Spring Creeks Fishing Report
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The two main creeks we fish at Armstrong's and DePuy's spring creeks near Livingston and Bozeman, Montana. The next several days should be ideal on the creeks---scatterd clouds or overcast skies and showers is an ideal forecast for prolific hatches of Blue Winged Olive mayflies. These creeks are...
Stillwater River Fishing Report
- Fair
NEW license year starts March 1st. Be sure to be legal before going fishing! Get your new license here. The Stillwater River is still running low and clear and should stay that way for at least another few weeks with cooler weather in the forecast. Baetis or skwala hatches aren’t showing up in...
Boulder River Fishing Report
- Fair
Be sure to be legal before going fishing! Get your new license here. The Boulder River near Big Timber and half way to Billings is slowly on the rise but with the cold weather in the forecast, things will most likely drop and clear again. The Boulder River is a viable option until snowmelt runoff...
Jefferson River Fishing Report
- Fair
Be sure to be legal before going fishing! Get your new license here. The Jefferson River is going to fluctuate with rising and lowering flows right now...but it will most likely drop back down with the cooler weather in the forecast. It is fishing well with both streamers and nymph rigs. The Blue...
East Gallatin River Fishing Report
- Fair
The East Gallatin is the closest river to Bozeman and can be a very good option for fly fishing for the next few weeks. It can also fluctuate daily with flows if we get rain or a warm spell. It is suceptible to minor spikes as low elevation snowpack melts. If rain or warm temps occur, it can become...
Missouri River Fishing Report
- Fair
Be sure to be legal before going fishing! Get your new license here. Flows are hovering around 3,400 CFS which is a great level for floating and wading. That level is about 1,000 CFS below average for this time of year, but not enough to cause a change in tactics. The only real uncontrollable...
Ruby River Fishing Report
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The Ruby River could fish very well for those willing to give it a try....but remember access is tough. The Ruby is a nice option in the spring. The smaller valley doesn’t produce as strong of winds as the Madison and the dam protects the waters a bit early run off. Nymphing is always very...
Montana Lakes Fishing Report
- Fair
Be sure to be legal before going fishing! Get your new license here. With the warmer weather of the past week, lakes are very much back on the menu. Ice is off most of the lower elevation lakes and fishing has been good slow stripping leaches and damsel fly nymphs. Water temperatures are still cold...
Small Streams Fishing Report
- Good
Check current regulations as not all small streams are open just yet. Visit Montana Fish, Wildlife and Park for current regulations. The smaller streams around Montana can be options, but check local regulations, spring creeks such as DePuy's and Armstrong's and the larger waters like the Madison...