Early spring in Montana offers a welcome set of changing conditions on our local waters that are welcomed by anglers. While March and April can still feel wintery at times, fisheries are quickly moving out of wintertime mode. Montana's rivers and streams come alive with aquatic activity in March and April. This is the perfect time to sample some of the more famous waters in Montana while avoiding a lot of other anglers.
Here are a few general tips for finding success in early spring:
- Focus on spring creeks and larger rivers. Small streams are too cold for active trout. The first early hatches will be on the larger blue ribbon rivers and the ground water fed spring creeks.
- Target your efforts in slower water. Water temperatures are still cold and trout will avoid riffles and faster runs. Slower seams near pools with some depth are a great area to find trout in the early spring.
- Focus on late morning and afternoon when water temperatures are highest to find active trout.
- Come armed with some patterns that imitate insects hatching in the early spring including midges, skwala stoneflies and baetis mayflies.
- Pay close attention to weather forecasts. This is a dynamic time of year and we can go from bluebird skies one day to late winter storms the next.
The Best Rivers and Streams for Early Spring Fly Fishing in Montana:
- Bitterroot River:
- Located in western Montana, the Bitterroot River is known for its strong hatch of skwala stoneflies
- Expect to find rainbow, cutthroat, and brown trout in the Bitterroot's clear, cold waters.
- This is one of the first rivers that offers predictable early dry fly fishing
- Yellowstone River:
- The Yellowstone River is a large freestone fishery that offers some exciting early spring options
- River ice generally opens up enough to allow float fishing by mid March (but conditions change from year to year)
- Strong midge hatches can bring rising fish in slower waters, especially closer to Yellowstone Park where there is a healthy cutthroat trout population
- Early spring is also a great time to find big browns on streamers. Fish them deep and slow in the spring.
- Madison River:
- The Madison River is another great early spring option.
- The Lower Madison has a warmer temperature profile than the upper reaches and can produce good fishing early in the year. Bigger fish will be focused on sculpins and crayfish patterns.
- The upper river between Hebgen and Quake Lakes as well as the reach between Quake Lake and Lyons Bridge can produce some nice midge hatches and rising trout in March.
- Missouri River:
- The Missouri River is renowned for its blue ribbon trout waters and remarkable hatches.
- Early spring midge hatches can produce pods of rising trout.
- The high density of the trout population near near Wolf Creek in the tailwater section is always a good option. Waters are cold so look for concentrations of fish in slower seams.
- Gallatin River:
- Nestled in the Gallatin Canyon, this river is a local favorite with a unique charm and great scenery.
- The resort town of Big Sky empties out in late March and the river is quiet this time of year.
- There can be some great fishing in this pre-runoff window. The action is mostly subsurface but trout are concentrated in slower runs.
- Spring Creeks:
- The spring creeks near Livingston such as Armstrong, DePuy and Nelson are ice free year round.
- Early spring brings hatches of Skwala stoneflies, offering exciting dry fly opportunities.
- With its peaceful surroundings and eager trout, Rock Creek is an idyllic spot for a fly fishing retreat.
Essential Gear and Techniques for Early Spring Fly Fishing
- Fly Rods and Lines:
- A 9-foot, 5-weight fly rod or 6-weight is a versatile choice for Montana's early spring fishing. A 6 weight is perfect for nymph fishing while a 5 weight is a nice dry fly rod. Match these with weight forward floating lines.
- For streamer fisherman go with a 7 weight with a 250 grain weighted line to fish streamers through the heart of deeper runs and tail outs. Trout aren’t on the banks in early spring.
- Flies:
- Early spring hatch patterns in Montana include baetis, midges, and Skwala stoneflies. Make sure to have these patterns in both dries and nymphs.
- Hot bead patterns are also effective when nymphing.
- Have some streamers in various sizes. Try white or flashy streamers on sunny days and darker olive or black on cloudy days.