Category Archives: Fishing by Time of Year

“Streamers” is the common term used to describe flies tied to imitate baitfish or other larger prey, such as crayfish. Because spring is when most of our Montana trout rivers come into play and trout swimming in these rivers have gone most of the winter without seeing a lot flies, anglers in-the...

As the days get longer and the sun shines a little brighter, the fly fishing in Montana slowly gravitates from winter mode to spring time consistency. Cut to the scene: It is mid-March on a trout river in southwest Montana. The riverside vegetation is greening but the mountains in the distance are...

Fly fishing for trout in Montana or anywhere in the world can be an exciting experience. Because trout live in dynamic and ever-changing aquatic environments, it is essential to understand how a trout survives and thrives. Whether a trout lives in a bio-rich river like the Missouri River or one of...

You’ve heard it before and time and time again: the Madison River is world-famous, the Missouri River has Montana’s biggest trout, and Bozeman is the epicenter of fly fishing in Montana. Well…you aren’t going to find much argument from us on those points. There are plenty of rivers, creeks, and...

Spring and summer-time fishing in Montana is often defined by when snowmelt runoff begins and ends. From year to year, the exact timeframe of our runoff period varies, but it typically begins in mid-May and runs into mid-June. Montana’s freestone rivers like the Gallatin and Yellowstone often run...

Winter can be a great time to get out and explore Montana’s world-class trout fisheries. Most of the state’s premier rivers are open to fishing year-round and a day on the water can result in some impressive fish. An added benefit of winter angling is the chance to enjoy some solitude on the water...

Montana locals and loyal anglers have always debated what is the best month for fly fishing in Montana. Because every month offers something unique, the answer is complex and personal. Some months feature consistent dry fly fishing while others serve up very high catch rates with subsurface nymphs...

The quintessential picture of fly fishing in Montana is often long summer days with blue skies, sun-tanned anglers, and prolific hatches. Fly fishing in winter provides adventurous anglers unique opportunities that do not exist when the weather is warm and the living is easy. For those willing to...

Mayflies make up a large portion of any trout's diet. From the limestone creeks of the East to the untamed rivers of Chile, Argentina, and New Zealand, to our home waters in Montana, dozens of mayfly species provide food and forage for trout to grow healthy and large. Narrow the list of the dozens...

Labor Day is the unofficial start of the fall season here in Montana. As the nights grow longer and the days shorter, anglers in Montana are eager for the change from warm summer days to crisp mornings and golden sunsets. The fall fishing season in Montana provides anglers with a variety of waters...