Category Archives: Spring Fishing

Spring fly fishing is some of the most anticipated of the year. Getting out of the winter hibernation mode is often an excuse enough to go fishing. For many anglers catching a fish is a bonus–the real success is just getting out on the water after another long winter. But, wouldn’t it be nice to...

“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...

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...

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...

Fly fishing in Montana is known for broad valleys with views that go on for miles, rugged canyons with picturesque rivers, and waters that are home to several species of wild and native trout. The Smith River epitomizes the many great things about fly fishing in Big Sky country. Beginning in the...

We have all heard it, “you should have been here yesterday.” Such a statement begs the question, “Why yesterday?” The reason yesterday was better most often relates to the environmental conditions of yesterday. A myriad of conditions heavily influence the behavior of trout. Where trout are found...

Cut to the scene: snowcapped mountains backdrop green valley bottoms while clouds build on the horizon. It is spring season here in Montana. Each day brings the potential for sunshine, snow, rain, and more sunshine. For those that know the Montana fly fishing, spring season is a long time favorite...

If there was a time of year that strikes despair and fear into any anglers heart it would be fishing rivers at their high water or runoff stage. A perception of doom and gloom can occur in such a time, but often opportunities to fish during runoff exist...just a little extra effort might be in order...