Situated near the headwaters of the Missouri River lies the mountain town of Bozeman, Montana. Within a hour's drive of Bozeman flow some of the world's most renown trout rivers and creeks. Add another hour to the drive from Bozeman and the list of spectacular rivers nearly doubles. With so many top quality fly fishing waters in one area, how do you choose the best place to go fly fishing near Bozeman, Montana. From a variety of freestone rivers to large tailwaters to crystal clear spring creeks, the options to pursue wild trout in Montana might be best served by using Bozeman as a jumping off point. By staying and fishing in the Bozeman area anglers can easily create a fly fishing trip with very little comparison. Here are the Top Five Rivers to Fish Near Bozeman.
The Gallatin River
The Gallatin River begins in Yellowstone National Park and is a small to medium-sized freestone river home to native and wild trout. It flows through the Gallatin Canyon where the fishing scenes from the movie A River Runs Through It were filmed. After exiting the canyon it enters the Gallatin Valley and becomes a meandering river lined with tall cottonwoods. Most anglers fish the Gallatin River near Big Sky and south of Bozeman because this is the most scenic area and provides the most amount of public access. The Gallatin River is not known for trophy trout like some of the other larger rivers in the area like the Missouri River, but the beauty of the Gallatin River and its small intimate nature make this a favorite of many traveling anglers and locals. Because of the very high trout density, this river often produces fast action and high catch rates for those who enjoy walk-and-wade fishing. With its ease of access, plenty of wild trout, and year-round opportunities, Montana's Gallatin River is not only one of the best rivers for fly fishing near Bozeman but also a top river in Montana.
The Madison River
There are no more secrets about the great fly fishing on Montana's Madison River. Similar to other great rivers in the area, the Madison River begins in Yellowstone National Park where the Gibbon and Firehole Rivers combine. From its beginnings the Madison River is home to native and wild trout and flows through some of the most scenic areas in southwest Montana. The variety along this legendary fishery is one of the many factors that make it one of the most consistent rivers in Montana. It is a favorite for both DIY anglers and guided fishing trips. Although different sections of the river have their own peak fishing times, there is almost always a location on the Madison that is fishing well nearly every month of the year. The Madison offers some of the most diverse and consistent fly fishing in Montana. The Madison flows through one of the most scenic valleys in Montana and is flanked by the towering Madison, Gravelly and Tobacco Root ranges. The impressive scenery, high trout counts, potential for trophy fish and proximity to Bozeman make this a must fish river for any angler visiting or living in Bozeman.
The Yellowstone River
The Yellowstone River is one of Bozeman's favorite local rivers. Less than 30 minutes from downtown Bozeman, anglers wanting to experience some fly fishing for native and wild trout will find a large freestone river flowing through some of Montana's most scenic mountain ranges. The Yellowstone River is also the longest un-dammed and free flowing river in the Lower 48 states. With the longest snowmelt runoff of any river in Montana, when the Yellowstone River comes into shape after nearly a month of being unfishable due to high and muddy streamflows, there is cause for much rejoicing amongst local and traveling anglers. The large--and long--Yellowstone River offers more than 200 miles of high quality trout waters that include a variety of fish species and water characteristics. Many avid anglers consider this big and sometimes brawling freestone river to be the quintessential Montana fly fishing experience.
Paradise Valley Spring Creeks
If you've read or watched any articles or videos about the most iconic fishing locations in the West, you have most likely seen images of the Paradise Valley Spring Creeks. Back-dropped by the majestic peaks of the Absaroka-Beartooth mountains and with the nearby towns of Livingston and Bozeman, a Montana fishing trip on the Paradise Valley Spring creeks is a must for any Montana fly fishing experience. These technical fisheries originate from underground aquifers and flow with cold and clear water year round. The biomass in the spring creeks is astounding and trout densities are extremely high. The combination of abundant food options and gin clear waters produce conditions that require stealth and match the hatch presentation. Many anglers consider spring creek fly fishing to be the ultimate challenge in the sport.
The two main creeks in Paradise Valley to target are DePuy's and Armstrong's. DePuy's Spring Creek is considered by many to be one of the finest spring creeks on the planet. Its productive waters located in the heart of Paradise Valley draw anglers from far and wide. The creek ranges from 30 to 100 feet wide and has a wide variety of trout habitat including riffles, deep runs, glassy flats and a spring fed pond. Few places on earth can match the picturesque beauty of the DePuy ranch with the Absaroka Mountains towering above a valley filled with deer, swans, cranes and bubbling trout waters. Armstrong's Spring Creek originates from a series of underground springs on the O'hair ranch. The portion of the creek on the O'hair ranch is filled with riffles, pockets and runs. The large amount of faster water is often a bonus when fishing a spring creek since the trout have a bit less time to inspect our flies. Fishing on Armstrong is good all year round. The creek is an insect factory and produces an ample supply of mayflies, midges, caddis flies and freshwater crustaceans.
Smaller Waters and Secret Creeks
With so many options of fly fishing waters for a Montana fly fishing trip, often times the smaller creeks get overlooked. However, with big name and famous rivers like the Madison, Yellowstone, Missouri, and several others getting most of the attention, for anglers willing to explore on their own or partake in some adventure, Montana's smaller waters and secret creeks provide a seemingly endless array of places to cast a fly in hopes of catching a wild or native trout in seclusion. Because many of these creeks flow through private land or are small or require some extra effort to fish, we cannot name any of them by name. We do offer a private ranch water program for anglers wanting to ensure they access to miles of carefully rested and rotated small creeks. Additionally many of Montana's small creeks and rivers flow through public lands and can be accessed via hiking a good distance from the parking lot.
With the high country of Yellowstone National Park creating the headwaters for many of Montana's most renowned streams, it is no mystery why the Bozeman area is home to several great fly fishing rivers and creeks. The trouble sometimes is not whether to go fishing near Bozeman, Montana but where is the best river to fish on any given day at any time of year. Fortunately with so much variety and so much water close to Bozeman there is almost always a great place to go fly fishing in Montana near Bozeman.