The cost of a Montana fishing trip can vary quite a bit depending on where you stay, where and how you eat, and if you fish with a guide. With some of the world's best destination fishing lodges and a diverse offering of waters from small streams and spring creeks to large tailwaters and freestones, most anglers have made a Montana fly fishing trip in their lifetime or are planning one. When learning about the costs of a Montana fly fishing trip, it is important to factor in your lodging, your food, and whether or not you will fish with a guide. These are all variables that play a huge role in your enjoyment and success of your trip. Here are some of the costs to consider when planning a fishing trip to Montana.
Lodging
One of the most important things to consider when planning your Montana fishing vacation is where you will stay. This goes hand in hand with when you plan to visit, as different regions and rivers of the state fish differently throughout the year. You can choose to stay at an all-inclusive fishing lodge, choose a hotel fishing-and-lodging package, or go-it-alone and arrange all of your logistics. Montana is home to a variety of great all-inclusive fishing lodges. These lodges have fantastic restaurants on site, which simplifies meal planning. A hotel-based fishing trip can provide more freedom during the evenings to explore the area and try a variety of restaurants than a lodge. Basing your trip from a hotel may also afford more flexibility in the timing of your day--earlier or late starts may be more likely if not part of a lodge's regularly scheduled programming. Vacation rental properties in Montana can also provide unique options and allow you the freedom to cook your own meals or go out to local restaurants.
Camping is a unique way to experience Montana and possibly stay closer to the fishing areas than some lodges can provide. Montana has a ton of developed campgrounds as well as dispersed camping opportunities. There are also some incredible, all inclusive guided fishing and camping trips, such as Smith River canyon trips, the Ultimate Road Trip, and Bob Marshall Wilderness horse-pack trips, among a few others.
The variety of water that you hope to fish should also factor into your lodging decisions. A fishing lodge located on a particular river will provide great access to that river, but it will therefore usually be a bit further from others. Staying in a central location like Bozeman will put you within driving distance of several different rivers, but you will not be immediately close to any one river. To see the largest variety of water, consider planning something like the Ultimate Road Trip or a progressive fishing package so you can stay near different fisheries and move each day.
Food
Meal planning for your fishing trip is another important consideration that might determine where you decide to stay. If you opt to stay at one of Montana’s inclusive fishing lodges or go on an inclusive camping trip your meals will be taken care of by professionally trained chefs. Typically alcohol is also included on inclusive trips. Staying at a hotel in a town will provide you with several restaurant options, which might be better suited to some travelers. Bozeman has a variety of great local restaurants located in the fun, historic downtown district. For a stay in a vacation rental, make a grocery list and plan a trip to the local grocery store before checking in to your rental. If you are doing your own fishing and not hiring a Montana fly fishing guide, be sure to pack your own lunch and bring it on the water with you during fishing days.
Guides
Hiring a fishing guide can be a great way to get introduced to the sport, learn the local water, increase your odds of success, and add to your enjoyment. Most fishing guides are well adept at working with anglers of all abilities, so even experienced anglers will learn something new while beginners will get a nice jump start in their fly fishing journey. Booking a guide will also minimize the amount of gear and equipment you need to bring, as your guide will provide a boat, rods, flies, and everything else required for the day. They’ll also transport you back and forth to the river and provide lunch.
When staying at an all inclusive lodge, the guides often work exclusively for that lodge or that lodge’s outfitter. Most guides can take up to two anglers. For a single day of fishing, the rate per guide per day is typically between $700 and $800 for a full day. On most day trips with most Montana fishing guides, waders and boots are not included in the rate as they are typically not needed during warm summer months and when fishing from the boat. If you have your own, bring them just in case. Waders and boots can be rented for an additional cost or they are often included in the price if you are staying at an all-inclusive lodge. It’s customary to tip your guide after your trip, and any lodge or camp staff if you’re on an all-inclusive trip. While gratuities are of course discretionary, they are often an important part of the income for guides and lodge or camp staff. The standard gratuity is $150-200 per guide per day and $120 per room/per night for staff at all-inclusive lodges.
Equipment/Flies
Fly fishing is a fairly equipment intensive sport. If you are just getting started in fly fishing, hiring a guide will simplify what you need to bring as they will have flies, tackle, and typically rods and reels. If fishing on your own, a 5 weight or 6 weight rod will work best for the majority of waters in Montana. Fly selection can vary a lot throughout the season, and it is always a good idea to visit a local fly shop once you are near your desired waters. Read the fly shop’s fishing reports, stop in and visit, spend a few bucks on popular flies, and get some recommendations.
Transportation
Montana is a big place, and destinations are far apart. Shuttles and Ubers can be found around some larger towns/cities but they are tougher to find in the remote areas where we often fish. In general, private shuttles to fishing lodges often cost several hundred dollars for a one way trip, so it often makes more sense to rent a vehicle or drive your own. Depending on where you stay and the type of trip you have planned, renting your own vehicle will open up many more fishing options. If you are doing a hotel fishing package based in Bozeman, several of the hotels have complimentary airport shuttles, so renting a car may not be necessary if you fish with a guide, as they can likely pick you up and drop you off at the hotel each day.
Fishing License
A state fishing license is required for fishing in Montana regardless of if you fish on your own or with a guide. These can be easily purchased from basically any sporting goods store or fly shop in the state, or purchased online at this link: https://ols.fwp.mt.gov/. Non-resident license costs will depend on how long you are fishing, but are currently between $31.50 (1 day) and $117.50 (season), and are set by the state of Montana. You can purchase a 1 day license, a series of 1 days licenses, a consecutive 5 day license, or a full season license. Your Conservation License and Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) pass will be built into this cost. Kids 11 and under do not need a license but must follow all standard regulations. Each body of water in Montana can have specific regulations, so be sure to check the state's regulations for any piece of water you will be fishing.
If you will be fishing inside Yellowstone National Park, you will need a separate fishing permit specific to Yellowstone National Park. A Montana state fishing license is not valid when fishing inside Yellowstone National Park - a Yellowstone National Park fishing permit is required. Since Yellowstone is a unique, heavily protected ecological area that spans three different states, there are specific seasons and regulations for fishing inside Yellowstone National Park that may differ from Montana or other bordering states. Be sure to carefully read the Yellowstone Park Fishing Regulations before your trip. Yellowstone Park fishing permits currently cost $40 for 3 consecutive days, $55 for 7 consecutive days, or $75 for the season and are set by the government so they can change. Children 15 or younger may fish without a permit if they are fishing under the direct supervision of an adult who has a valid park fishing permit. Children 15 or younger may obtain a free permit that must be signed by a responsible adult. With this permit, a child can fish without direct adult supervision. The accompanying adult is responsible for the child's actions and must ensure the child complies with all fishing regulations and provisions.
At its most simple, the cost to go fly fishing is minimal compared to some other pastimes like golf, skiing, snowmobiling, four-wheeling, and even conventional fishing. With so much water that is easily accessible for fly fishing in Montana, the cost of a Montana fly fishing trip truly is as varied as our waters. Whether you plan to fish with a Montana fly fishing guide, splurge on an all-inclusive lodge or overnight camping trip, or go-it-all-your-own, there is a fly fishing trip in Montana that can fall into any budget.