Fly fishing in Montana is a grand as the state is expansive and varied. Planning a Montana fly fishing trip should be almost as much fun as going fishing in Montana. But with so much water, so many great Montana fly fishing guides, and so many premier lodges how do you plan the perfect trip when a lifetime's worth of fly fishing is on the table? There are several factors that need to come into play when planning your Montana fishing trip. When is the best time to come to fly fish in Montana? Where is the best town to visit? Do you want to fish large rivers or small creeks or a little of both?
Montana is over 600 miles wide and in that 600 miles there are hundreds of miles of great fly fishing waters. Our Montana Learning Center has dozens of articles covering fly fishing in Montana. You can start there. Or, you can always give us a call as we love to talk about fly fishing trips in Montana. To help you plan your next great fly fishing trip to Montana, here is some advice and trip ideas.
When to Come to Montana for Your Next Fishing Trip
The easiest answer is Whenever You Can! Montana's variety of waters means the angling calendar always has something to fish and our experienced guides fish year-round. Fortunately we've taken out a lot of the guesswork for you--read our When Is The Best Time to Fish in Montana blog post. In that we break things down into Best Time to Catch the Most Fish, Best Times to Match the Hatch, Best Attractor Dry Fly Fishing, Best Streamer Fishing, Best Time to Catch Huge Trout, Best Time to Fish the Backcountry, and the Best Times to Have Good Fishing Without Crowds.
Where to Fish in Montana for Your Next Fishing Trip
Our homewaters near Bozeman, Montana include some of the planet's most well-known (and some not so well-known) fly fishing rivers, creeks, and lakes. From the Madison and Yellowstone Rivers to the Missouri and Smith Rivers to the waters of Yellowstone National Park, and so many nooks and crannies in between, there is a lifetime of exceptional fly fishing options. Add to the mix the towns and lodges servicing these waters, anglers can find all varieties of trips. Basing-in or jumping-off from towns like Big Sky, Ennis, Livingston, Helena, Craig, Great Falls, Big Timber, and a few others, the local culture can be experienced along with the fishing. There are small towns, full-service fishing lodges, large towns with nightlife and plenty of dining options, and overnight camping and floating trips with professionally trained chefs and hard-working camp crews. Bozeman, Montana has plenty of great fishing all within easy reach.
Destination Lodge Trips to the Madison, Missouri, or Yellowstone Rivers
For an all-inclusive fly fishing lodge experience on a world-class river, there are several top-shelf lodges to choose from, including the Madison River Lodge, Missouri Cliffs Lodge, and the Boulder River Outpost. By choosing a lodge-based fishing trip you can leave all the worry about logistics and where to fish to the professional lodge staff and experienced guides. You can fish one of the state's best tailwater fisheries such as the Madison or Missouri Rivers or explore the mighty Yellowstone River and some of its tributary rivers. After each full day of fishing return to the lodge for chef prepared hors d'oeuvres, cocktails, and then enjoy fine dining alongside fellow lodge guests.
Hotel Fishing Packages Offer Hybrid Fishing and Lodging Experiences
Staying and fishing out of Bozeman, Livingston, Ennis, or Big Sky feature the greatest variety of fishing, lodging, and dining options in the West. These variety of fly-fishing vacation packages are paired with some of the region's best hotels. A hotel package includes some of the nicest and newest hotels in Bozeman, historic hotels like the Murray in Livingston and small cabins in small Western towns such as Ennis. Many of our guests enjoy the freedom that hotels offer for dining out in the evenings at local restaurants. Hotel fly-fishing packages are the most economical of our various lodging options in Montana.
Overnight Fishing and Camping Trips, Including Montana's Smith River Canyon and the Bob Marshall Wilderness
Montana has such a variety of fly fishing rivers that sometimes getting off the beaten path is one of the best ways to experience fly fishing in Montana. Not every trout river is easily accessible or serviced by a destination fishing lodge. In all of Montana's vastness and diversity of fly fishing opportunities, many off the beaten path fly fishing trips exist. The Smith River near Helena and Great Falls is one of those rare rivers with plenty of trout, spectacular scenery, and carefully managed to preserve a special experience. A Smith River camping and fly fishing trip is one any serious angler or lover of scenery and rivers should take. On The Ultimate Road Trip you get to live down by the river for awhile and fish some of Montana's unique fisheries but also access to the more well-known rivers. Release your inner "Trout Bum" and explore Montana in style on an Ultimate Road Trip. If you want camp and fish on just one river, a custom overnight river and camping trip is a unique experience on several of Montana's rivers. A custom river camping and fishing overnight trip on Montana's larger rivers like the Yellowstone or Madison allows you to fall asleep and wake up to the sounds of a flowing Montana River. And, if you're an early riser or night owl you can fish as early or as late as you want on your own river fishing and camping trip. Lastly, if you want to dive deep into the Montana wilderness, venture in the largest wilderness complex in the Lower 48 on a South Fork of the Flathead/Bob Marshall Wilderness fly fishing trip. This trip is special in many ways: there is some horseback riding, some whitewater, some spectacular fishing opportunities for rising trout on large dry flies, and a backcountry camping and dining experience of no comparison.
Non-Angling Activities
Montana also has plenty of activities for non-anglers for those who need something to do while the angler in their life is out exploring. Both Yellowstone National Park and Glacier National Park provide plenty of sightseeing, hiking, wildlife watching, and world-famous natural wonders. In addition to the national parks, many of Montana's top fishing destinations are also close to horse-back riding. whitewater rafting, guided hiking tours, historical sites, art galleries, museums, and interesting towns. Montana is also home to some exciting golf courses as well, including the Old Works Golf Course near the Big Hole and Clark Fork Rivers.
When considering a fly fishing vacation, a trip to Montana should be at the top of anyone's list. Boasting hundreds of miles of prime trout waters and dozens of fly fishing lodges near fishing-centric towns, Montana is an angler's delight. Narrow the scope of Montana's best fishing down to one region, and southwest Montana rises to the top. Southwestern Montana is home to the world's highest density of high quality wild trout waters. The amazing diversity of fishing opportunities allows our guests to experience a large range of trips including float fishing, wade fishing, overnight river trips, wilderness horse packs, whitewater canyon fishing adventures, technical spring creek trips, and excursions to private ranches.