Bozeman Fly Fishing
Bozeman Fly Fishing Overview
There is nowhere better to experience fly fishing than in Bozeman, Montana. Bozeman is literally surrounded by several lifetimes worth of blue ribbon fishing. The Montana Angling Company and our Montana fly fishing guides are proud to call Bozeman, MT home and consider ourselves privileged to be able to guide anglers on such great home waters. Famous rivers like the Yellowstone River, the Madison River, the Missouri River, the Gallatin River, and the many rivers of Yellowstone National Park as well as countless smaller streams are all a short drive from and what make any fly fishing trip to Bozeman so great.
Our Bozeman fly fishing trips are the best way to experience fly fishing on our home waters with professional and experienced fly fishing guides. Our guides work hard for our anglers to make their fly fishing trip to Bozeman, Montana fun, safe, and filled with great fishing memories.
Bozeman, Montana Fly Fishing Seasons
Bozeman has something to offer all-year long for fly fishing anglers. Spring, Summer, and Fall are primetime for fly fishing in Bozeman. Anglers can count on reliable weather, a variety of blue ribbon waters, and great fly fishing from April thru October.
Not afraid of cooler weather? Count March and November in too. Winter in Bozeman is the real deal and anglers are more likely to encounter snow than sun December thru February. We wouldn’t plan a trip solely to fish during our Winter months but if you are already here and need your fishing fix there is plenty of open water for the hardcore Bozeman angler all Winter long.
Spring Fly Fishing in Bozeman, MT
March in Bozeman usually means the beginning of Spring weather and always means the start of Spring fly fishing on our local rivers. Our fly fishing guides dust off their drift boats, rafts, and rods and head out on the water.
By April weather stabilizes and all of our local rivers are fishing well. Some of the best dry fly fishing of the year happens in April on the Missouri River, the Yellowstone River, the Madison River and Paradise Valley Spring Creeks with blanket BWO and Midge hatches.
By May we are on the water every day. Runoff starts on our area freestone rivers but the Missouri River and Paradise Valley Spring Creeks offer some of the best fishing of the year with great hatches of caddis and BWOs. Check out our Spring Guide Trip Special to get in on the action at a great rate.
Summer Fly Fishing in Bozeman, MT
June is the start of summer in Bozeman, MT and with it comes some of the best fly fishing of the year. Many of our fly fishing guides are booked a year in advance for June and for good reason: the fishing on the Missouri River is just that good. Thick daily hatches of PMDs and Caddis as well as the start of hopper season can make for exciting dry fly fishing.
By the end of June the Madison River comes back into shape and the Yellowstone River as well on lower water years. The trout are treated to salmonflies, goldenstones, hoppers, ants, a variety of mayflies, and caddisflies through the end of August, meaning great fishing for our anglers on all of our local waters. Summer is big dry fly season on trips with the Montana Angling Company.
Fall Fly Fishing in Bozeman, MT
Fishing remains great in Bozeman as fall rolls around. September means cooler weather and quieter rivers with kids back in school and hunters off in the hills. Many of our fly fishing guides think the fall is the best time to fly fish in Bozeman. The Missouri River, Yellowstone River, Madison River, Yellowstone National Park, Paradise Valley Spring Creeks, and the rest of our blue ribbon waters are all fishing well. Daily hatches coupled with less angling pressure make for a great Montana fly fishing experience. Snow returns to the mountain peaks, leaves turn to gold on our riverside tress, and our big brown trout go on the feed. It is hard not to like fall fly fishing in Bozeman, Montana.
Winter Fly Fishing in Bozeman, MT
Find yourself in Bozeman over the winter? Hopefully you are here for more than just the fishing, but if you need a fishing fix, we offer guide trips year-round. We do get spurts of warmer weather over the winter. Think 25 degrees and calm instead of 0 degrees and blizzarding. The Paradise Valley Spring Creeks are the best winter fly fishing option in the whole state of Montana and happen to be right in our backyard. Hatches even happen from time to time on sunnier days in January and February. Enjoy skiing the cold smoke at Bridger Bowl and Big Sky Ski Resort. If you need a break from the snow, contact us and lets go fishing.
Bozeman Fly Fishing Lodging and Dining
While the rivers, streams, and lakes surrounding Bozeman are what make fly fishing here so great, Bozeman is also home to some of the finest lodging and dining for anglers in the state of Montana. This combination of blue ribbon fly fishing and great accommodations is what makes a Bozeman fly fishing trip with the Montana Angling Company the best guided fly fishing experience in Montana.
Historic Downtown Bozeman is literally lined in authentic Montana bars, steakhouses, and eateries for every angler’s preferences and budget. Lodging options range from quaint river cabins, to modern hotels, to high-end fishing lodges, and everything in between.
Montana Fly Fishing Forecast
July 2018 Montana Fly Fishing Overview
The 2018 Montana fly fishing season has been treating our anglers and Bozeman, Montana fly fishing guides well so far and my magic 8 ball says July looks to continue the trend. The Yellowstone River, Madison River, and other local rivers are all on the drop and rapidly coming into form while the Missouri River has continued to spoil our anglers on a daily basis. Our forecast for July? Lots of cold water, trout rising for dryflies, and more happy anglers.
The PMD hatch will continue on the Missouri River through mid-July and Caddis hatches will steadily improve. Flows will continue to drop after late June storms that resulted in record flows across the drainage. We predict epic days of dryfly fishing through the end of the month. High flows have meant lower pressure on the Missouri River below Craig. Bring your best cast and be ready to work hard, but expect fish to eat a fly when you put it in front of them. Not quite as smart as they normally are. Tricos will start to hatch late in the month and flows will drop below 9000 CFS. Hopper fishing will pick up mid-month, and then it will be game on. The fish are well fed this year, expect to find some big ones looking up all month.
Closer to Bozeman, Montana the Madison River will fish well all of July. Salmonflies have already started to hatch close Ennis, Montana and will slowly move up river over the next two weeks. We expect to be able to throw the big bug on the 4th of July. Goldenstones, caddis, PMDs, little yellow sallies, and terrestrials will keep the fish looking up through the end of the month. Hebgen Dam will provide a steady supply of cold and clear water all month long. Could be a July for the books. Nymphing with the standard fare will produce the most fish but we are hoping to be throwing dries and hunting for big browns all summer long.
Our Predictions for fly fishing in July 2018
July 16th. Mark it down. We predict this will be the first day of real fishing on the Yellowstone River. By real we mean fishing something more than just two big flies under a bobber, going from eddy to eddy. We are liking the sound of goldenstones, caddis, and PMDs. We can’t wait. We love our tailwater rivers but you just can’t beat Montana summer freestone fishing. Expect the Yellowstone River to have plenty of water, good hatches, and great fishing from the day it clears until the first snow falls this year. Our other nearby freestone rivers will fish similarly well through the summer. Stoneflies early in the month and hoppers late. Probably no salmonflies this year but would happily trade them for a surplus of cold water any year.
Where will be the best place to fish in July? Expect to find our Bozeman, Montana fly fishing guides on the Madison River or Missouri River through the 15th of July and then the Yellowstone River or other nearby freestone every day thereafter. Sounds like fun. Still need to book your trip? We’ve got you covered.
Montana Fly Fishing
2019 Montana Fly Fishing Trips
As another great season of guided fly fishing trips in Montana starts to wind down we are starting to look ahead at the 2019 Montana fly fishing season. Bookings have started to roll in and calendars are already starting to fill up.
It is too early to make any predictions for what the 2019 season will hold for anglers but you can bet our Montana fly fishing guides will be ready to go once the snow melts, and many well before.High-flows this past spring has meant lots of clean gravel and we should be in for a great spawn the next few years and lots of good numbers of trout in our rivers statewide. Anglers coming to fly fish in Bozeman, Montana should be in for a treat.
We will be offering the same great Bozeman fly fishing outfitting and guiding for our anglers. Here’s what we have in store for the 2019 Montana fly fishing season:
New Offerings for the 2019 Montana Fly Fishing Season
All-Inclusive Lodging and Fishing Packages
We will be spending the Winter building Lodging and Fishing package options for anglers looking to fly fish multiple days and stay at the finest lodging, Check back on our website to learn more.
Winter and Spring Special Trips
Interested in fly fishing in Montana November through April? Take advantage of our special Winter and Spring guide trip rate of $400. Same great guiding, same great blue ribbon rivers, for one great deal. April fly fishing on the Missouri River, Madison River, Yellowstone River, and Paradise Valley Spring Creeks can be as good as it gets. Get it while the getting is good!
Fly Tying Demos and Updated Blog
Check us out on YouTube for fly tying demos of our favorite fly patterns. Continue to check back on our blog for all sorts of great articles about fly fishing in Montana. Reviews, how-to’s, and more great info. Learn about fly fishing in Montana from the best source: the outfitters and guides on the water every day.
2019 Montana Fly Fishing Season Overview
Winter 2019 (January– March)
Full on winter fly fishing. Need a day off from skiing and want to get a line wet with our professional Bozeman fly fishing guides? Give us a shout and we’ll get you on the water. Paradise Valley Spring Creeks and the Madison River will be great options.
April 2019
Some of the best fly fishing of the year in Montana, especially if cooler temps don’t bother you. Take advantage of Spring guide trip special rates. BWO and midge hatches daily. All of our blue ribbon rivers will be fishing well. Fly fishing options include: the Yellowstone River, Madison River, Missouri River, Paradise Valley Spring Creeks, Gallatin River, and Jefferson River
May 2019
Expect to find our Montana fly fishing guides and anglers on the Missouri River throughout the month. Excellent dry fly fishing with BWOs, midges, caddis, and march browns. Nymphing will be as good as ever. Dates are starting to book fast. Fly fishing options include: Missouri River, Madison River, Paradise Valley Spring Creeks, and pre-runoff Yellowstone River, Jefferson River, Boulder River, Stillwater River.
June 2019
As good as fly fishing gets in Montana. Our senior Montana fly fishing guides’ calendars are booking fast. PMDs and Caddis hatching on the Missouri River daily. Salmonflies will start to go on the Madison River by the end of the month. Depending on flows, elsewhere too. Some of the best dry fly fishing of the year for truly trophy trout. Book your dates today. Fly fishing options include: Missouri River, Madison River, Paradise Valley Spring Creeks, Dearborn River, and post-runoff Yellowstone River, Boulder River, Stillwater River, Gallatin River, and Jefferson River.
July – September 2019
Primetime fly fishing season in Bozeman, Montana. Our freestone rivers are running cold and clear, hatches are thick, and wild trout are on the feed. Early summer hatches of stoneflies on the Yellowstone River and Madison River makes for some of the best dry fly fishing of the year for our Bozeman fly fishing guides and anglers. Mid-summer mayflies and caddis followed by late-summer hoppers keep trout and anglers happy the rest of the way through.
No bad time to come. And lots of blue ribbon options. Fly fishing options include: Yellowstone River, Madison River, Missouri River, Boulder River, Stillwater River, Yellowstone National Park, Paradise Valley Spring Creeks, Jefferson River, and the Gallatin River.
October 2019
October has always been the favorite of long-time Montana fly fishing anglers and our guides. 2019 will be no different and dates have already started to fill. The crowds are gone and fishing is great. Fall hatches of BWOs, caddis, midges, and terrestrials keep the fish looking up. Dry fly fishing, nymphing, and streamer fishing are all great.
The Missouri River offers some of the best fly fishing of the year. The big brown trout of our rivers closer to Bozeman, Montana go on the feed. Fly fishing options include: Missouri River, Yellowstone River, Madison River, Yellowstone National Park, Paradise Valley Spring Creeks, Gallatin River, Jefferson River, and the Stillwater River.
November 2019–December 2019
Very quiet on our blue ribbon rivers. Many anglers have called it quits for the year. Our Montana fly fishing guides carry on. Most late-season Montana fly fishing trips are booked just days before when we can better guess what the weather is doing. Options can be limited. We like the Missouri River, Madison River, and Paradise Valley Spring Creeks. But are always up for anything.
Ready to book or have questions? Contact us and we will get you squared away. Whether you have a day, a week, or a month to fly fish in Montana we can work with you to build your ultimate Montana fly fishing adventure. Here’s to a great 2018 and looking forward to a great 2019.
Fishing Reports, Madison River Fishing Reports, Missouri River Fishing Reports, Paradise Valley and Spring Creeks Fishing Reports, Yellowstone River Fishing Reports
Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving. Seems like the holiday that never ends, until the leftovers are gone at least. We were lucky to get great weather of Thanksgiving week for getting out and doing some fly fishing. Our annual Thanksgiving fly fishing trip benefited for it. For the past few years this annual trip has been held on the Big Horn River, and we have seen it all weather-wise. Great way to always close out the fly fishing season. We changed it up this year and headed north to the Missouri River. No complaints. Good fishing and good food with good friends.
Closer to home in Bozeman, MT fly fishing has continued to be good thanks to consistently good weather. We had the pleasure of guiding some late-season anglers last week and even found a couple fish that wanted to eat dry flies. Hard to beat dry fly fishing in November. From here on out until next spring, weather will largely dictate your fortune. Also look for our Bozeman fly fishing reports to become more sporadic. Look for a winter fly fishing forecast coming up to summarize what to expect all winter long.
Winter tip: Boat ramps are starting to get snowy/icy. Best to check both put in and take out ramps before floating.
Madison River Fly Fishing Report
Still fishing well. Nymphing and streamer fishing will be a fly anglers best bet. Our guides like getting out of the boat and wade fishing deeper, slower runs once water temps start to drop. No need to get too technical out there. Pats rubber legs, worms, lightning bugs, and zebra midges should be about all you need. For a while. Flashier, bright buggers will be the best bet for the streamer crowd.
Paradise Valley Spring Creek Fly Fishing Report
Good to great fishing on the spring creeks the past few weeks and look to fish well as long as the weather keeps things pleasant. Midges and very small blue wings still hatching. Nymphing in the morning and dry fly fishing the early PM has been productive. Our fly fishing trips based out of Bozeman, MT this winter all center around fishing on DePuy’s and Armstrong’s Spring Creeks. Solid fly fishing.
Yellowstone River Fly Fishing Report
Getting cold on the Yellowstone River but still some good fishing to be had. Nymphing will be your best bet. You will catch many a whitefish per trout but nothing wrong with bending rods. Pats rubber legs and wooly buggers followed by a lightning bug or zebra will be a good starting point. Look to the middle of the river in slower water for the best bite.
Missouri River Fly Fishing Report
Still great. Nymphing at Holter Dam down through Craig has been solid. Sowbugs, firebeads, midges, Czech nymphs, and lightning bugs are all you will need. Lots of the trout spey crowd out on the river. Saw a few hooked up. Picture at the top was from last week. Good friend and angler Kevin had a nice evening dry fly session. Surprising number of fish still looking up.
Yellowstone National Park Fly Fishing Report
Closed for season. Check back in May 2019.
Montana Fly Fishing
Montana Fall Fly Fishing Overview
Color is what fall fly fishing trips in Montana are all about. The leaves on the trees light up to various shades of gold, the rivers run gin clear and shades of green and blue start to mix with the river rock below, and the trout change too. Our brown trout become pumpkin orange and black as they start thinking about the spawn and the rainbows turn deep shades of green and silver with their red and pink becoming more exaggerated. There is not a more beautiful time of year to experience guided fly fishing in Montana than the fall with our Montana fly fishing guides. And the fly fishing is great too.
The great hatches of summer continue into September and October but mirror the bugs from the spring. BWOs, hoppers, ants, callibaetis, drakes, sulphurs, and caddis are all on the menu. By late September the streamer bite turns on all across our area as the brown trout become territorial and aggressive leading into their spawning season. Pressure is half of what is was mid-summer but the fishing is never better.
By October our weather pattern has changed and the weather turns crisp with cooler mornings and evenings. Our days start to get shorter again but the fall light makes for some of the most picturesque fly fishing in the world. Expect to fish the Yellowstone River, the Missouri River, the Madison River, Yellowstone National Park, and the Paradise Valley Spring Creeks.
Fly fishing the many rivers around Bozeman, MT during the fall is something every angler needs to experience. The scenery is spectacular, the rivers are quiet, and the fish are on the feed. There is not much more an angler could ask for than Montana fall fly fishing.
