Anglers travel from all across the world to enjoy the excellent dry fly hatches afforded to us in Montana. From April through October, anglers can count on strong hatches that make for great fly fishing on all of our blue ribbon rivers. Hatches peak on different rivers and at different times of the year, so understanding where and when to fly fish in Montana is key for the best dry fly fishing. Our Montana fly fishing guides have fished them all and know every hatch offers its own unique opportunities and challenges for anglers. Dry fly fishing in Montana is as fun as fly fishing gets and our top 5 hatches are the best in Montana.

October is fall fly fishing at its finest in Montana. Anglers will find great fly fishing on our blue ribbon rivers in Bozeman, MT as well as the Missouri River. Fall in Montana offers the combination of excellent fly fishing, strong hatches, beautiful scenery, and open space that makes every Montana fly fishing trip in October memorable.

September is one of the best months to fly fish in Montana. Fall is in the air and with it comes perfect conditions for fly fishing. The strong summer hatches of terrestrials continue often through the end of the month, and good hatches of caddisflies and mayflies can be expected by the middle of the month on the Missouri River, Yellowstone River, and Madison River.

August fly fishing in Montana is all about fly fishing on the rivers near Bozeman, MT. The Yellowstone River, Madison River, and the many streams of Yellowstone National Park offer great fly fishing throughout the summer months. August is hopper season and a great time for a Montana fly fishing trip.

Anglers fly fishing during July in Montana have a lot to look forward to. Strong hatches, good river flows, and long sunny days make for some of the best fly fishing of the year. All of our Montana rivers are fishing well during the month of July. Anglers joining us on Montana fly fishing trips can count on great fly fishing on a daily basis at both our Missouri River Basecamp as well as our Bozeman Basecamp.

Planning a Montana fly fishing trip can be a daunting task. Between travel, trip options, so many different rivers to choose from, and lodging, fly fishing in Montana can be overwhelming for both seasoned and novice anglers alike. We have the experience from years spent outfitting and guiding all across Montana to narrow the choices down to our top 5 favorite Montana fly fishing trips.

June is primetime for fly fishing in Montana. The fly fishing on the Missouri River is as good as it gets. By the middle of the month the annual Salmonfly hatches begin on our freestone rivers like the Blackfoot River and the Madison River. By the end of the month the Yellowstone River and other Bozeman, MT rivers come into shape and offer some of the best dry fly fishing of the year.

May is the peak month for spring fly fishing in Montana. By the first of the month winter is in the rearview mirror, mayflies are hatching in full force, and anglers can expect some of the best fly fishing of the year on our blue ribbon rivers. The Missouri River is the main event in May for our anglers and Montana fly fishing guides. Strong hatches of Blue Winged Olives (BWOs), the Mothers Day Caddis Hatch, and March Browns make for some of the best dry fly fishing of the year on the Missouri River.

April is a favorite month for fly fishing in Montana for many long time Montana fly fishing guides and anglers. There is just something about April that bring anglers back to Montana year after year. Anglers can expect solitude on the water, quality fly fishing throughout the month, and a certain peace and calm on the water only found again in October. All of our Montana rivers, streams, and lakes are fishing well and spring hatches are consistent through the month.

We are fortunate as anglers in Montana to be surrounded by some of the best fly fishing rivers in the world. From the famous tailwaters boasting trophy fish and some of the highest fish per mile counts in the country to our many freestone rivers filled with wild trout, Montana truly is the last best place for a fly fishing trip. As a professional outfitter, our Montana fly fishing guides are lucky to be able to spend so much time fly fishing and introducing anglers to our many great rivers.

March in Montana is a special time for anglers. It is the official start of the New Year’s Montana fly fishing season. Fishing licenses must be renewed and the anticipation and excitement for another great year of fly fishing in Montana peaks. Rods are dusted off, drift boats excavated from piles of snow, and new flies from a winter’s worth of fly tying finally get called into action. The grasp of winter eases by the first of the month. Anglers can count on some great early season fly fishing as our rivers thaw and hatches begin.