Montana Fly Fishing
Montana's 24 curated fisheries cover the state's flagship freestone, tailwater, and spring-creek waters — from the Yellowstone and Madison drainages through the Missouri tailwater and the Big Hole / Beaverhead complex of the Pioneer Mountains.
Beaverhead River
Clark Canyon Dam to Dillon
The Beaverhead routinely produces trout over 5 lbs — it's one of the top big-fish destinations in the entire Northern Rockies.
Big Hole River
Big Hole Valley · Divide to Melrose
The Big Hole is home to one of the last wild Arctic grayling populations in the continental United States — the Upper Big Hole above Wisdom is their…
Bighorn River
Fort Smith · 13-Mile Reach
The Bighorn's fish-per-mile count in the prime section below Yellowtail Dam is among the highest measured for any river in the Rocky Mountain West…
Bitterroot River
Bitterroot Valley · Hamilton to Missoula
The Bitterroot's October streamer fishing for large brown trout during the fall spawning migration is one of the region's most productive — and…
Blackfoot River
Blackfoot Canyon · Johnsrud to Bonner
The Blackfoot River Coalition has led one of the most successful river restoration programs in the American West, bringing the fishery back from…
Boulder River
Natural Bridge Canyon · McLeod to Big Timber
The Boulder's water clarity is so exceptional that anglers can sight individual fish in pools 4-5 feet deep — a rare and exciting characteristic that…
Clark Fork River
Missoula to Alberton
The Clark Fork's recovery from a century of upstream mining contamination — including the largest Superfund cleanup in US history — has produced one…
Flathead River
Glacier National Park · Middle & South Forks
The Flathead drainage holds one of the last strongholds of native bull trout in the lower 48 — a federally threatened species protected by mandatory…
Gallatin River
Gallatin Canyon · Big Sky to Bozeman
Parts of the canyon featured in A River Runs Through It, giving the Gallatin iconic status among fly fishing films.
Hebgen Lake
Madison Arm · West Yellowstone
Hebgen Lake's 'gulper' fishing — large rainbow and brown trout cruising the surface to feed on Trico spinners through summer mornings — is one of the…
Jefferson River
Twin Bridges to Three Forks
The Jefferson's confluence with the Madison and Gallatin at Three Forks forms the official headwaters of the Missouri River — three of Montana's…
Kootenai River
Libby Dam Tailwater · NW Montana
The Kootenai produces the largest documented rainbow trout in Montana — fish exceeding 30 inches and 15+ pounds are caught annually below Libby Dam.
Madison River
Upper Madison · Quake Lake to Ennis
The upper Madison's salmonfly hatch — typically late June into early July — draws anglers from across the country. The hatch begins downstream near…
Madison River
Lower Madison · Bear Trap Canyon to Three Forks
Bear Trap Canyon is the only federally designated Wild and Scenic section of the entire Madison River — a roadless gorge accessible only on foot or…
Madison River
Between the Lakes · West Yellowstone
'Between the Lakes' is one of the few big western rivers where wading anglers routinely cast to 20+ inch fish rising in open flat water.
Missouri River
Holter Dam to Cascade · Blue Ribbon Tailwater
Fish density studies have recorded over 5,000 catchable trout per mile in some sections — among the highest of any western trout river.
Missouri River — Wild & Scenic
Upper Missouri Breaks · Fort Benton to Robinson Bridge
The Wild and Scenic Missouri runs through the White Cliffs — the same landscape Lewis and Clark described as being among the most striking they saw…
Paradise Valley Spring Creeks
Armstrong's · DePuy's · Nelson's
A single day's fishing on all three Paradise Valley spring creeks — achievable with careful scheduling — is one of the most coveted experiences in…
Rock Creek
Rock Creek Canyon · Philipsburg Road
Rock Creek's salmonfly hatch in late May is one of the most concentrated in Montana — huge golden stoneflies blanket the canyon walls and surrounding…
Ruby River
Ruby Valley · Alder to Twin Bridges
Despite flowing through private ranch country in its lower reaches, the Ruby River has excellent public access in the upper canyon via BLM land — a…
Smith River
Permit-Only Float · Camp Baker to Eden Bridge
The Smith River permit lottery is one of the most competitive in Montana — demand far exceeds supply, reflecting the extraordinary quality of this…
Stillwater River
Absarokee to Columbus
The Stillwater's upper canyon is classified Wild and Scenic — one of the most pristine undeveloped river canyons in the greater Yellowstone ecosystem.
Yellowstone River
Paradise Valley · Livingston to Gardiner
The salmonfly hatch starts on the lower river near Livingston in late June and moves upstream toward Gardiner over a 2-week window as water temps…
Yellowstone River
Lower Yellowstone · Livingston to Big Timber
Montana's premier hopper-dropper water — grasshopper populations along the agricultural banks are enormous, and brown trout attack foam hoppers with…