Hatch 2018

2018

A Pocket Guide to Flyfishing in Southwest Montana

A S P E C I A L P U B L I C AT I O N O F B I G S K Y P U B L I S H I N G

1740519

Let me guide you to your Montana home.

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2017 MONTANA FISHING REGULATIONS ............5

MADISON RIVER .................................................28

IDENTIFYING WESTERN MT SPORT FISH ............6

YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK .......................30

YELLOWSTONE RIVER ........................................14 BIG HOLE RIVER ..................................................16 MISSOURI RIVER.................................................18 GALLATIN RIVER .................................................20 BEAVERHEAD RIVER ...........................................22

HIT THE TRAIL .....................................................32 ESSENTIAL GEAR ................................................33 A WORD ON FLIES ..............................................34 SMALL STREAMS ...............................................35

UPPER CLARK FORK RIVER .................................24

FISHERMAN’S PARADISE ...................................36

JEFFERSON RIVER...............................................26

FIND A FLY SHOP ................................................38

WRITTEN BY

MICHAEL WRIGHT

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2018

MONTANA FISHING

REGULATIONS

If

YOU’RE HERE TO FISH, AND YOU’RE older than 11, you’ll need a license.

Anglers can purchase them at regional offices of Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks and at various stores around the state for either entire seasons or a couple of days at a time.

Montana residents 12 and older are required to buy a conservation license ($8), an Aquatic Invasive Species Prevention pass ($2), and a fishing license (for ages 18-61: $5 for two consecutive days, $21 for a season; $10.50 for a season for ages 12-17, those older than 62 and those who are disabled). Out-of-staters age 12 and older are also required to buy a conservation license ($10), an Aquatic Invasive Species Prevention Pass ($15), and a fishing license ($25 for 2 consecutive days, $56 for 10 consecutive days, $86 for a full season). A special tag is required for paddlefish.

The state’s water bodies are split into three fishing districts: western, central, and eastern.

Seasons vary between the three. Lakes and reservoirs are open year-round in all three, but there are different rules for rivers and streams.

Rivers and streams are open year-round in the eastern and central districts. They are only open from the third Saturday in May to November 30 in the western district.

Several exceptions to those rules exist, so the best way to ensure you’re following all the rules is to pick up a 2018 regulation book. They can be found at various stores and at FWP’s regional offices, so look for it when you buy your license.

The book will also tell you whether the stream you hope to fish requires barbless hooks, what the creel limits are and whether there are any other requirements. It’s also packed with maps and detailed information about the state’s fisheries.

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IDENTIFYING

WESTERN MONTANA

SPORT FISH

T

HE QUALITY OF A FISHING TRIP CAN BE measured in many ways. It’s a subjective question. Inches? Pounds? Total number of fish? Pretty scenery? (If you’re only measuring trips by scenery, put this book down and go find flies that work.)

Or, you could measure a trip by the variety of species you catch.

Montana is a big state, with a lot of different fish. Bruising brown trout, energetic rainbows, contemplative cutthroat and many more species inhabit our rivers and streams.

Some of those fish are natives, even though the indigenous salmonids have struggled to compete with the non-natives. Yellowstone and westslope cutthroats have been hybridized by

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rainbow trout and pushed out of much of their native range. The picture is even darker for arctic grayling, which occupy an even smaller fraction of their historical range. Not to mention the bull trout, which is listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. But, in part because of restoration work, all those native fish can be found if you know where to look. There are plenty of rivers and regions where angler can catch multiple species in a day.

This is a reason to bring a camera.

It’s important to know what you’re targeting.

Knowing the different species can enrich the experience. We’re here to help. Here’s a breakdown of the different members of the trout family you may come across while fishing in Montana.

NATIVE SPECIES MOUNTAIN WHITEFISH

YELLOWSTONE CUTTHROAT TROUT The Yellowstone cutthroat trout are a prized fish for many anglers. Golden in color with the distinctive orange slash under the jaw on both sides, the species once thrived in Yellowstone Lake and the Yellowstone River, with massive runs heading up tributary streams in the spring.

But the population has been devastated by the illegal introduction of lake trout into Yellowstone Lake and the stocking of rainbow and brown trout in the Yellowstone and other rivers.

LOCATION: Yellowstone cutthroat trout can be found in the Yellowstone River and its tributaries in southwest Montana, and in Yellowstone National Park waters. In addition, numerous mountain lakes across southwestern Montana have been stocked with pure strain Yellowstone cutts.

IDENTIFICATION: Yellowstone cutthroat trout average 6-12 inches in length. They have a red or orange slash beneath the jaw on either side, which may be faint on juvenile fish. The Yellowstone cutthroat has medium to large round black spots, which are more widely distributed on their body than that of the westslope cutthroat.

STATE RECORD: 16 pounds, Red Eagle Lake, William D. Sands, 1955 (Montana has one record for both Yellowstone and westslope cutthroat trout)cutthroat trout.)

Many trout-seeking anglers despise mountain whitefish, but it is the most widespread of Montana’s native fish in the western half of the state. In some streams, it’s hard not to catch whitefish. They come up for dry flies occasionally and regularly eat nymphs. But the fish are ultra-sensitive to warm water temperatures. Thousands died in a parasite outbreak on the Yellowstone River in 2016, and anecdotal evidence suggests the populations may be declining. Biologists are conducting a few studies to assess their health in the state.

LOCATION: Mountain whitefish inhabit all the major rivers in southwest Montana and many of its small creeks. The population extends north to the Canada border and east to the Bighorn River.

IDENTIFICATION: Mountain whitefish average 6-12 inches in length. They have large silvery scales, a small mouth with no teeth and no spots on the back.

STATE RECORD: 5.11 pounds, Hauser Reservoir, Walt Goodman, 2007

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ARCTIC GRAYLING

WESTSLOPE CUTTHROAT TROUT Westslope cutthroat trout don’t hurry. They eat dry flies slowly, and boy, are they pretty. They have golden flanks and purple gill plates, and the classic orange slash underneath their mouth.

While they don’t hurry, they will eat almost anything during the summer months. Many anglers rely on attractor patterns, like Royal Wulffs, humpies and stimulators. Like the Yellowstone cutthroat, westslopes have struggled to compete with non-native species in some places, and they have interbred with rainbow trout.

LOCATION: Westslope cutts are primarily found on the west side of the Continental Divide.

The fish are present in the Bitterroot and Flathead rivers in good numbers. They can also be caught in the upper portions of the Gallatin River, one of the few spots they can be found east of the divide.

IDENTIFICATION: Westslope cutthroat trout average 6-16 inches in length, rarely exceeding 18 inches. The westslope cutthroat has a distinct red or orange slash below the jaw on each side, small irregularly shaped black spots that are sparse on the belly and more densely patterned toward the tail. Telling the difference between westslopes and other cutthroat species can be tough, but the density of spots near the tail and a more greenish color are key differences.

STATE RECORD: 16 pounds, Red Eagle Lake, William D. Sands, 1955 (Montana has one record for both Yellowstone and westslope cutthroat trout)

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Arctic grayling used to be everywhere, but pressure from non-native species, habitat loss and changes in stream temperatures and flows has reduced their number. A beautiful fish with a large dorsal fin, it can be found in many mountain lakes and in portions of the upper Big Hole River, though biologists are working to restore the species elsewhere.

LOCATION: The Big Hole and its tributaries hold some of the last river-dwelling grayling. Artic grayling have been stocked in many mountain lakes across western Montana and in some streams.

IDENTIFICATION: Artic grayling average 6-12 inches in length. Grayling have large scales, dark spots on the front half of their body and a large, colorful dorsal fin.

STATE RECORD: 3.63 pounds, Washtub Lake, Glenn Owens, 2003

BULL TROUT Once abundant in western Montana, the bull trout is now protected as a threatened species listed under the Endangered Species Act. Anglers are not allowed to target the big meat-eating species except in certain places, often by special permission through FWP. The state operates a regulated and experimental bull trout angling season on Hungry Horse Reservoir, Lake Koocanusa and part of the South Fork of the Flathead River.

LOCATION: Bull trout are primarily found in northwest Montana. The only place the can be fished for without special permission from FWP is Swan Lake near Big Fork.

IDENTIFICATION: Bull trout average 1622 inches in length. Bull trout have a white leading edge on their fins and a slightly forked tail. They have no black spots on their sides or dorsal fin. Bull trout have red or orange spots on their sides.

STATE RECORD: 25.63 pounds, location undisclosed, James Hyer, 1916

COLUMBIA RIVER REDBAND TROUT Columbia River redband trout are the only native subspecies of rainbow trout found in Montana.

They are a species of special concern found only in the extreme northwest corner of the state. The heavily spotted fish don’t grow to large sizes, but fight with vigor.

LOCATION: Columbia River redband trout are found in Lake Koocanusa, the Kootenai River and its tributaries in northwest Montana.

IDENTIFICATION: The Columbia River redband trout average 6-10 inches in length. The species has an orange and red band along the lateral line, heavily spotted fins, flanks and tail. The redband has a distinct white tip on its fins.

STATE RECORD: No record kept

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NON-NATIVE SPECIES BROWN TROUT

RAINBOW TROUT Hard fighting and high jumping, rainbow trout are one of the most abundant trout species in Montana. The revered sport fish was introduced in the late 1800s and is now common across the state.

They sometimes interbreed with native cutthroat species, a worry for fisheries biologists trying to preserve the natives.

LOCATION: Rainbow trout live in rivers, lakes and streams from Fort Peck Reservoir to the Idaho border.

IDENTIFICATION: Rainbow trout average 8-16 inches in length. Rainbow trout have a pink or red band along their lateral line, fewer than 12 anal fin rays and a spotted tail fin.

STATE RECORD: 33.1 pounds, Kootenai River, Jack G. Housel, Jr., 1997

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Aggressive, picky, and sometimes huge, brown trout are a favorite for many anglers. Originally from Europe, brown trout were stocked all over Montana during the late 1800s and 1900s and have become well established throughout the state.

They are more tolerant of dewatering and other environmental disturbances than other trout species.

Many anglers love going after browns with big streamers.

LOCATION: Rivers, streams, lakes and reservoirs all over the state harbor brown trout.

The species is abundant in the southwest portion of the state, but is absent in the Kootenai River and Flathead River systems in northwest Montana.

IDENTIFICATION: Brown trout average 12-16 inches in length. They have golden brown flanks, black or brown spots with light halos, red spots on the sides and a square tail with few or no spots.

STATE RECORD: 29 pounds, Wade Lake, E.H. “Peck� Bacon, 1966

BROOK TROUT Brook trout are a char species that were introduced to Montana from eastern waters in the late 1800s. The colorful “brookies” are found in both rivers and lakes. They are found throughout the western two-thirds of the state, but they aren’t as common as brown and rainbow trout.

LOCATION: Brook trout inhabit rivers and creeks west of Fork Peck Reservoir. They can also be found in many high mountain lakes.

IDENTIFICATION: Brook trout average 6-12 inches in length. Brook trout have red spots with blue halos, a white leading edge on the fins, a nearly square tail and a marking on the dorsal fin.

STATE RECORD: 9.06 pounds, Lower Two Medicine Lake, John R. Cook, 1940

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GOLDEN TROUT Golden trout are fly anglers’ favorite Californians. Originally introduced to Montana in 1907, golden trout have been stocked in a few mountain lakes in western and central Montana. The largest concentration of golden trout occurs in the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness. Anglers aiming to catch golden trout should visit in July and August when mountain lakes are accessible.

LOCATION: Golden trout are not found in any of Montana’s major rivers, only in high mountain lakes.

IDENTIFICATION: Golden trout average 6-12 inches in length. They have round, black spots on the upper third of their body, 10-12 par marks on the flank and numerous spots on the dorsal fin and tail.

STATE RECORD: 5.43 pounds, Cave Lake, Mike Maliki, 2000

FWP PHOTO

LAKE TROUT Lake trout, or mackinaw, are predatory fish that can grow massive in Montana. While lake trout are treated as a non-native species, they are actually native to some waters in the state.

The fish was illegally introduced into Yellowstone Lake and have decimated native Yellowstone cutthroat trout in the park.

LOCATION: Lake trout live in deep, cold lakes and reservoirs. They are present in Flathead Lake, Fort Peck Reservoir, Lake Elwell and numerous other lakes across the state. Lake trout caught in Yellowstone Lake in Yellowstone National Park must be killed.

IDENTIFICATION: Lake trout average 14-20 inches in length. Lake trout have a white leading edge on their fins, markings on their dorsal fin, numerous light spots (none orange or red) and a deeply forked tail fin.

STATE RECORD: 42.69 pounds, Flathead Lake, Ruth Barber, 2004 12

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GALLATIN

BY MICHAEL WRIGHT

It

was a coincidence of timing. Albert Gallatin was the U.S. Treasury Secretary during the Lewis and Clark Expedition. The rivers that expedition encountered needed names.

Gallatin was powerful enough to make the shortlist. So, like President Thomas Jefferson and then-Secretary of State James Madison, a piece of the Missouri River headwaters was named for him.

Fast-forward some 200 years and the Gallatin River has achieved far more fame than its Swiss-born namesake, mostly because of its feisty and indiscriminate trout. It’s great for anglers who lack a boat – fishing from a boat is restricted to the lowermost reach, so nearly the entire stream is reserved for anglers who prefer searching on foot.

“It’s kind of a little wonderland for walk-wade fishermen,” said Jimmy Armijo-Grover, manager at Gallatin River Guides in Big Sky. The Gallatin begins in the northwest corner of Yellowstone National Park and tumbles north until it meets the other Missouri River tributaries at Three Forks.

Much of the river through the Gallatin Canyon parallels U.S. highway 191 and several turnouts offer access. A portion of the upper river is inside Yellowstone National Park. Anglers need a park fishing license to fish there. Packing bear spray is also a good idea.

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The Gallatin leaves the park about 20 miles south of Big Sky. That’s where it meets one of its major tributaries, the Taylor Fork. A heavy rainstorm can send enough mud down the Taylor Fork to dirty the entire main river, so keep an eye on the weather.

From there, the stream cuts through the picturesque Gallatin Canyon. A few scenes from the 1992 film “A River Runs Through It” were filmed there, and fans of the film will recognize the landscape. Guides can point significant landmarks out, too.

“We have clients who want to fish Brad Pitt’s rock,” Armijo-Grover said.

The river breaks away from the highway when it enters the Gallatin Valley but remains just as fishy. Finding access takes a little more knowhow in the valley, but anglers will enjoy a break from highway noise. There are a few accessible bridges and a few state-owned access points.

Bug hatches begin with midges in late winter and early spring. Armijo-Grover said the hatch is “very spot specific,” meaning you have to know where to look for rising fish. Skwala stoneflies come off on the Gallatin, too, but not in great number. Baetis mayflies —also known as blue-winged olives — come next and are the first consistent hatch of the year, depending on river flows.

The Mother’s Day caddis hatch arrives in May but that typically coincides with runoff. Once runoff tapers off, a number of hatches follow: more caddis, stoneflies, yellow sallies, pale morning dun mayflies. Those bugs carry the river into August, which is when spruce moths begin showing up. Ants and hoppers are also good options then.

Another helping of mayflies arrives in the fall but then dry fly action drops off. Nymphs will pick up fish through the winter. Armijo-Grover said you only really need two flies for that season: Pat’s rubberlegs and Pat’s rubberlegs.

GALLATIN QUICK FACTS RIVER MILES: 89 miles from Yellowstone National Park boundary to Three Forks BEST HATCH: While the Mother’s Day caddis and salmonfly hatches get all the fanfare, the baetis hatch in March and April might be the best dry fly fishing the river has to offer.

NEAREST CITIES: West Yellowstone, Ennis, Three Forks

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BIG HOLE

BY MICHAEL WRIGHT

I

T’S HARD NOT TO STOP AND STARE WHEN YOU’RE ON THE BIG HOLE RIVER. All around you, the landscape screams classic Montana: ranchlands, rugged peaks and canyons, towns with little more than a bar and a store. The pieces are strung together by the river, which supports a fishery as iconic as the landscape.

To Craig Jones, owner of Great Divide Fly Shop in Divide, the best thing about the Big Hole River is the combination of a smorgasboard of bugs and a ton of hungry trout.

“There’s always a hatch every day, and they’re always going to come up on something,” Jones said.

The Big Hole begins in the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest and runs through pastoral ranchlands on its way to Wisdom. It heads east from there, past Wise River and on toward Divide. At Divide, which is next to Interstate 15, the river leaves the road and dives south through a canyon reached only by boat. Near Melrose, it turns east again and heads for Twin Bridges to meet the Beaverhead to form the Jefferson River.

Brown, brook and rainbow trout live in the river. The uppermost portion hosts a population of fluvial Arctic grayling. Fluvial means river-dwelling, and this portion of the Big Hole holds one of the last wild populations of the native fish,

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which once inhabited most streams in Montana.

Mayflies and midges are around early in the year, but skwala stoneflies are the first big hatch.

The long olive bugs are notoriously finicky, but a stretch of warm weather in late March and early April can bring on a big emergence. Like all stoneflies, fish gobble them with vigor.

Salmonflies are the most famous insect on the Big Hole. They show up in early June, earlier than hatches on other rivers around Montana.

Jones said the inch-long orange bugs mark the beginning of the summer buffet.

“Once those bad boys come out, the protein feed is on,” Jones said.

Golden stoneflies, caddis and pale morning duns arrive next. Green drakes come a little later.

Hopper season usually starts in mid-July, Jones said, adding that there’s an obvious indicator.

“It’s when the ranchers first cut their hay,” he said.

Spruce moths follow, often bringing fish to the surface in the midday. Jones said terrestrials will catch fish late in the summer, too, as fish feed on bugs falling out of riverside trees. The trico hatch arrives in August and usually lasts until the air temperature drops below freezing.

Summertime heat can take its toll on the Big Hole. Flows sometimes run low, which can lead to high water temperatures. Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks sometimes shuts down fishing during the warmest hours of the day in order to protect the fish, so keep an eye on their list of restrictions if you’re planning to hit the Big Hole in August.

Wading is best done on the middle and upper portions of the river. The middle section can be tough for anglers on foot. There are boat ramps near each of the small towns along the river.

No matter when you go, be sure to take it all in. The Big Hole River and the scenery that surrounds it are Montana at its best.

BIG HOLE QUICK FACTS RIVER MILES: 153 miles from headwaters to Twin Bridges BEST HATCH: The Big Hole’s salmonfly hatch generally occurs earlier than on other big Montana rivers. There a lot of variables in play, but if you hit the river at the right time the hatch is sure to be memorable.

NEAREST CITIES: Butte, Dillon, Twin Bridges

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MISSOURI

BY MICHAEL WRIGHT

T

HE FISH ARE BIG. THAT’S ONE THING EVERYONE SEEMS TO KNOW about the Missouri River. Its reputation for muscly rainbows and angry browns precedes it. But there’s a bunch of other reasons to love the Mighty Mo’ — gorgeous scenery, steady flows, the fishy town of Craig.

There’s also the “Choose Your Own Adventure” factor. Just ask Mark Raisler, the owner of Headhunters Fly Shop in Craig.

“On any given day, you could streamer fish, you could dry-fly fish, you could nymph fish,” Raisler said. “It’s really great that you’re not locked into just one thing.”

The Missouri River begins in Three Forks, where the Gallatin, Madison and Jefferson rivers converge. There is some fishing to be done on the upper portion, but the world-famous trout water is well downstream, about 40 miles north of Helena.

Trout anglers focus on the stretch below Holter Dam, which impounds the river near Wolf Creek. Below there, the Missouri acts like a gigantic spring creek — smooth and calm, and full of spooky fish. Most of the river is that way with the exception of a few riffles and runs that show up in the canyon between Craig and Cascade.

While all disciplines of fly-fishing will pick up fish on the mighty Mo’, the stream is most famous for the burly fish that consistently gobble dry flies. There’s

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nothing like standing in the bow of a boat and watching big trout methodically swallow mayflies.

Late-winter midges kick off the dry fly game.

Blue-winged olives arrive next, followed by March browns and Mother’s Day caddis. Caddis hang out in some form or fashion throughout the summer. In June, pale morning duns join them.

July brings tricos, maddeningly small bugs that trout love. Raisler said terrestrial patterns are also a strong bet then.

August is tough, Raisler said. High water temperatures, weed growth and fish that have been pressured all summer make for tough dry fly fishing. He added that it rebounds in September and October, when the water temperatures drop and mayflies come back.

His favorite time of year might be November.

“November is a fantastic time to come because there’s nobody around and the fishing is really, really good,” Raisler said.

His staff’s favorite time of year, however, would be in May. That’s when they’ll find big browns chasing big streamers.

“They would qualify that as the best streamer month,” he said.

Taking a drift boat down the Missouri is a good way to ensure you have shots at a large number of fish, but it’s not necessary. Generous landowners and a few state-owned access points provide decent shoreline access. Big water years can make wading tough, however, so keep an eye on the stream gauge before you go. Raisler said it starts getting tough when the flows surpass 6,000 cubic feet per second. Check the flow gauges before you go and know whether it’s worth it to wade.

Once the day is over, be sure to spend a little time in Craig. Sip a beer at Joe’s Bar or grab a bite at Izaak’s once you’re done chasing big trout.

MISSOURI QUICK FACTS RIVER MILES: 145 miles from headwaters to Cascade BEST HATCH: While diminutive in stature, the Missouri’s trico hatches can be staggering. If long leaders, fine tippets and technical fishing are your thing, this hatch is for you.

NEAREST CITIES: Three Forks, Helena, Great Falls

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YELLOWSTONE

BY MICHAEL WRIGHT

T

AKE A DRIVE THROUGH THE PARADISE VALLEY AND YOU’LL understand its name. The Absaroka Mountain Range rises to the east, the Gallatins to the west. A peaceful expanse of ranchlands fills the space between, bisected by the Yellowstone River. It’s no wonder so many movie stars and literary luminaries spend time there.

Scenery is all well and good, but the trout fishing is pretty good, too. The Yellowstone River, the longest undammed river in the lower 48, is wild, big and complex. The trout are big and tough, and anglers both local and non-local love spending a day going after them.

It begins at the outlet of the lake of the same name inside Yellowstone National Park. From there, it tumbles through the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone and swoops past the town of Gardiner and on toward Yankee Jim Canyon.

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks estimates there are about 1,000 fish per mile in the upper section.

From there, it eases on through the Paradise Valley and on to the quirky hub of Livingston. It continues east from there, completing its 692-mile run in North Dakota, where it dumps into the Missouri River.

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Nymph and streamer fishing can be productive when bugs aren’t hatching. When they are, the dry fly action can be incredible.

John Bailey, owner of Dan Bailey’s Fly Shop in Livingston, said the year begins with midges. The miniscule bugs are in the water all year long, but they can be the only things that will coax fish to the surface in the early part of the year.

Blue winged olives come next, joined soon after

by March browns and the Mother’s Day caddis.

Green drakes have been making an appearance around June, Bailey said.

Whether anglers get a shot at each of those hatches always depends on runoff, though.

Because there’s no dam regulating flows, the Yellowstone is completely at the mercy of the weather. Sometimes runoff comes out all at once.

Sometimes it comes out in separate pulses. It always lasts a while.

That plays a role in the fishability of the salmonfly hatch, too. It’s a June hatch, and the water has to be just right for anglers to get a shot at it.

“The river may be so high that it’s pretty hard to fish,” Bailey said.

If it happens right, though, the salmonfly hatch can be epic on the stretch of river near Gardiner.

Golden stones, yellow sallies and pale morning duns hatch next. Come August, hoppers and beetles hit the menu.

Autumn is a good time to visit the Yellowstone, Bailey said. Blue-winged olives return and another member of the drake family shows up, too.

“Fall fishing could be sensational,” Bailey said.

Boat ramps up and down the river provide plenty of options for anglers looking for a place to launch. Floaters should be warned of the rapids through Yankee Jim Canyon. Anglers on foot can use many of the same parking lots to access the river.

YELLOWSTONE QUICK FACTS RIVER MILES: 104 miles from Yellowstone National Park boundary to Big Timber BEST HATCH: Golden stones come off just about the same time as the giant salmonflies and the trout are often more eager to take these slightly smaller bugs.

NEAREST CITIES: Gardiner, Livingston, Big Timber

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BEAVERHEAD

BY MICHAEL WRIGHT

T

HERE’S NOTHING QUITE AS MAGICAL AS WATCHING BIG TROUT sip insects off a river’s surface, noses breaking the surface almost rhythmically. Seeing just one is a delight. It’s even better when you find 10 or 20.

That happens on the Beaverhead River. Sometimes there’s a fresh pod around every sharp bend, along every undercut bank.

“Once things pop,” said Tim Tollett, the owner of Frontier Anglers in Dillon, “it’s an exceptional dry fly river.”

A year-round haunt for locals and a seasonal destination for traveling anglers, the Beaverhead is one of the superstars of southwestern Montana. The fish are big, picky and numerous. Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks estimates there are as many as 3,500 per mile in the upper reaches. Access isn’t terribly challenging.

And while the dry fly action is great, the streamer bite seems to be on all the time. How could you pass this place up?

The stream begins at Clark Canyon Dam. It runs north through sagebrush country, winding about and skirting the town of Dillon before meeting the Big Hole to form the Jefferson River near Twin Bridges.

The stretch from the dam to Pipe Organ Bridge is closed to anglers from Nov. 30 to the third Saturday in May. The rest of the river is open year-round. State22

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owned land offers access to wading anglers on the upper end of the river. Those rowing a drift boat should be cautious of the narrowness of the upper section and overhanging brush. No matter whether you fish on foot or from a boat, though, you’ll find action.

Blue-winged olives begin hatching in late March and early April, sometimes lasting into part of May. The Mother’s Day caddis comes next, followed by pale morning duns in the middle of June. Those light mayflies, also called PMDs, stick around the rest of the summer.

“They can be a long-lived summer bug,” Tollett said.

A more robust caddis hatch comes in early July. Those continue all summer too, joined by yellow sallies. In the middle of August, the Beaverhead sees a relatively unique bug — crane flies. A member of the mosquito order, a crane fly is a big, spidery bug that fish in the Beaverhead love to gobble.

Streamer fishing is open for business virtually any day of the year, Tollett said, in part because the river is stacked with big, aggressive brown trout. Of the 3,500 fish per mile, FWP estimates roughly 3,000 are brown trout 8 inches and larger.

“There’s so many two and three year old brown trout in that river,” Tollett said.

The density is to the point that some have been talking about asking anglers to kill a few fish, an idea that runs counter to fly anglers’ dogmatic devotion to catch-and-release. So don’t be afraid to keep one to roast over the campfire.

Whether you eat a trout not, the Beaverhead’s browns are worth your time. Be sure to swing through Dillon when you’re there, too. Make a stop by the microbrewery or visit the historic Hotel Metlen.

BEAVERHEAD QUICK FACTS RIVER MILES: 69 miles from Clark Canyon Reservoir to Twin Bridges BEST HATCH: When hay season hits, head to the Beaverhead to fish hoppers. These late-summer insects bring Beaverhead trout to a boil.

NEAREST CITIES: Dillon, Twin Bridges

Full Service Fly Shop

Fly fishing Trips

Gear, Guides, Honest info www.GALLATINRIVERGUIDES.com (406) 995-2290 SUMME R 2 018 | HATCH

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UPPER CLARK FORK

BY MICHAEL WRIGHT

M

ONTANA’S MINING LEGACY IS MOST EVIDENT IN ITS MOST impaired places. The poster child is Butte, near the headwaters of the Clark Fork River and the nation’s largest Superfund site. Tailings were dumped into streams there for decades.

But now, the comeback is well underway. Cleanup work and habitat improvements are ongoing on its upper portions. Trout populations are doing fairly well, and anglers can have a good time wading the bends and riffles of the narrow stream.

The Clark Fork begins near Warm Springs. A wildlife management area there hosts a series of ponds that grow big fish, so don’t ignore those when you’re there. Mike Marcum, one of the owners of StoneFly Fly Shop in Butte, said scuds and leeches help those trout grow fat.

From there, the narrow stream heads north, the Flint Creek Range rising in the west and the foothills of the Highland Range rising in the east. It turns west several miles after Deer Lodge. It grows wider as it heads toward Missoula, ultimately ending at Lake Pend Oreille in the Idaho Panhandle.

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Anglers fish all along the river, but the upper stretch offers easy wading and chances at good sized trout. It’s mostly a brown trout river there.

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks estimates there are as many as 300 browns per mile in that portion of stream that doesn’t get very wide.

Marcum said stripping big, colorful flies can incite the aggression of those burly browns early in the year.

“It is a good streamer river early season,” Marcum said.

Midges and blue winged olives come off early in the year, too, offering a shot at dry fly fishing. Skwala stoneflies are available in March and April. Mother’s Day caddis show up in May. Typical summer bugs come next, including a consistent flow of caddis and pale morning duns through June and July. Golden stones also show up, as do their smaller cousin, the yellow sally.

“I’ve had some of the biggest yellow sally hatches there that I’ve seen on any river,” Marcum said.

Late summer and early fall means hoppers.

After another short helping of mayflies, it’s back to the typical streamer-and-nymph program.

Crowding can be an issue on the upper sections. The highest fish densities are typically found there and many people know it. If you find yourself there on a crowded day, be patient and kind. Give people plenty of room and avoid wading through promising pools.

Also be mindful that conservation projects are still ongoing there. Portions of the riverbank may be closed to protect newly planted vegetation.

Reach out to a local fly shop to find the latest information on what’s open and what’s not.

Although the work still isn’t done, the stream is significantly improved. History can’t be erased, but it can be cleaned up.

CLARK FORK QUICK FACTS RIVER MILES: 200 miles from headwaters to Idaho border BEST HATCH: the Clark Fork is one of the best waters in the Montana for pale morning duns. Get to the river in midsummer and PMDs will surely be among the bugs trout are after.

NEAREST CITIES: Butte, Anaconda, Missoula

At the Bench.

On the Water.

SUMME R 2 018 | HATCH

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JEFFERSON

BY MICHAEL WRIGHT

G

REAT FISHING IS SO ABUNDANT IN SOUTHWESTERN MONTANA that some places are easily overlooked. The Jefferson River is one such place, and those who know the Jefferson River well would prefer it remains overlooked.

It has never really been a secret, but its reputation has been obscured.

Its tributaries enjoy greater angling fame. It struggles with drought and late summer stream flow issues, which is enough to convince many to stay away.

Meanwhile, though, the Jefferson’s reputation has been building. Irrigators and angling groups are working together to keep water in the river. A few robust water years have helped, too. According to Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, trout numbers in the middle stretch are estimated near 1,000 per mile. Aside from that, the river carries its users through a relatively undeveloped valley.

“It definitely holds fish and it goes through a beautiful part of the world,” said Zach Brown, an angler who lives in Bozeman.

The Jefferson begins in Twin Bridges at the confluence of the Big Hole, Beaverhead and Ruby rivers. Twin Bridges itself is a fly-fishing hub. In addition to its fly shops, the town is headquarters for R.L. Winston Rod Company and the

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JEFFERSON QUICK FACTS RIVER MILES: 89 miles from headwaters to Three Forks BEST HATCH: Though caddis, PMDs, baetis and golden stones hatch on the Jefferson, look for hoppers in late July and August to provide the best dry fly bite for larger trout.

NEAREST CITIES: Twin Bridges, Whitehall, Three Forks

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After leaving Twin Bridges, the stream flows through a lush agricultural valley, flanked on the east side by the Tobacco Root Mountains. It winds north for 80 miles, ending at Three Forks.

A boat isn’t necessary, but it would help an angler cover a lot of water. Boat ramps at Hell’s Canyon, Silver Star Bridge and Parson’s Bridge can be good starting points for full-day floats.

The river can get skinny come late summer and early fall, though, so full-size drift boats might not be the best option then. However, its smooth flows ensure that canoes and smaller craft are always a viable option. Side channels and sloughs are available up and down the river, and it’s always worthwhile to hop out of the boat and explore on foot.

Hatches begin with an emergence of bluewinged olives from March through May. Caddis arrive next, followed soon by pale morning duns. Golden stones and tricos show up later in the summer.

The one thing most local anglers know about the Jefferson is that it’s a great hopper river. Windy days can thrust the meaty bugs onto the water, and fish love them. Brown said anglers should look for that in late August and early September. He also said it’s not uncommon to see fish hit the bugs even during the middle of the day.

Hucking big streamers is another thing anglers know the Jefferson for. Its big fish are known to chase flies as big as size #2. Pound undercut banks and strip flies through the pockets. Something big might just be waiting for you.

Stop by one of the fly shops in Twin Bridges before you go to get the latest information. They’ll be able to tell you what’s working that day. The price for information, however, might be that you keep it to yourself.

JodySavage.com www.jodysavagemt.com SUMME R 2 018 | HATCH

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MADISON

BY MICHAEL WRIGHT

If

THIS IS THE FIRST YOU’RE HEARING OF THE MADISON RIVER AS A top fishing destination, you’re in the minority. Anglers everywhere dream of hitting the Madison. It’s a bucket-list place.

John Way, owner of The Tackle Shop in Ennis, likes to compare it to famous baseball stadiums. He said it’s one of the “hallowed grounds of fly fishing,” and he’s not the only person who thinks that way.

But how exactly does a river attain such a reputation?

Having big trout and lots of them — estimated at more than 4,000 per mile in some sections — certainly helps.

“Every inch of that river, from bank to bank, can hold fish,” Way said, adding that he regularly sees fish in mere inches of water. “I always tell people that if there’s a change in depth, there’s a fish there.”

The Madison begins inside Yellowstone National Park at the confluence of the Firehole and Gibbon rivers.

It’s a calm, smooth river at first. It moseys out of the park to form Hebgen Lake. After it leaves Hebgen Dam, the river continues into Quake Lake, an eerie site created by an earthquake in 1959, and then turns north toward Ennis. It passes through one more dam there and ends in Three Forks.

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MADISON QUICK FACTS RIVER MILES: 126 miles from Yellowstone National Park boundary to Three Forks BEST HATCH: While the Mother’s Day caddis and salmonfly hatches get all the fanfare, the baetis hatch in March and April might be the best dry fly fishing the river has to offer.

• Flies • Guided Trips • Fly Fishing Gear & Essentials • Fly Tying Materials

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NEAREST CITIES: West Yellowstone, Ennis, Three Forks

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The Madison is talked about in two distinct sections: the Upper and the Lower. The Upper is the stretch between Quake Lake and Ennis, a rocky, boulder-strewn stretch known to some as “The 50 Mile Riffle.” The Lower is from Ennis Dam to Three Forks, and it’s much smoother and more like a typical tailwater in comparison to the Upper.

Each section has something unique to offer.

The Upper gets more stoneflies, and it doesn’t get the midsummer inner tube hatch like the Lower does. The Lower provides easier wading.

Part of the Lower also flows through the Lee Metcalf Wilderness Area, offering anglers a backcountry experience.

The Upper is the more famous of the two — it’s the portion Way is talking about when he refers to “hallowed ground.” Dry fly fishing can be epic there, beginning with midges early in the year. Windy days can make the hatch tough, but rising fish can be found. Blue-winged olives come in March and April, followed soon after by skwala stoneflies.

Runoff dirties the river starting in about midMay, but the fishing is back on in June. Way said that’s when the salmon flies and golden stones come off.

“You have stoneflies everywhere,” he said.

Caddis and pale morning duns carry through the rest of the summer. Land-based bugs are another strong bet in the late summer and fall.

“A fish will always eat an ant,” Way said.

Blue-winged olives close out the year for dry flies, and then some start reaching for the big flies.

Chucking streamers for big brown trout can be spectacular in the fall, as many browns move into the river from Ennis Lake. Be careful not to harass fish while they’re on spawning beds, though, and step carefully.

www.blue-ribbon-flies.com

SUMME R 2 018 | HATCH

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YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK

BY MICHAEL WRIGHT

D

ISCLAIMER: SOMETIMES BISON GET IN THE WAY. ANYONE WHO’S driven through Yellowstone National Park knows this. So does anyone who’s fished there. Veteran park anglers know the feeling of spotting a promising hole or a rising fish and then noticing the hulking frame of our national mammal blocking the path to it.

And yet the event isn’t infuriating. It’s more often hilarious. Where else will bison displace an angler?

Regardless of wildlife’s propensity for interference, our nation’s first national park is a veritable fly-fishing playground. Anglers can hike to lakes in the backcountry or hit roadside streams. They can catch native Yellowstone cutthroat trout. They can marvel at the landscape, and feel grateful that such a place exists.

The Madison, Gallatin and Yellowstone all begin inside the park’s borders.

Some anglers swear by the park stretches of each of these rivers. There are several others, though, that are well worth your time.

Soda Butte Creek teems with plump cutthroats that have a hard time resisting hopper patterns during late summer. The stream is in the northeast corner of the park and runs alongside the road until it meets the Lamar River. Slough Creek

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is another popular stream in that portion of the park. Part of it is accessible from a dirt road off the main drag, but some anglers prefer the meadows, which are a short hike into the backcountry.

The Firehole River offers an iconic Yellowstone fishing experience. The stream flows past some of the park’s thermal features — including Old Faithful — which heats it up. It was historically fishless, but early park managers stocked fish there long ago. Now, it’s one of Yellowstone’s most famous places to cast flies.

Todd Koel, the park’s chief fisheries biologist, said anglers should be aware of the runoff regimes on the park’s streams. Rivers like the Lamar and the Yellowstone will likely run dirty during the first part of the fishing season. He recommends that anglers coming in May and June focus on fishing lakes.

“There are some really good lakes to fish,” Koel said.

Anglers can search for risers from the banks

of Yellowstone Lake. Nearby Lewis Lake and Shoshone Lake are viable options. Trout Lake, in the northeast corner of the park, is a short hike from the road. Some anglers pack in float tubes for that trip. Remember, all float tubes and boats must have a permit and an invasive species inspection prior to launch.

Fishing opens the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend and closes the first Sunday in November. A park license is required for anglers older than 16 ($18 for three days, $25 for seven days, $40 for a season). There is no boating on the park’s streams, though boats are allowed on some lakes. Barbless hooks only, no bait and no lead. Felt soled wading boots are also banned.

In certain places, anglers are required to kill non-native trout like rainbow and lake trout in order to protect cutthroat. Have a look at the park’s regulation book in order to find out if that regulation is in place on the stream you plan to fish.

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MOUNTAIN LAKES

BY MICHAEL WRIGHT

W

HEN YOU FLY OVER THE MOUNTAIN ranges around Bozeman, or just look at them on Google Earth, you notice something: There are a lot of lakes up there. Many of them are accessible either by rugged Forest Service road or trail, and many of them hold fish.

Plundering high mountain lakes can be wildly fun. Solitude and scenery are reasons enough to give some of them a chance. There’s nothing like casting flies deep inside a mountain range with no one else around. The quality of the fishing is often great, too.

Some of the lakes give fish up easily. Some don’t.

Some of the lakes offer anglers a shot at unique species, like Arctic grayling or golden trout. The only way to find out is to go.

Choosing the right lake and getting there may seem daunting, but Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks is here to help. On the agency’s website (fwp.mt.gov), you can find Mountain Lakes guides for two regions: Region 3, which runs from Livingston west to the southwestern corner of Montana, and Region 5, which is adjacent to the east.

The Region 3 guide offers information for

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lakes in the Tobacco Roots, Madison and Gallatin mountain ranges. It shows the species available in lakes there, and it also points out which lakes are fishless — a tip that might save you a hike.

Trail information for these lakes is best found elsewhere. Reaching out to the nearest Forest Service district office will do the trick.

The Region 5 guide includes hundreds of lakes in the Absaroka and Beartooth ranges, plus the Crazy Mountains. It provides much of the same information as the Region 3 guide plus trail information for the lakes.

Attractor dry flies and general nymph patterns should catch fish on these lakes. Streamers are another useful option. Don’t be afraid to switch flies often — sometimes the next fly is the right fly.

Be sure to pack clothing for changing weather.

The old adage about how Montana’s weather changes every five minutes is true even in the summer, and being caught unprepared is rough.

Keeping a rain slicker and an extra layer in your pack is always a good idea. And don’t forget your bear spray — virtually all of southwestern Montana is grizzly bear country.

SMALL STREAMS WITHOUT NAMES

BY MICHAEL WRIGHT

A

NGLERS LOVE SECRETS. THEY’D LIKE you to stay away from their favorite spot. If you somehow find it anyway, you’re expected to keep it quiet. Tell no one. Not your spouse, child, or dog.

This logic can make searching for a new fishing spot seem daunting. Sure, there’s some information out there, and there are some places people will talk about. But you want to find your own place. If no one is giving out any information, how would you ever know if a certain creek is worth fishing?

It’s simple: Just go there. Explore. Enjoy the gamble. Here’s a few ways to start the search for your own secret spot:

• STARE AT MAPS. All the major rivers listed in this guide have tributaries. Fish live in many of those tributaries. Forest Service roads follow many of them, too. Picking up Forest Service road maps at a local district office is a good way to learn the ins-and-outs of a mountain range.

• TALK TO SOMEONE. Yes, anglers love secrecy, but sometimes they love sharing a secret with someone as much as they love having a secret. You never know who is willing to help unless you ask. The kid at the fly shop. The waitress

at the café. The guy at the next gas pump with a dirty old pickup. The worst thing they can do is tell you nothing.

• ASK PERMISSION. Creeks running through private lands are often productive. Montana’s liberal stream access law allows anglers to access plenty of water that would normally be off limits in other states. However, many streams pass through private land. Always ask landowners for permission if you aren’t sure.

• HIRE A GUIDE. Many fly shops have options besides float trips on one of the major rivers. A guide would love to spend a day wandering one of the region’s best tributaries. They’ll also know as well as anyone which tributaries are best.

• CALL FWP. The agency knows its stuff, and there’s a dedicated biologist for each of the major watersheds. They’ll know which tributaries are hot. They might not give up their own secrets, but they’ll usually answer questions.

• BUT SERIOUSLY, JUST GO. There’s no wrong place to explore in Montana. Even if you strike out, you’ll probably see something new.

Scenery is always great. The only risk is a tank of gas, and you were probably going to buy that anyway.

SUMME R 2 018 | HATCH

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A WORD ON FLIES

BY MICHAEL WRIGHT

I

DON’T SKI IN THE WINTERTIME. THIS MAKES me an anomaly in Bozeman, and people wonder how I spend winters. The answer? I spend way too much time tying flies. As a result, I often show up to the water with boxes and boxes of flies I don’t need and may never use.

No one should follow my example, but anglers should have an assortment of general nymphs, streamers and dry fly patterns. The following are a few of my favorites.

DRY FLIES • PARACHUTE ADAMS, SIZES 12-20.

This gray mayfly imitation and works for a number of different mayfly hatches throughout the year. Sometimes the fly will bring trout to the surface when nothing is hatching. Size 12 works for for large mayfly hatches, like brown and gray drakes. Smaller ones — sizes 18 and 20 — work during midge hatches. Carry it in a number of different sizes. If a rising fish is refusing it, consider sizing down.

• CADDIS, SIZES 12-20. A dependable summer evening hatch on most western rivers, the caddis is a must-have for fly anglers. It can be tied in a variety of ways and colors, but it essentially imitates a small moth. Its consistent feature is a down-wing of elk or deer hair that spans the length of its body. The right body color varies based on the stream and time of year. Ask someone at the fly shop what color is best. If in doubt, try tan.

• BLUE-WINGED OLIVES, SIZES 16-20.

BWOs are spring and fall staples, often emerging 34

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on cloudy afternoons. Adult versions have an olive colored body and light blue-gray hackle.

Consider grabbing an emerger pattern as well — one that rides in the surface film. Sometimes fish are keyed on that stage of the life cycle.

• PALE MORNING DUN, SIZES 16-20.

Like the BWO, these mayflies are common. The main difference: PMDs emerge in the summer, often both in the mornings and evenings. Adult imitations have yellow bodies and light dun colored hackle.

SUBSURFACE • WOOLY BUGGER, SIZES 4-8. The classic streamer pattern, this fly comes in a variety of colors. It’s fished subsurface and works when swung across a run or stripped through a deep hole. Many anglers turn to the fly when they’re not sure what else to do. They do that because the fly works.

• PAT’S RUBBERLEGS, SIZES 6-10. It imitates a stonefly nymph, and it’s by far the most popular pattern that does so. Tied with lead wire, chenille and rubber legs, this fly sinks quickly. Fish in freestone streams inhale it nearly year-round.

• PHEASANT TAIL NYMPH, SIZES 12-20.

The Pheasant Tail nymph imitates the subsurface stage of mayfly life, when the insects are coming up from the river bottom to hatch on the surface.

Think of it as the larval version of the Parachute Adams. The fly is good year-round. Some styles have a bead to help the fly sink.

ESSENTIAL GEAR

BY MICHAEL WRIGHT

O

NE KNOCK ON FLY-FISHING IS THAT IT requires a lot of stuff. This isn’t exactly a bamboo pole and worm game. When you think of a fly angler, you probably picture someone with a floppy hat, fancy waders, top-of-the-line sunglasses, vest, and breathable plaid shirt. Maybe he’s smoking a pipe. And that’s not to mention the rod, reel, line, leader and flies.

The bad news: You need some of that stuff.

The good news: You definitely don’t need all of it.

There are a few essentials. The quality of those essentials depends on how much you want to spend. Here’s a breakdown of the things you’ll need to catch trout on a fly.

• A FISHING LICENSE. Available at sporting goods stores, fly shops and regional offices of Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks.

• A FLY ROD. Usually, a 5-weight or a 6-weight will do the trick. Some of the best rods available may cost more than a mortgage payment. If you’re into spending that much, great — visit a local fly shop to see top-of-the-line options. If not, don’t fret —plenty of affordable setups are available. A good Walmart rod will run you less than $50. The next step up in quality can be purchased for between $100 and $200 at different sporting goods stores.

• A REEL AND FLY LINE. The reel attaches to the rod and holds the fly line. The best reels on the market offer drag systems to help when fighting a big fish. Floating fly lines are generally the choice for anglers in Montana, as they can be used to fish in a variety of ways. Make sure the line and reel match your rod’s weight — again, 5-weights and 6-weights are typical.

• LEADER AND TIPPET. A leader attaches to the fly line, the tippet attaches to the leader, and the fly attaches to the tippet. Leaders come tapered to a certain diameter, and spools of tippet come in one diameter. Diameters run between 0X and 7X, 0X being the biggest and 7X the smallest. Generally, 4X works best. Buying leaders and tippets with matching diameters will help your casts look pretty.

• FLIES. Bins at fly shops and sporting goods stores can be intimidating, featuring so many varieties that it will make your head spin. Ask an expert to help you pick the ones you’ll need, and be sure to get a mix of nymphs and dry flies.

• A FEW EASY-TO-FIND ESSENTIALS WILL MAKE YOUR ANGLING LIFE MUCH BETTER. Nail clippers for trimming knots, sunglasses, and a pair of old shoes or sandals for wading.

SUMME R 2 018 | HATCH

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OFF THE BEATEN PATH

BY MICHAEL WRIGHT

So

MANY OF MONTANA’S MAJOR rivers are famous destinations, places anglers all over the world dream of hitting. And they’re great — that’s why they show up in magazines, and it’s why dozens of drift boats float down them each day.

But, in the backcountry, there are other opportunities. Places where you can log a few miles in the deep quiet of wilderness and come upon rising cutthroat trout. Places where cell service doesn’t exist. Places people would rather you never talk about.

Many of these places exist on Montana’s vast amount of public lands. Some the best are inside the state’s wilderness areas — like the Bob Marshall, the Lee Metcalf and the Absaroka-Beartooth wilderness areas.

Known to locals as simply “the Bob,” the Bob Marshall Wilderness Area is the spot many backcountry anglers would consider a must-fish.

It’s the Lewis and Clark and Flathead national forests in the northwestern part of the state. At more than a million acres, the Bob offers miles and miles of gin clear water teeming with native westslope cutthroat trout.

Many anglers make an annual pilgrimage there for a multi-day backpacking trips. Some even haul pack rafts in so they can cover more water. The main draw is the South Fork of the

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Flathead River, which holds cutthroat and bull trout, but several other streams are worth a hard look.

Just southwest of Bozeman sits the Lee Metcalf Wilderness Area. It includes land in the Custer Gallatin and Beaverhead Deerlodge national forests. The area was designated in 1983 and consists of four units: Spanish Peaks, Bear Trap Canyon, Taylor-Hilgard and Monument Mountain.

The lower Madison River flows through Bear Trap Canyon, and the area offers Bozeman-based anglers all the perks of wilderness without a significant drive. Trails on both sides of the river offer easy access. Smaller streams drain the wilderness area as well, and the southernmost unit, the Taylor-Hilgard, is pocked with alpine lakes.

East of there, in the mountains southeast of Livingston, is the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness.

Rugged and wild, the wilderness area includes Montana’s highest point – the 12,808 foot Granite Peak. It’s also full of alpine lakes.

Basecamp for the Absaroka-Beartooth can be any number of places on its outskirts, including Livingston, Big Timber, Stillwater County and Red Lodge.

Forest Service trail maps are available for all these areas. Don’t be shy about asking folks at local fly shops about them – they might just spill a secret.

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FIND A FLY SHOP

You’ll find at least one fly shop in most towns in southwestern Montana.

They’re great places to find gear, flies and information about the spots you plan to fish. You could even hire a guide if you like. Here’s a partial list of the shops that can help your day on the water go well:

BOZEMAN

LIVINGSTON

Bob Wards 3011 Max Ave, (406) 586-4381, www.bobwards.com

Dan Bailey’s Fly Shop 209 West Park Street, (406) 222-1673, www.dan-bailey.com

Montana Troutfitters 1716 West Main Street, (406) 587-4707, www.troutfitters.com

Hatch Finders Fly Shop 5237 U.S. Highway 89 South Suite 12, (406) 222-0989, www.hatchfinders.com

The River’s Edge 2012 North 7th Avenue, (406) 586-5373, www.riversedge.com

George Anderson’s Yellowstone Angler 5256 U.S. Highway 89 South, (406) 222-7130, www.yellowstoneangler.com

Fins & Feathers 81801 Gallatin Road, (406) 586-2188, www.finsandfeathersonline.com

Sweetwater Fly Shop 5082 US Highway 89 South, (406) 222-9393, www.sweetwaterflyshop.com

Bozeman Family Fly Shop 2621 West College Street, Unit B, (406) 404-1662

ENNIS

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The Tackle Shop 127 Main Street, (406) 682-4263, www.thetackleshop.com

Madison River Fishing Company 109 Main Street, (406) 682-4293, www.mrfc.com

Jacklin’s Fly Shop 105 Yellowstone Avenue, (406) 646-7336, www.jacklinsflyshop.com

Trout Stalkers 301 Main Street (406) 682-5150, www.montanatrout.com

Madison River Outfitters 125 Canyon Street, (406) 646-9644, www.madisonriveroutfitters.com

WEST YELLOWSTONE

BIG SKY

Blue Ribbon Flies 305 North Canyon Street, (406) 646-7642, www.blueribbonflies.com

East Slope Outdoors 44 Town Center Ave., (406) 995-4369, www.eastslopeoutdoors.com

Arrick’s Fly Shop 37 North Canyon Street, (406) 646-7290, www.arricks.com

Gallatin River Guides 47430 Gallatin Road, (406) 995-2290, www.montanaflyfishing.com

Big Sky Anglers 39 Madison Avenue, (406) 646-7801, www.bigskyanglers.com

GARDINER Park’s Fly Shop 202 South 2nd Street, (406) 848-7314, www.parksflyshop.com

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