When To Fly Fish Southwest Montana

Montana has so much of every kind of water you could possibly want to fish, deciding when to fish is your biggest dilemma. That said, you’ll find different seasons on various rivers that specifically appeal to you. We encourage you to call us to talk about your experience, what types of fishing you enjoy the most, do you prefer to wade, boat the big rivers, or float tube in solitary waters. We’ll match your skills and desires to particular hatches and watersheds and specifically design a trip for you.

April and May, prior to run-off, finds Montana’s rivers low with warming water temperatures. With growing activity and no pressure on the rivers, nymph and streamer fishing excels, with occasional dry fly action on the top.

June brings out the heavy Stone Flies on the Big Hole and the Madison. Big flies appear after the waters clear in early June, and on the Madison, a huge Salmon Fly hatch usually pops during the last five days of the month.

July means consistent dry fly fishing. You’ll experience caddis, mayflies, and small stone flies in great numbers. With incredible fishing, you’ll experience more pressure on the rivers.

August means hoppers, beetles, ants and crane flies are fished on the surface for some aggressive large trout. If the surface becomes inactive, you can still fish small nymphs fished off attractor dry flies.

September begins like August and transitions into fall like fishing toward the latter part of the month. You’ll spend most of the days fishing nymphs and streamers.

October and early November bring incredible vistas and beauty, along with very little pressure to go after large (and careless this time of the year) brown trout.