Generally, 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. The month of June brings out the heavy Stone Flies on the Big Hole and the Madison. Big flies appear after the waters […]
Continue reading "Fly Fishing in Southwest Montana" »Category: Private Water
The Ruby River – The Ruby is a terrific, small meadow river, we use several sections of the Lower Ruby.
Alder Spring Creek – This is another very challenging spring creek.
Boulder River – This small meadow stream is a tributary of the Jefferson River and because it is kept cool by many fresh water springs you will find some fine mid summer dry fly fishing with attractor dries and hoppers.
The Gund Ranch – The ranch has three spring ponds ranging in size from a couple of acres to eleven acres.
Wheat Ranch – For those anglers who enjoy a few hours on a still water fishery this ranch has a small lake with very large rainbow trout.
Morse Land Co. – We discovered some hidden gems on this property only five minutes driving time from Healing Waters Lodge. There are several miles of the Lower Ruby River, a short section of Leonard Slough (spring creek), miles of Mill Creek which is a terrific small meadow stream loaded with nice brown trout and a small pond for the still water folks .
All private water fishing does require a rod fee for each angler. Prices very between $100 and $150 per rod per day.
Fly Fishing in Southwest Montana
The Smith River is located in central Montana heading north toward Great Falls, and eventually blending into the Missouri River. Montana’s department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks has approximately 60 river miles designated as a state park, surrounded by state and federal lands and dotted with private land as well. Each year, the Parks department […]
Continue reading "Fly Fishing in Southwest Montana" »Fly Fishing in Southwest Montana
August 21st will see a total eclipse of the sun. Wonder what the trout think of that? How does an eclipse affect a trout? Just like today and everyday, August 21st will be a great day to be fishing in southwest Montana with the guides at Healing Waters Lodge. Words of wisdom: Do not look […]
Continue reading "Fly Fishing in Southwest Montana" »Fly Fishing in Southwest Montana
Small streams, Fall Fishing and Randolph Scott It is cool this morning, more September than August. I am watching the 1958 movie, Buchanan Rides Alone sta rring Randolph Scott, where the bad guys will all eat a .44 before the movie ends. My idea of summer time bliss: a Randolph Scott move in the morning and hopper fishing […]
Continue reading "Fly Fishing in Southwest Montana" »Fly Fishing in Southwest Montana – Smith River Float Trips
Healing Waters Lodge is an Orvis endorsed fly fishing lodge with a stellar reputation and we are also the largest fly fishing outfitter on Montana’s coveted, Smith River. Mike Geary continues to successfully own and operate, Lewis & Clark Expeditions, for over 25 years. Our Smith River fly fishing float trip is 59 river miles […]
Continue reading "Fly Fishing in Southwest Montana – Smith River Float Trips" »Fly Fishing in Southwest Montana
Last week we had the good fortune of hosting Tammy and John, guests of Harlan (who has been coming to Healing Waters Lodge for 15 years) and his wife, Amy, all soon to become “in-laws” as their children marry. Orvis review written by John and Tammy: “We went for the friendships, we stayed for the […]
Continue reading "Fly Fishing in Southwest Montana" »Fishing, Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing, and More Fishing
At Healing Waters Lodge we are intimately involved with Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing, Inc., a non-profit organization founded by Retired Navy Captain Ed Nicholson. Below are testimonials from two friends of ours who assisted us last summer at the lodge working with disabled veterans. They also represent the quality and character of the […]
Continue reading "Fishing, Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing, and More Fishing" »Fly Fishing the Big Hole River with Healing Waters Lodge in Southwest Montana
Big Hole River Description So it begins high in the Beaverhead Mountains, the Big Hole River flows for 153 miles through a fly fishing wonderland filled with Brook, Rainbow, Brown and Cutthroat trout. The Big Hole is the last remaining habitat for fluvial Arctic Grayling in the contiguous United States. Along the Big Hole corridor […]
Continue reading "Fly Fishing the Big Hole River with Healing Waters Lodge in Southwest Montana" »Fishing Over the Immortal Nakedness of Montana
Fishing Over the Immortal Nakedness of Montana “The sea, autumn mildness, islands bathed in light, fine rain spreading a diaphanous veil over the immortal nakedness of Greece. Happy is the man, I thought, who, before dying, has the good fortune to sail the Aegean Sea.” A passage from the novel, Zorba the Greek by Nikos Kazantzakis. […]
Continue reading "Fishing Over the Immortal Nakedness of Montana" »Fly Fishing the Beaverhead River
Over 200 years ago, Lewis and Clark discovered the Beaverhead River hoping to find a Northwest Passage. William Clark was overheard saying, “Oops” when they realized their portage over the Rockies was going to be an extra 250 miles. So it goes…. Today, the Beaverhead River flows out of Clark Canyon Reservoir Dam creating one […]
Continue reading "Fly Fishing the Beaverhead River" »