Bozeman Montana Fly Fishing

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Fly fishing enthusiasts from all over the world come to Bozeman, Montana to fly fish. Our licensed fly fishing guides have made this Big Sky cowboy town their home, and we offer top rated fly fishing trips that are centered around the many rivers and streams around Bozeman including the Madison, Gallatin, Missouri, and Yellowstone Rivers. It is especially appealing for fly fishermen because the abundance of trout per mile of river.

There is no better place to fly fish for a variety of beautiful blue ribbon waters than Bozeman. Just mentioning the names of some well-known trout streams will surely inspire anglers with ideas about fishing adventures. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced river fisherman, there is certainly a stream in Bozeman that's perfect for you. GuideTime fly fishing trips can help you find the ideal Montana river to match your angling skill level and interests.

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Fly fishing the Gallatin River near Bozeman

The Gallatin River truly is the local favorite. The main stem runs just west of town, the East Gallatin River just to the north, and its many smaller tributaries all through the surrounding valley, the Gallatin Valley. This blue ribbon river offers amazing trout fishing from its headwaters to its end at the headwaters of the Missouri River near Three Forks, Montana.

The Gallatin River offers anglers a variety of fishing opportunities, from meandering streams to tight pools surrounded by towering cliffs. This is an ideal spot for fly fisherman looking for wild trout action throughout the year. In addition to great hatches on traditional dry flies, this location provides excellent opportunity for nymph fishing during spring and fall months.

Fly fishing trip on the Gallatin River near Bozeman Montana with GuideTime

Fly fishing guides in the vicinity of East Gallatin River generally fish either upstream or downstream of the confluence, depending on which sections provide the best access. There is ample public access along its length, as it lies parallel to Highway 191. However, difficulties accessing this location without floating downstream can be found.

For the best angling results, we recommend reserving a Bozeman fly fishing guide.

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Fly fishing the Yellowstone River near Bozeman

The Yellowstone River is a great place to fly fish for big river freestone trout in Montana. It has high populations of wild trout, produces good hatch rates throughout the spring, summer and fall months, and offers enough variety due to its length and flow patterns.

The Yellowstone River flows around 12,000 cubic feet per second (CFS) in early summer and is a very different river than when it flow falls below 1200 CFS later in the season. Its character changes dramatically from Gardiner, Montana to Big Timber, Montana. If you want great fly fishing opportunities there are plenty of them. If you're looking for cutbanks with sandy banks that offer good fishing chances, then this is the place for you. And if easy-going swooping bends are what you're after - well look no further! The valley has plenty of those too.

Guided fly fishing trip on the Yellowstone River near Bozeman Montana with GuideTime.

The rainbow, brown, and cutthroat trout of the Yellowstone River are always on the hunt for food. This means that anglers can find consistent opportunities to take these fish throughout our season even when conditions in the river aren't ideal. Additionally, our nearby Yellowstone fly fishing guides will be able to help you get into action! We recommend hiring a GuideTime Montana licensed fishing guide for the best results when fly fishing this river.

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Fly fishing on the Madison River

Almost every fly fishing enthusiast knows about the Madison River. It is one of Montana’s most beautiful and popular rivers, running swiftly and clearly from its headwaters in Yellowstone National Park to its eventual end at the headwaters of the Missouri River. To those who have not extensively explored it, all of the river appears similar - rocky and shallow with a consistent flow. But to trout living along this stretch of water each rock formation, dive, bend or drop can provide them with some of the best habitat in western America.

The Madison River is home to some of the highest trout per mile numbers in Montana. This abundance of food sources, including annual hatching of salmonflies and other aquatic insect larvae, keeps the fish fed throughout the year. Salmonfly fishing provides a unique opportunity for anglers from all over to try their hand at this celebrated pursuit. There's no way you'll miss it!

Madison River fly fishing trip near Bozeman Montana with GuideTime.

There are many great ways to fly fish the Madison River, and each offers its own unique benefits over the course of a season. Dry flies, nymphs, and streamers all produce in different amounts throughout the course of a year. Wade fishing is especially effective during early spring and late fall seasons; while float fishing reigns supreme during summer months when water is cool and clean. GuideTime provides quality angling opportunities all season long on this beautiful river system!

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The Missouri River is a great place to fly fish

The Missouri River offer some of the biggest and most average-sized wild trout in the state. This abundance is due, in part, to The Mighty ‘Mo's large size; it contains more fish than any other river in Missouri. However, this doesn't mean fishing here is easy – it can be challenging even for experienced anglers. There are plenty of big fish to be had on this stretch of water.

The Missouri River is known for its prolific hatches, as well as its consistent population of fighting trout year-round. Fishing opportunities are available throughout the spring and fall months, making it a popular choice for anglers all around. The river can be accessed by our guides in mid-April through June and again in October through November.

Missouri River fly fishing trip near Bozeman Montana with GuideTime.

The main attraction at summertime for trout is PMDs, caddisflies, and tricos. However, fly fishing enthusiasts can enjoy great fishing all season long thanks to our guides expertise in targeting stretches below Holter Lake as well as the freestone stretch from the headwaters to Canyon Ferry Lake during shoulder seasons. And occasionally during summer months when carp are active in these waters.

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For fly fishing enthusiasts, the Paradise Valley Spring Creeks offer some of the finest small stream fishing in Montana

Many anglers are perplexed as to why it would be worth paying an access fee to fly fish a stream in Montana, where there is plenty of publicly accessible water. Simply put, fishing on the Paradise Valley Spring Creeks is something that cannot be found anywhere else and must be experienced for yourself.

There are three excellent fly fishing streams outside Bozeman that offer anglers the opportunity to experience some of the best dry fly techniques around. During different times of year, hatches of mayflies, caddisflies, midges and terrestrial insects will be present in abundance. This offers sight fishers a chance to target these flying prey with ease while enjoying an amazing setting.

Fly fishing trip near Livingston Montana in the Paradise Valley with GuideTime.

The ranches located along these waterways are all historic working cattle ranches. Spending a day exploring them would be well worth the price of admission, and fly fishing opportunities here are excellent throughout the year. GuideTime guests can enjoy wading fishing on Paradise Valley Spring Creeks during wintertime conditions that are hard to find elsewhere in the state. We recommend reserving a licensed Montana fishing guide service for the best results.

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Fly fish inside Yellowstone National Park near Bozeman.

We are fortunate to have access to Yellowstone National Park, which is a short drive away from our home town. The north and west entrances of the park are perfect for anglers looking for some of the finest trout streams in our area.

The fishing season in Yellowstone National Park runs from Memorial Day weekend until early November. During this time, it is easy to find trout in the river because they are active and hungry.

Firehole River fly fishing trip in Yellowstone National park with GuideTime.

Early season fishing can be enjoyed in the western rivers, such as the Yellowstone River and the Firehole River. These waterways typically open up early due to warm weather conditions.

By the middle of summer, most anglers head to northeast corner of Yellowstone National Park to fly fish the Lamar and Soda Butte creeks. It is also a great time to hunt for native cutthroat trout in the Yellowstone River and its many tributaries. Bring plenty of small terrestrial insects such as hoppers, ants, beetles, etc.: it is insect fishing heaven. For the best results fly fishing in the park, we recommend hiring a licensed fishing guide service.

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Fly fishing on the Jefferson River is a great way to spend a day near Bozeman

Bozeman fly fishers often overlook the Jefferson River when looking for quality trout fishing opportunities. However, this river has its own unique features that make it a worthy destination in and of itself. For example, the water here is not as densely populated with fish as some of our other top selections, but this doesn’t take away from how beautiful the scenery can be or how much character each angler will find while casting their line there.

If your goal is to catch a lot of fish in one day while fly fishing, then you should not visit the Jefferson River. However, if you are looking for a monster trout, and an enjoyable day out on a smaller river with minimal angling pressure, then this would be an ideal location.

Guided fly fishing trip on the Jefferson River near Twin Bridges Montana with GuideTime.

The Jefferson River typically has lower water levels in the middle of summer, making it best to fish it in spring or fall when runoff is minimal. Dry flies, nymphs and streamers can all be successful on this river. Rainbow and brown trout dominate its population and while catch rates are lower than other rivers, there are still some great fish available for anglers to catch. The access to the Jefferson River is limited to Montana fishing access sites and bridge crossings, which makes float fishing an preferable option over wading. We recommend hiring a Montana fishing guide service for the best results.

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Fly fishing the Stillwater River near Bozeman

If you're looking for fast-flowing water and a hectic fly fishing experience, look no further than the Stillwater River. This raging river flows out of high mountains in Wyoming and moans its way downstream to meet up with Yellowstone River.

Floating the Stillwater River is not for the faint of heart. Our Bozeman fly fishing guides that take anglers on the Stillwater River are all experienced whitewater rowers and use high-performance rafts with fishing frames to navigate the rough waters of the Stillwater River. Lying in wait between the many rapids of the Stillwater River is some of the finest blue ribbon trout water in Montana.

Fly fishing trip on the Stillwater River near Billings Montana with GuideTime.

The Stillwater River is a renowned spot for pocket water fly fishing. At high flows, this can be classic trout hunting in tight spots. However, at lower flow rates the river opens up and provides great opportunities for wading and bank access. The public has many available fishing sites along with forest service land on the upper part of the stream which offers excellent angling possibilities. For the best fly fishing results, we recommend hiring a licensed Montana fishing guide service.

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Fly fishing the Boulder River near Bozeman

The Boulder River is located just south of Big Timber, Montana. This small river offers anglers excellent fly fishing opportunities on a smaller body of water that boasts an incredibly scenic setting. The river is swift and rocky, making early season floating difficult for experienced whitewater rowers, but low summer flows generally make wading the best fly fishing option during those months.

If you're looking for an accessible location to fish for trout, head above Natural Bridge State Park is a great option. The Boulder River contains larger rocks and boulders which can make wading difficult, but the excellent fly fishing often makes up for it.

Boulder fly fishing trip near Bozeman Montana with GuideTime.

Rainbow, brown, cutthroat, and brook trout can be found throughout the length of the Boulder River. While these wild fish aren't known for their size, they are often quite eager to take a fly when presented correctly. Fly fishing will be most effective during summer months but nymphing and streamer fishing can also provide a good bite during shoulder seasons as well.

Professional fly fishing guides utilize high-quality rafts with frames in order to provide a fun and safe day of fly fishing on the Boulder River.

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