Helena Montana Fly Fishing

If you're looking for a great place to fly fish, Helena Montana is the perfect option with GuideTime. It's located in one of Montana's most beautiful areas, and there are plenty of rivers nearby that offer a lot of guided fishing trips. Helena is centrally located in state, and is the Capital of Montana. The surrounding Montana national forests provide an incredible backdrop for some amazing fishing action.

With so many great fly shops in Helena, it's easy to find the right one for your needs located in Helena and another on the Missouri River, making sure you can get all of your fishing supplies handled no matter where you are. GuideTime recommends hiring a licensed Montana fly fishing guide service for the best angling results.

Helena Montana fly fishing trip on the Missouri River with GuideTime.

When you're heading out on a Montana fishing trip, most anglers will use 4- to 6-weight rods: 4- and 5-weights are common for dry fly fishing, and 6-weight rods are great for nymphs and steamer fishing. Because floating line is the main type of line used, it's important to bring along plenty of 3X, 4X and 5X leader (and tippet) - just in case. It can be helpful to see what flies local shop owners recommend during the season; but even if you don't have time to visit a store right away, that doesn't mean you shouldn't have some classic dry flies or Nymph patterns ready at home.

For the best results with you Montana fly fishing trip, we recommend hiring a licensed Montana fly fishing guide service.

---

Missouri River Fly Fishing

The Missouri River offer such a diverse range of fishing opportunities, with trophy trout, an abundance of hatch activity, and is a great dry fly fishing river. While you don't need to have prior experience fishing the Missouri River in order to be successful, having a knowledgeable guide service can ensure a successful process for those unfamiliar with this stunning river system. All GuideTime fishing guides are expert anglers who spend many days each year fishing the Missouri River - they're truly experts when it comes to both guiding and teaching anglers how to have a successful Montana fishing trip.

Our fly fishing guides can provide guidance regarding which guide is best suited for your trip, arrange all lodging and transportation needs, answer questions about local dining options, and more. If you have any specific questions related to fishing at different times of the year, they will be able to assist you as well.

Missouri River fly fishing trip near Helena Montana with GuideTime.

If you've never been on a guided fishing trip, don't be intimidated. Beginners to expert anglers are invited. Customers believe that guides spend their entire days fishing with the best anglers in the world. A great Missouri River fishing guide can show even an inexperienced fisherman how to have a successful day out on the water. GuideTime fishing guides are terrific; they know just what to do to make everyone happy and enjoy themselves.

If you are an experienced angler, our guides will provide a superior experience. They can accommodate your fishing preferences and take you to the right spot on the river at the perfect time. Many of our clients return year after year, praising us for having one of best guides they have ever worked with.

For a long time, the Missouri River has been known for its large fish populations. In the 1990s, this led to an increase in popularity of fly fishing on this particular waterway. Thanks to impressive numbers—average fish counts of 6,000 per river mile—the area has remained popular ever since. This means that Craig - a small town north of Helena with just three shops and one restaurant - is largely dependent on the influx of anglers who come each year to catch brown and rainbow trout. Fly fishing can be challenging but it's also very rewarding if you're up for it; so even though there are few other attractions in Craig, most people seem content with hiring an experienced local fishing guide service.

Missouri River fly fishing trip near Helena Montana with GuideTime.

If you're planning to go fishing anytime other than in the summer, make sure to pack waders, boots, and a lot of layers. The Missouri River can be very windy, so it's not smart to wear anything that won't keep you warm. In July and August, the hottest months of the year for fishing purposes, most anglers will be found wearing boots or sandals rather than full gear like jackets during rainstorms.

There's no doubt that fishing the Missouri River is a great experience. From Holter Dam to Cascade, the river offers a variety of beautiful backdrops and classic trout fishing opportunities. Plus, it's always fun to explore different areas of Montana - whether you're hunting for cattle or wildlife in the rolling hillsides, or looking out at stunning cliff formations from afar. If you're ever in this part of the state, make sure to fly fish the Missouri River!

For the best results with your Montana fly fishing trip, we recommend hiring a Montana licensed fly fishing guide service.

---

Blackfoot River Fly Fishing

If you're looking for a great fishing destination in Montana, the Blackfoot River is definitely worth checking out. It's a short driver from Helena and has some fantastic hatches that anglers love to be present for with the world-class fishing opportunities. Plus, it's home to a healthy population of brown and rainbow trout (as well as native westslope cutthroat trout).

If dry fly fishing isn't your thing, don't worry: the river can also be fished with salmon flies, and even large indicators when runoff hasn't flooded the area yet. The upper part of the Clark Fork River is better suited for wade fishing while lower sections are good drift boat fly fishing territory. So whether you're an experienced outdoorsman or just starting out - there's something on offer for everyone in the beautiful Blackfoot River!

Montana’s Blackfoot River starts deep in the Bob Marshall wilderness with the clear cold North Fork spilling over the Ovando Montana plain to mix with the warmer main stem Blackfoot river coming out of the north near Lincoln Montana. When those rivers meet at the River Junction boat ramp they make the water that drove Norman Maclain to write the Novel “A River Runs Through it.” From that powerful cauldron the Blackfoot River runs to the southwest for 60 miles until it meets the Clark Fork river near Missoula Montana and creates the Lower Clark Fork River.

The Blackfoot River is a clear river that is home to the endangered bull trout. These fish are our largest and weigh well over 15 pounds. We are restricted from targeting them but many a fly fishing angler has had their streamer rod ripped out of their hand while fly fishing for brown trout by a massive bull or jarred when hooked by Jarred West Slope Cutthroat sucked off the end of line by Blackfoot trout.

Blackfoot River fly fishing trip near Helena Montana with GuideTime.

Bull Trout represent old Montana before rainbows and browns were introduced in the early 20th century; they're important because they play out their eternal struggle here before settlers came to these parts. That we still have that undertow playing out under our guide boats is valuable beyond description- it's like seeing part of Montana history right before your eyes! The Blackfoot River remains unchanged over centuries - just as it was back then when Cutthroat and Bull Trout competed for dominance on its banks

The Box Canyon on the Blackfoot is a well-known spot for fishing big browns, rainbows and cutthroats. The scenery in this area is simply breathtaking, and I highly recommend an itinerary that starts early in July to take advantage of these predator fish feeding at their best during the evening light. In addition to great fly fishing, any day you can put a wading boot into the Blackfoot River while traveling with a guided float trip definitely doesn't miss out on capturing some beautiful photos!

The Lower Blackfoot River flows through a diverse landscape, alternately lined with pine trees and providing challenging whitewater rapids. The canyon walls of the upper Blackfoot fall back gradually to reveal towering granite promontories between long willows. Fishing in this area is focused on targeting specific areas - such as riffle lines, large back eddies, and boulder-lined pocket water - using dry/dropper techniques that are tailored to each fisher's interests.

June is one of the best months to fly fish for big trout on the Blackfoot River in Montana. Salmonflies hatch sometime during June, depending on flows and temperature. It is closely watched by the Missoula fly fishing community, as this can be one of the best days out with a guided trip from their local guide service. June also has great hatches of Golden Stones and Green Drakes that make for an exciting day spent outdoors among beautiful scenery.

Helena Montana fly fishing trip on the Blackfoot River with GuideTime.

For many reasons, we enjoy starting our Blackfoot River fly fishing trips in the early summer months. The light during this time of year is less obstructive to big fish on the streamers or dry flies, making mornings on the Blackfoot River special.

With a strong focus on dry-fly action, the Blackfoot can be counted upon each day to produce fish regardless of angler skill level. We love guiding beginner fly fisherman and hope that they will have plenty of chances throughout their trip learn and catch Montana trout - mainly with attractor/dropper rigs using prospecting techniques but for those who want more advanced instruction there's also opportunity to pursue streamer fishing here too.

In addition, there are large numbers of PMDs, and Caddisflies present all summer long which makes it an ideal time for anyone looking for trophy size rainbow trout. (Please note: During peak season some resorts may place limits on how much you can take).

The Blackfoot River continues to provide fishing opportunities throughout the autumn season. As October Blue Wing Olives start to produce pods of rising trout, this is when September Caddis emerge and can help sustain a plentiful food source for big trout in the streamer style angler's arsenal. The river also has an excellent forage base that supports top-end predator fish during this time of year.

For the best fly fishing results, we recommend hiring a licensed Montana fishing guide service.

---

Clark Fork River Fly Fishing

If you're looking for a great fishing destination, the Upper Clark Fork River is definitely worth checking out. The water there is calm and clear, making it perfect for mayfly and caddis hatches as well as stonefly and terrestrial fishing. Plus, the upper river provides some exciting action closer to Helena - in a smaller setting. Whether you're wanting something new or want to explore an intriguing location further away from home, I think the Upper Clark Fork should be at the top of your list!

When you're looking to go fishing, it's always best to hire a qualified guide. These professionals will provide you with a float trip in a raft or hard-sided drift boat, along with lunch and all the gear you need. They'll also be there to keep things simple—just show up, grab your rod and reel, and go. Good guides are booked up to months in advance, so make sure to book early if you want one of them. Local shops can give information on booking guides - just be sure not wait too long since many top guides have spots filled for quite some time ahead of time.

Helena Montana fly fishing trip on the Clark Fork River with GuideTime.

The Lower Clark Fork River has a large population of spring flies, but they don't start emerging until early in April. If our water remains stagnant this will be an exceptionally easy year for those looking to dry fly fish - even better than some other years that have occured.

The heart of the Clark Fork's trout season is composed primarily of caddis flies. We see more caddis hatchings here than any other water in our system. This is due to the fact that this river drops into shape and warms up last, so some fly fishing guides float trips on the Clark Fork River start early in summer, while others wait until after July.

This transition to warmer weather will result in more Giant Golden Stones being caught in the Lower Clark Fork River, but now conditions are perfect for Pale Morning Duns and Caddis flies. This change to mid-sized hatches provides natural food sources that attract rising fish, which is preferred by long-caster anglers who like to stalk big fish with dry flies.

Clark Fork River fly fishing trip near Helena Montana with GuideTime.

The Clark Fork River in Montana is a popular destination for fly fishing because it has windy grass banks that are reliable for catching trout. Milltown Dam, which was completed in 2008, had a significant impact on the Trico hatch; this phenomenon causes high numbers of rainbow and brown trout to migrate up river during August. It can be difficult deciding what to fish when visiting Helena as an experienced fly fisherman - should you go after brown trout on streamers or adult rainbow trout sipping tricos in the lower river? However our local guides and handle these dilemmas with ease.

In the fall, the Clark Fork River is a great place to float fish. During the day, there are many Mayfly larvae floating around providing afternoon pods on mid sized dry flies. At this time of year, we also enjoy the peak of brown trout spawning activity as their fever pitch kicks in. The Clark Fork River could be considered one of the best float trips in Montana during fall, and active brown trout can be found here. Additionally, elk bugle on river bottoms at this time of year which provides an enjoyable auditory experience for visitors.

We recommend hiring a Montana licensed fly fishing guide service for the best results with your fishing trip.

---

Canyon Ferry Lake Fishing

Canyon Ferry Lake is a massive reservoir fed by the Missouri River is home to some of the best fishing in Montana year round. If you're looking for deeper water species like Walleye, Perch, and Trout. As well as these deeper water species, Canyon Ferry Lake also holds the same species up and down stream like Brown and Rainbow Trout.

Often times this reservoir holds massive specimens compared to the river before and after it. If you're passing through the Helena area and want to fish for a variety of fish species, this is a great choice for you. Canyon Ferry Lake is an important body of water, not only in Montana but across the United States. It's one of the state's largest reservoirs, covering a whopping 35,181 acres , and it was formed by the construction of Canyon Ferry Dam back in 1954.

Canyon Ferry lake near Helena Montana fishing trip with GuideTime.

There's a lot of good fishing to be had in Broadwater Bay, especially for walleye and perch. Anglers are catching them out from Confederate using spoons or jigs with worms or maggots, while also taking burbot on the bottom using rigs with bait.

We recommend hiring a Montana licensed fishing guide service for the best results.

---