Bozeman Fly Fishing Overview
August is hopper season in Montana and it is shaping up to be another banner one in 2020. Our anglers and Montana fly fishing guides have enjoyed good to great hopper fishing on all of our Bozeman area rivers over the past weeks. The Yellowstone River has been fishing particularly well, in spite of the heat wave this past week. Further north, up on the Missouri River, our anglers and guides have reported challenging but rewarding dry fly fishing, with strong hatches of tricos daily and good terrestrial fishing in the afternoon with hoppers and ants.
Small stream fishing has also been excellent as of late with great hopper fishing on local freestone streams and spring creeks. August is a favorite month for wet-wading and fly fishing for our guides in Yellowstone National Park, as the Yellowstone River and tributaries offer great terrestrial fishing, cool water, and good flows through the end of the month and on into September. Dry fly nirvana most days.
Looking ahead we look for the hopper bite to only improve. As weather turns back to normal look for water temps to drop and fishing to be great throughout the day. In the meantime, better to start early and end early as things can get tough under the high afternoon sun after about 3-4PM.
August is shaping up to be a busy month for our Montana fly fishing guides with mostly full calendars through the end of the month, but there is still time to plan a Montana fly fishing trip for anglers wanting to get in on the hopper action. It is also shaping up to be an excellent fall fly fishing season with September and October being two of the favorite months for long-time returning anglers. Last year we had the hopper season that never ended with strong fishing through the 25th of October. Will 2020 be the same? We sure hope so! Contact us to book your next Montana fly fishing trip today.
Yellowstone River Fly Fishing Report
The Yellowstone River has and will be the primary destination for our guides and anglers through the end of August. The hopper fishing has been solid, with good reports from anglers in Gardiner, MT all the way east of Livingston, MT and beyond. Hopper fishing rewards the committed on the Yellowstone, cut off your dropper, fish the hopper as best you can, and find your reward! Nymphing and streamer fishing has also been productive with the usual fare: stonefly nymphs, caddis nymphs, and big buggers. No better destination than the Yellowstone River for a Montana fly fishing trip during the summer months.
Madison River Fly Fishing Report
The initial push of hopper madness on the Madison River has faded and anglers will find consistently good fly fishing from first light until 3PM or so. Tougher under the high afternoon sun. Hoppers, ants, beetles, and caddis are all in play. Anglers looking for trophy trout will be best off fishing a hopper and fishing it well. It won’t happen every cast, but anglers willing to stick with it will get their shots. Nymphing has continued to remain productive with most anglers and guides opting to drift a streamer or stonefly nymph followed by something “tiny and shiny”. #16-22 lightning bugs and prince nymphs are always good bet.
Missouri River Fly Fishing Report
August is a favorite month of anglers that enjoy fly fishing the Missouri River with less crowds and honest fishing. Good casts and drifts will result in caught fish. Dragged flies and less than stellar presentation will not. Anglers can expect plenty of water to themselves during the week and plenty of rising fish. Start early and fish hard. For the truly dedicated angler that enjoys the challenge of technical fly fishing there may be no better time to fish the river than August. Terrestrial fishing continues to improve daily with hoppers, ants, and beetles all putting trout in the net.
Yellowstone National Park Fly Fishing Report
August is one of the best months for fly fishing in Yellowstone National Park. Rivers are clear, flows are stable, and the terrestrial fishing can be out of this world. The Lamar Valley is where our anglers and guides will be found with excellent dry fly fishing on the Soda Butte Creek, Lamar River, and Slough Creek. Start early, go for a hike, tie on a hopper, and go fish!
