Montana Fly Fishing Forecast
It’s going to be a good one folks. Looking forward into October our Montana fly fishing guides are excited for what’s to come. We have had a taste of winter with all-time early season snow storms moving through Montana, but looks like classic fall weather will be back this week and the trout will be on the feed.
Fly fishing was great across all of our area waters through the end of September with BWOs hatching on the Missouri River, Yellowstone River, and Madison River daily as well as some of the best streamer fishing in recent memory. Look for all of this to only improve as we move through the month. We found whole banks boiling with rising fish during this last cold spell and expecting this to become a regular event in the weeks to come.
We often get asked: where is the best place to fly fish in Montana in October? The answer really is there is no wrong answer. Weather permitting anglers can expect a solid bite, great scenery, and strong hatches all throughout our region. For true solitude we recommend the waters around Bozeman, MT. For the best catching there is nowhere better to be than the Missouri River.
For anglers interested in targeting the biggest and baddest of Montana brown trout, October is one of our favorite months for fly fishing with streamers in pursuit of trophy trout. Anglers can expect to fish hard but be rewarded with quality fish. Our guides always recommend hitting the water early for the best streamer bite as the action generally tapers off as bugs (BWOs, caddis, etc.) begin to hatch. We often have to spend the afternoons sight fishing to rising fish. Tough problem to have!
Looking at our guide calendar we do have some availability in October for 2019 but many of our guides are just about booked up. If you are interested in an October fly fishing trip, contact us and we would be happy to answer any and all questions. See you on the water!
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Bozeman, Montana Fly Fishing Overview
Fall is in the air in Bozeman, MT and our Montana fly fishing guides and anglers have been enjoying great fly fishing on a daily basis. We’ve received our first taste of cooler and wetter weather over the past week and were treated to great hatches of Blue Winged Olives (BWOs) and Fall Drakes on our Bozeman area rivers. Anglers can expect this pattern to continue through the end of the month: cooler overcast and rainy days will mean good mayfly hatches while warmer and sunnier days will continue to produce good hopper fishing. Smaller terrestrials will also continue to be important for dry fly anglers and trout as flying ants and beetles will stay on the menu. Streamer fishing has started to pick up across Montana as has the fall nymph bite on the Missouri River. Look for hatches and the fly fishing to only get better through the end of the month. Late September is one of our favorite times of the year to fly fish in Montana: quiet river and strong hatches make for fun days on the river. Our guide’s calendars are just about booked for September but still time to plan your Fall fly fishing trip to Bozeman or the Missouri River in October.
Yellowstone River Fly Fishing Report
The main event around Bozeman, MT from now through October. The hopper bite has remained strong and excellent hatches of BWOs and Fall Drakes on the more overcast days have meant excellent dry fly fishing for our guides and anglers. Flows are low enough that wading has become a great option. We expect for fishing only to improve through the end of the month as mayfly hatches improve and the streamer bite picks up with the cooler weather. Nymphing has remained productive with dead-drifted streamers, stonefly nymphs, and larger caddis and mayfly nymphs producing well, trout and whitefish alike. Nowhere bad to fish right now with the Yellowstone fishing well from Gardiner to Columbus.
Madison River Fly Fishing Report
Will hopper madness on the Madison River continue though the end of the month? Looks like it. While the fish on the Upper Madison have certainly become more wary than they were in late-July and early August, we have still had a good hopper bite on an almost daily basis. Cooler, wetter, and overcast weather will make for tougher hopper fishing. On these days anglers are better off sticking to nymphing, streamer fishing, or targeting slower pools and look for fish rising to BWOs. October caddis have started to show up as well. The Lower Madison has also come into shape again, making for great fishing close to home.
Missouri River Fly Fishing Report
Mother ‘Mo always provides and this September will be no exception. Weeds will persist downstream until later in the fall, but expect for good hatches of BWOs and callibaetis to pick up over the next month and make for great dry fly fishing up and downstream from Craig, MT. Hoppers and Ants will also stay on the menu through the end of the month. Nymphing on the upper river from Holter Dam to Craig has been good and will only get better. Going deep in the morning and short in the afternoon should keep your rod bent all day. Sowbugs, Czech nymphs zebra midges and small mayfly nymphs should have you covered.
Yellowstone National Park Fly Fishing Report
September is a great month to be an angler in Yellowstone National Park. Our guides focus primarily on the Lamar Valley region through the early-fall where the Lamar River drainage offers great hatches and fly fishing for native Cutthroat trout. Fall drakes are the main attraction, generally hatching mid-morning through mid-afternoon. The best hatches can be expected on colder, wetter days, but patient anglers should be able to coax fish to the surface under all conditions. Hoppers and beetles will stay on the menu through the end of the month. Anglers headed west can also expect good fishing on the Madison River drainage with great streamer fishing on the Madison River and solid hatches on the Firehole River. It’s swing season on the west side for wet fly enthusiasts.
Paradise Valley Spring Creek Fly Fishing Report
Hatches have been thin overall, but hatches of sulphurs will keep things interesting and BWOs will only improve through the end of the month on cooler and overcast days. Nymphing will be the key to consistent success right now on the spring creeks. Small mayfly nymphs, zebras, and sowbugs on 6x and 7x fluorocarbon will produce. Conditions are not easy on the spring creeks, but anglers can expect challenging but rewarding fishing.
Gallatin River Fly Fishing Report
Flows are perfect for wade fishing from top to bottom and the East Gallatin. Dry fly fishing has been great and will continue to be for the foreseeable future. Hopper fishing has been the main attraction on sunnier days and mayfly attractors will get it done on cooler overcast days. Nymphing and streamer fishing will only get better as we move through the month as the larger brown trout become more aggressive.
Montana Fly Fishing Forecast
September 2019 Montana Fly Fishing Forecast
Fall is in the air and we are looking forward to a great September full of fly fishing. 2019 has been the year of the hopper with some of the best hopper fishing in recent years. The bite should continue on through the middle of the month and into early October. Exciting news for our anglers and just as exciting for our Montana fly fishing guides.
Both our Bozeman Fly Fishing Basecamp and Missouri River Basecamp offer great fly fishing in the month of September. Anglers visiting Bozeman will have the widest variety of water to fish while those visiting our Missouri River Basecamp can expect some of the best fly fishing of the year on the Missouri River and the Blackfoot River. Still time to plan your 2019 September fly fishing trip.
September is always one of the best months for the dry fly angler as hoppers, stoneflies, mayflies, caddisflies, and small terrestrials are all in play. The bugs get smaller through the end of September with BWOs becoming significant to trout, anglers, and our guides by the last week. Strong hatches of bugs on the Missouri River make for great sight fishing to actively rising fish. Cooler days and quiet rivers are a bonus too.
The Yellowstone River is another great September option as flows are perfect for wade fishing, pressure is low, and hatches remain strong. Streamer fishing also picks up on the Yellowstone River as well as the Madison River, giving anglers shots as some of the biggest fish of the year. Hard to imagine a better time to fly fish in Montana.
Planning a 2020 Montana fly fishing trip? Bookings have started to roll in already for prime dates. Give us a call at 406-579-9553 anytime with questions or to book your trip.
Montana Fly Fishing Forecast
August 2019 Montana Fly Fishing Forecast
Great days on the river have kept us busy with anglers and away from the computer, but the fly fishing has been great so far in August 2019 all across Montana and looks to remain the same through the end of the months. Hoppers, hoppers, and more hoppers this year making for great dry fly action on all of our local waters. The Yellowstone River and Madison River have been giving it up daily, making for one of the best Augusts in recent memory. The Missouri River has rewarded the skilled and patient. Will the hopper fishing remain great through the end of the month and in to September? Almost certainly.
Anglers joining us on custom multi-day adventures have and will continue to enjoy great fly fishing across all of our rivers. 5 rivers in 5 days? Yellowstone River, Madison River, Stillwater River, Yellowstone National Park, and Jefferson River. Great fly fishing for our anglers with our Montana fly fishing guides. August 2019 has been kind to the dry fly angler. Terrestrials and strong hatches of stoneflies, ants, caddisflies, and mayflies have made dry fly fishing great on a daily basis. Look for conditions to only improve through the end of month as average temperatures drop.
Interested in a trip in late August, September, or October of 2019? Still some availability. Book today before your dates are booked. Hopper fishing should be great through the end of September and solid flows will make for a great October. See you on the water!
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Bozeman Fly Fishing Overview
Flows are solid, water is cold, and the fly fishing has been great in Bozeman, MT this August. Dry flies have been king on all of our local rivers with hoppers and stoneflies producing some of the largest average size fish we have consistently seen in years. Some days it has seemed like every big brown in the Yellowstone River and Madison River have been looking up and eager to crush the first big hopper that comes their way. Sure makes things fun.
Our anglers and fly fishing guides have been staying busy with bent rods and wet nets everywhere our guiding has taken us. Everywhere is good right now, so load up your gear, head to Bozeman, and go fishing. We still have some guide availability for September 2019 but days are booking fast. Book your 2019 trip today.
Yellowstone River Fly Fishing Report
Great fly fishing from Gardiner to Columbus. Hoppers are thick just about everywhere and making for solid dry fly fishing from first light until dark. Some days are better than others, but even the slower days have been good. Bigger hoppers generally garner less strikes but bigger fish. Change colors and patterns until you settle in on the action you are looking for. Ants, stoneflies, mayflies, and caddisflies round out the dry fly game. Maybe nowhere better to be in the state right now than the Yellowstone River. We’ll see you out there!
Madison River Fly Fishing Report
Déjà vu all over again. 2018 was as good of hopper fishing as we’ve had on the Madison River and 2019 has been as good or better. Warmer and windier days have produced the best action, but the fly fishing has been as steady as it gets. Big fish having been coming to the net daily and our guides and anglers have had great fishing from Lyons Bridge all the way down to Ennis Lake. Throw at the bank or in the middle. We like big hoppers and heavy water. Just remember to set that hook and hold on.
Missouri River Fly Fishing Report
Dry fly fishing on the Missouri River continues to be dynamite with tricos providing lots of shots at actively rising fish and hoppers and ants keeping the blind-game interesting. Some of the biggest fish of the year will be taken on hoppers in August through early September. Can’t fool a stubborn fish? Try an ant, beetle, or other small terrestrial. Nymphing has and will continue to produce more fish than grass in 2019. For best results head upriver: crayfish, weight flies, Czech nymphs, midges, and sowbugs are the top picks.
Yellowstone National Park Fly Fishing Report
August is our favorite month for fly fishing in Yellowstone National Park. The northeast corner is our favorite region and the Yellowstone River, Slough Creek, the Lamar River, and Soda Butte Creek are all fishing great. Terrestrials and attractor dries are the name of the game. Small hoppers, ants, beetles, parachutes, and stimulators will keep the many cutthroat of the region looking up and well fed. We like to show up early, go for a hike, and find some solitude. Flows are perfect for easy wade fishing across the park and our guides are always up for showing anglers some places off the beaten path.
Paradise Valley Spring Creek Fly Fishing Report
Hatches have been thin making for less than ideal conditions for the dry fly fishing, but nymphing has remained solid and terrestrial fishing has rewarded the diligent and patient dry fly angler. Mid-August is never prime time on the Paradise Valley Spring Creeks, but for anglers wanting challenging yet rewarding fly fishing, there is still no better option than DePuys, Armstrong, and Nelson Spring Creeks.
Gallatin River Fly Fishing Report
Flows are perfect for wade fishing from top to bottom and the East Gallatin. Dry fly fishing has been great and will continue to be for the foreseeable future. Spruce moths are out as well as terrestrials. Fishing in the Gallatin Valley with small hoppers has been excellent. Evening hatches of caddis have been great. The Gallatin River is the best easy-access option for anglers in Bozeman.
Stillwater River Fly Fishing Report
Flows are still way above average making for great float fishing conditions and access down through the lower river. Hoppers, hoppers, and more hoppers on the Stillwater River right now which has made for great days for our anglers and guides. Soul fishing at its finest on the Stillwater River: tie on your favorite dry and go fish!
