Fishing Reports, Madison River Fishing Reports, Missouri River Fishing Reports, Paradise Valley and Spring Creeks Fishing Reports, Yellowstone National Park Fishing Reports, Yellowstone River Fishing Reports
Bozeman Fly Fishing Summary
Happy Independence Day! The 4th of July is a big deal in Montana. Rodeos rule in small towns, parades in bigger, and a good ol’ time of it everywhere. Our larger rivers may be crowded but it’s a holiday weekend after all, and everyone is out for the same reason: to have some fun, so join in!
The fly fishing has also been pretty dang fun all over as of late. The Missouri River and Madison River are in prime shape with strong hatches and good flows. The Yellowstone River is dropping and fishable, although not quite in prime form yet. Our smaller freestone rivers are all right on the cusp. Our Montana fly fishing guides have been all over recently showing anglers great days at both our Bozeman and Missouri River Basecamps. July is a great time to be an angler in Montana.
Salmonfly madness has hit the Madison River over the last week and the big bugs are out and about. They are starting to show on the upper river but still around down through town. Anglers willing to commit will be rewarded with some great fish, but don’t expect huge numbers. Good angling will be rewarded. We were lucky enough to cross paths with a handful of truly special fish in the last week. But they never come easy.
Missouri River Fly Fishing Report
The annual PMD hatch is in full-swing. The trout ate anything #14-18 and yellow the last couple weeks but have and will become smarter. Cripples, spinners, and down-sizing will be the name of the game. Pods of fish up most morning from Wolf Creek down to Cascade. Big singles can be found on the banks later in the day. Bring your A-game and you will be rewarded. Our fly fishing guides are all great teachers that work with anglers to improve their dry fly game. Challenging yet rewarding. Nymphing on the Missouri River has also been outstanding with sowbugs remaining the top choice up at Holter Dam but PMDs, Caddis, and Crayfish ruling the further down you go. Deep and short will both produce.
Madison River Fly Fishing Report
Salmonfly madness is here! The big bugs can be found from Ennis up through Cameron, with some of the largest fish in the river looking up for them. Commitment to the big bug will be rewarded. Don’t be discouraged by a slow morning or couple hours, stick to your guns and the trout will come. And hold on tight when they do. Strong hatches of caddisflies, PMDs, and Yellow sallies have kept the small dry game productive as of late. Our anglers and guides have been treated to some great fish coming to the net on the Madison River over the past week. The salmonfly hatch is one of the best opportunities each year to catch fish well in excess of 20-inches on a dry fly. Nymphing remains as strong as ever. You could do worse than fishing a Pats Rubber Legs #4-8 to a #14-16 green caddis anywhere on the Madison River right now. The lower river remains a good option for anglers wanting to stay close to town but early starts and a good sense of humor are mandatory. The toobers are here!
Yellowstone River Fly Fishing Report
Fishable. Not prime yet, but flows are just over 11k and visibility is improving. Salmonflies are around making dry-dropper fishing an option. The best bite will be nymphing or with streamers. Focus on the calmest water you can find. By the 10th flows should be below 10k and the fishing should be excellent.
Paradise Valley Spring Creek Fly Fishing Report
Excellent hatches of PMDs now through the end of the month and into July. Hope your rods are already reserved as availability is scarce. Want to get in on the action? Book your 2020 rods today.
Yellowstone National Park Fly Fishing Report
Stillwater fishing is king in Yellowstone National Park for now. The rivers are the west side are getting warm and the rivers in the Northeast Corner aren’t quite in shape yet. Nez Perce Creek would be a good bet for anglers than want moving water.
Montana Fly Fishing Forecast
July 2019 Fly Fishing in Montana
Better late than never. The excellent fly fishing our anglers and Montana fly fishing guides have been enjoying as of late has been keeping us plenty busy on the water and away from the computer. July is here and with it comes some of the best fly fishing of the year, particularly dry fly fishing on the rivers near Bozeman, MT. Check out our Bozeman Basecamp Trips to learn more about fly fishing trips with our local Bozeman fly fishing guides.
The Madison River and Gallatin River are already crawling with Salmonflies. The Yellowstone River and our other freestone rivers will be in great shape by the end of the week with strong hatches of stoneflies available as soon as they can be floated. The PMD hatch on the Missouri River came late this year, but has stuck around, keeping the trout looking up and giving anglers lots of shots throughout the day.
By Mid-month our anglers and guides will have pick of the litter when it comes to options. All of our rivers will be fishing well, and our strong snow pack as well as cooler weather will keep them flowing cold and strong well through the end of the month. Dry fly fishing will be king on all of our rivers this year. Salmonflies and goldenstones will stay on the menu at least through the 20th of the month. PMDs, caddisflies, yellow sallies, and drakes will be around through the end. By the last week ants and hoppers will become important. Will 2019 bring the same great hopper fishing of 2018? Very likely. Already seeing lots of small ones around.
Our guide calendars are just about booked for the month. If you are planning a last minute trip, be in touch sooner rather than later. We are starting to take bookings for 2020 already. June trips at our Missouri River Basecamp are booking quickly. If custom trips, overnight trips, or adventure trips are on your mind, it is best to consider booking now for 2020.
Fishing Reports
Bozeman Fly Fishing Summary
June is one of our favorite months of the year to be an angler in Bozeman, MT. Dry fly fishing on the Missouri River and Paradise Valley Spring Creeks is great with PMDs, Caddis, and ants keeping our trout looking up. Dropping flows on the Madison River make streamer and nymphing great up tight against the banks, with some of the largest trout of the year caught each June. The Gallatin River is on the verge of really coming into shape. The Yellowstone River and other larger freestone rivers are still running high, but are just a few weeks away from running green and fishing well. Salmonflies are right around the corner all over. Our fly fishing guides are just about all booked up through early-August, but we still have a few slots open to get in on our summer fly fishing season from both our Bozeman and Missouri River Basecamps.
Missouri River Fly Fishing Report
More PMDs and Caddis hatching by the day. Anglers wanting to fish the dry fly will be rewarded. We have had excellent fishing from the upper river all the way down through the canyon and down to Cascade. No better time to fish the mighty Missouri River than June with our Missouri River fly fishing guides. Never too early to plan your trip: June 2020 will be here before you know it and calendars are already starting to fill. Nymphing from Holter Dam to Craig has remained rock solid. Sowbugs and PMDs dominate the nymphing menu. Both deep and short rigs have been effective. Nothing but good times and great fishing on the Missouri River from now through mid-July.
Madison River Fly Fishing Report
Salmonflies are coming. When will they hatch? Hard to say for sure but the trout in the Madison River have started to key in on the large nymphs crawling around the banks. Flows remain high but fishable, with the most consistent action found on the Lower Madison below Ennis Lake. Crayfish, stoneflies, caddisflies, mayflies, and annelids (WORMS) are all on the menu. Now through the end of June the Madison River will remain the best option for anglers fishing local in Bozeman.
Yellowstone River Fly Fishing Report
High, muddy, and not safe to float without significant whitewater experience. Leave it for the rafters until July. Then it’s game on. We are expecting another great year on the Yellowstone River. A solid snow pack makes for a long season on the Yellowstone, will cold water, good flows, and great fly fishing all through the summer months. The Yellowstone River has always been the favorite of our anglers and guides in Bozeman, MT. Strong hatches, great dry fly fishing, native cutthroat trout, and 120+ miles of water are the reasons why. The 2019 season is shaping up to be a great one on all of our freestone rivers and we are counting down the days until flows drop and the salmonflies are hatching.
Paradise Valley Spring Creek Fly Fishing Report
Excellent hatches of PMDs now through the end of the month and into July. Hope your rods are already reserved as availability is scarce. Want to get in on the action? Book your 2020 rods today.
Yellowstone National Park Fly Fishing Report
Head west in Yellowstone National Park to the Madison River drainage for the best public access wade fishing in the area. The Madison, Gibbon, and Firehole Rivers are all wishing well, with stable flows and good hatches making for great days on the water. PMDs and caddis are the main fare on the menu for these trout. Dry flies, nymphs, and the wet fly swing will all produce.
