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Notes From Downstream

A Montana Fly Fishing Blog

September 2019 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.

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August 2019 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.

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July 2019 Montana Fly Fishing Forecast
July 2019 Montana Fly Fishing Forecast

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.

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June 2019 Montana Fly Fishing Forecast
June 2019 Montana Fly Fishing Forecast

June is right around the corner and with it will come some of the best fly fishing of the season in Montana. Looking into the upcoming month, dry flies are sure to be on the menu on all of our area rivers. PMDs, Caddis, and the granddaddy of them all: the Salmonfly, will all be hatching by mid-month. June is probably the best time of the year to target trophy trout with dry flies as the big fish take chances and get sloppy with all of the food around.

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Winter Spring Creek Fly Fishing Trips
Winter Spring Creek Fly Fishing Trips

The year round near-constant temperatures of DePuy’s, Armstrong’s, and Nelson’s Spring Creeks prevent the formation of ice that plagues many other fisheries in the state and are the best Winter fly fishing option near Bozeman, MT with our Montana fly fishing guides. Winter rod fees are a bargain and a rare sunny day in the winter can result in an excellent midge hatch. That’s right, winter dry fly fishing. It does happen.

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Madison River Fly Fishing Guides, Trips, and Outfitting
Madison River Fly Fishing Guides, Trips, and Outfitting

Fly fishing the Madison River with our Montana fly fishing guides is a blue ribbon trout fishing experience on one of Montana’s classic trout rivers. The Madison River is a great day trip option for anglers staying in Bozeman, Ennis, Big Sky, and Livingston, Montana or a great part of a custom fly fishing trip for anglers statewide. Thick hatches, high trout per mile numbers, majestic scenery, abundant wildlife, and our experienced guides make fly fishing the Madison River an excellent addition to every Montana fly fishing trip.

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Montana Fly Fishing Skills: Learn How to Cast a Fly Rod
Montana Fly Fishing Skills: Learn How to Cast a Fly Rod

Teaching anglers how to cast a fly rod and cast it well is something our Montana fly fishing guides do on a daily basis. Sometimes we work with seasoned anglers to polish up their stroke but many times we are starting from scratch and teach novice anglers who have never picked up a fly rod the basics. From our experience teaching hundreds of anglers the fundamentals of the cast, we have found a way to break it up into 3 basic steps. These steps are geared primarily toward casting a fly rod with a single dry fly, out of a drift boat, for wild Montana trout as we do so often, but is applicable across the whole wide world of fly fishing.

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Bozeman, Montana June 2018 Fly Fishing Forecast
Bozeman, Montana June 2018 Fly Fishing Forecast

The Summer fly fishing season is almost here and our Bozeman, Montana fly fishing guides are ready for it. June means longer days, great hatches, consistent fishing, flip-flop weather, and is one of our anglers favorite times for a Montana fly fishing trip. June 2018 is shaping up to be a great kick-off to our summer season. Spring was generous to us this year with mild weather and some of the better fly fishing in recent history for March, April, and May. June looks to continue this trend.

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Madison River Summer Fly Fishing Trips
Madison River Summer Fly Fishing Trips

Fly fishing the Madison River during the summer is one of the classic Montana fly fishing trips every angler needs to experience. From Hebgen Lake to Ennis Lake, the 50 mile riffle stretch of the Madison River runs cold and clear through the town of Ennis, Montana, one of the trout capitals of the world.

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November 2018 Bozeman, MT Fly Fishing Forecast
November 2018 Bozeman, MT Fly Fishing Forecast

What happened to Fall? Seems like Winter arrived early in Bozeman, Montana this year. The snow is already starting to stack up in the mountains, skies are getting grey, and the forecast is calling for high temperatures in the mid 30’s to low 40’s. The warming huts on DePuy’s Spring Creek are fired up daily. Just about perfect for November fly fishing. I’ve heard it said before that there is nothing worse than a sunny day in November and April for fly fishing. Sure it may be comfortable, but bright skies will often mean little or no hatches and poor streamer fishing. We’ll take the cold and grey any day.

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Yellowtone River Fall Fly Fishing Trips
Yellowtone River Fall Fly Fishing Trips

Fall is a special time of year for Montana fly fishing trips on the Yellowstone River. Lower flows, clear water, happy trout, and lower angling pressure make for some of the best fly fishing of the year. Our Yellowstone River fly fishing guides particularly like this time of the year for the diversity of fly fishing options. You can fish dry flies, nymphs, and streamers and can expect to be successful anyway you choose.

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Bozeman Fly Fishing Guides, Trips, and Outfitting
Bozeman Fly Fishing Guides, Trips, and Outfitting

Our Montana fly fishing guides consider Bozeman, MT to be the heart of fly fishing in Montana and our home base for our Montana fly fishing trips. The combination of Bozeman’s proximity to hundreds of miles of blue ribbon trout water in Montana as well as Yellowstone National Park means that anglers are able to experience a wide variety of guided fly fishing options during their stay in Bozeman and all the while have access to comfortable lodging and great dining options. A traveling angler could easily stay weeks in Bozeman and never fish the same water twice.

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Day Trips

We offer full-day and half-day trips, as well as float and wade fishing options, that cater to seasoned and beginner anglers alike. Book your fly fishing trip with our professional guides.

Custom Trips

Our custom Montana fly fishing trips are the best way to start or build on your Montana fly fishing journey. Enjoy unique trip offerings and Montana’s best rivers with our Montana fly fishing guides.

Winter and Spring Specials

Take advantage of special rates on your spring and winter fly fishing trips in Montana. Enjoy the same great fly fishing, world-class rivers, and professional guides all year long.

All Guided Trips

Enjoy custom fly fishing outfitting and expert guiding across Montana and Yellowstone National Park. Learn more about all of our guided Montana fly fishing trips.

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