Jefferson River Fly Fishing Trips

Fly Fishing the Jefferson River

The Jefferson River has lower fish per mile counts than many of the surrounding rivers and as a result is overlooked by local and travelling anglers alike. What they are missing out on is the opportunity for true trophy trout fly fishing. The wild rainbow and brown trout that do thrive in this river are tough. Our Montana fly fishing guides target the wild trout on the Jefferson primarily with streamers, large dry flies, and large nymphs.

Fly fishing success is often determined by factors outside of our control on the Jefferson. Weather, water, temperatures, clarity, and river flows all play a factor. We try and fish the Jefferson under only the best of conditions, generally in the Spring before our annual runoff period and then again later in the Fall once water temperatures drop. That being said when conditions are right, there can be great mid-summer hatches of stoneflies, hoppers, ants, beetles, and mayflies that can make for excellent fly fishing.

The Jefferson winds its way through one of Montana’s most productive agricultural valleys that relies heavily on ground water and surface water pulled from the Jefferson River and it’s water table. The result is unfavorable water temperatures and flows for fish and fly fishing during the summer months. When the river is at its lowest, we avoid it all together. Work is being done to restore the Jefferson River and better protect the trout populations it hosts.