The Best Fly-Fishing in Montana
Yellowstone National Park:
Yellowstone National Park is considered to be one of the greatest achievements of the National Park System. It is legendary, in itself, for its own beauty, wildlife, ease of access, etc. It is no surprise, then, that it offers some of the best fishing in the Montana, Wyoming, and Idaho areas. The park lies primarily in Wyoming, but parts of it extend into both Montana and Idaho. The rivers flowing through the park are known for their variety, offering fly fisherman many choices of where, how, and what to fish. However, float fishing, in most rivers, is not allowed, offering those wading anglers a quiet repose from continually lifting their lines out of the water to avoid tangling with a passing boat. The most well-known river to fish is the Yellowstone river. The Yellowstone river is beautiful. It covers a diverse countryside, allowing anglers to see much of Yellowstone without ever leaving the riverside. The river is filled with cutthroat trout, brown trout, rainbow trout, and brook trout. Wild and native fish live in this river in abundance, feeding on the masses of insect batches in the region. The river is also known for its variety of habitat. Fisherman can select pools, rapids, runs, etc. For its variety and abundance of fish, and sheer beauty, Yellowstone River is one of the greatest places to fish in the world. The wonderful thing about Yellowstone National Park, however, is that one is able to seek out great fishing anywhere in the park. There is no need to stay on Yellowstone river, as thousands of other river, lakes, and ponds exist for your fishing pleasure. There is also an abundance of other things to do, if you wish to take a break from fishing. Yellowstone Lake, for example, is fun for the family, but also great for fishing! Old Faithful is the attraction that everyone needs to see, at least once. Lamar Valley, a beautiful regions, offers you the chance to meet some wild wolves! Other thermal features, including bubbling mud puddles, water and rock formations, etc, riddle the Southeast corner, one of the most beautiful regions of the park.
The Middle Fork of the Flathead, South Fork of the Flathead, and the Kootenai river:
These three fishing locale are located in Northwest Montana, a place usually forgotten by other anglers. The water in the region is of poorer quality, in terms of nutrients, compared to other parts of Montana, but if willing to spend a lot of time to gain access to these spots, some of the best fishing in Montana is offered. These areas are not frequented and an angler can literally have a river to him or herself, all day long. The downfall is they are harder to access. In this region, anglers have the ability to catch the native bull trout, often very difficult in other parts of Montana. This fact alone may bring you to these rivers. Large northern pike can also be found in some of the region’s water, making a very interesting fly-fishing day. The scenery along these rivers is also some of the best in Montana, due to its proximity to Glacier National Park, and so a float down the river to fish is a great option. Perhaps the greatest quality of this area has nothing to do with fishing at all, but with the other benefits to a visiting fisherman. Glacier National Park, considered one of the best parks in the National Park System, is nearby and easy to access. Whitewater rafting opportunities are abundant in the area. Extensive hiking is available, due to the mass of surrounding mountains. Whitefish and Kalispell are also very close by, making it easy to stay in small cities (with all the benefits of stores, fishing shops, etc.) while offering close access to the secluded rivers. All in all, the region offers some of the most wild and secluded rivers, great for fishing alone or with a friends and family.
Southwest Montana:
Southwest Montana is one of the most famous fly-fishing spots in all of the United States. Ruby River, Rock Creek, and the Bitterroot River are just a few of the celebrity list of names. They are all high-quality trout streams. The countryside in the area is also the most diverse geographically, offering broad valleys and tall mountain ranges. Many of the rivers in the Southwest are located very close together, making it easy to drive between them and fish many different spots on many different rivers. Variety is the spice of life, isn’t it? Also, the geographic diversity offers an angler a guarantee that the fishing will be great. While one river may by muddy and running high in with Spring runoff, another will be running crystal clear. The number of rivers and proximity make it easy to find somewhere where the fishing will be good, any time of the year.
Famous rivers in the region (Must-fish list):
Ruby River
Big Hole River
Rock Creek
Bitterroot River
Beaverhead River
Jefferson River
Central Montana
Central Montana is also an internationally known fishing spot. The Missouri River and the Smith River offer some great trout fishing, but receive significant fly fishing pressure. It may be hard to find a remote and quiet spot. Instead, some anglers have turned to the upper Dearborn River, the upper Teton River, and the upper Sun river, all of which receive little pressure, except from the locals. Much solitude can be found along these rivers, and great fishing as well. What you must know before heading to this region, however, is that the quality of fishing varies tremendously. The best fishing will be found in or near mountains, because all the rivers in Central Montana eventually spill out into the prairie. This slows the river down, warming it to lethal levels. The other downfall of the region is that many of the rivers, and the largest segments of the rivers, flow through thinly populated countryside. Service, then, tends to be few and far between. An angler should come fully prepared, because Helena and Greatfalls offer the few (and only) shopping and lodging opportunities. The rivers are also far apart, making transportation between them time consuming. The experience is worthwhile and valuable to an angler who has time and is not worried about easy access to the comforts of home. The beauty and fish are worth it, if I must say so myself.
The fishing, then, is abound, beautiful, and fun. Montana is full of rivers and lakes, from back to front, from side to side. These regions are the best-known, or some of the best-known, but whatever region you find yourself in, from north to south, east to west, there will be good fishing. Just ask the locals; they’ll point you in the right direction.
