Madison River- Float Trips and Walk Wades
The Madison River is an extremely productive river with approximately 8000 trout per mile. It is reliable and beautiful, some of the prettiest fishing in Montana. Known as the 50 mile riffle, the Madison offers year round opportunities to catch and release wild Rainbow and Brown trout. In the spring and early summer, the dry fly action can be red hot! Follow this link to view the NOAA forecast for the lower Madison River stretch. Click here to view the upper Madison forecast.
Gallatin River- Walk Wades Only
The Gallatin River ranks as one of the finest wade fishing rivers in Montana. Rising from the northwest corner of Yellowstone National Park, the river finds its way through miles of high alpine meadows before dropping into the rocky Gallatin canyon. Throughout the canyon are vehicle pullouts, allowing for easy fishing access along this 20-mile stretch of the river. Portions of the river are designated as a Blue Ribbon trout stream. Scenes of the movie, A River Runs Through It , were filmed in on the Gallatin River. Based on Norman Macleans semi-autobiographical novel, this movie created a boom in Montana's fishing industry. Anglers can enjoy the Gallatin's reliable and consistent fishing all year long. If learning the basics of fly-fishing is your goal, a half day trip on the river is a great way to get started. Follow this link, to see the NOAA weather forecast for the Gallatin River canyon.
Yellowstone River- Float Trips Only
Undammed and untamed, the Yellowstone is the last free flowing river in the lower 48 states. It flows 670 miles from its headwaters in Lake Yellowstone downstream to the Missouri River in North Dakota. Floating on a drift boat through the Paradise Valley, gazing at jagged snow-capped peaks and swaying cottonwoods, is a breathtaking experience. And for an angler, the world-class dry-fly fishing, huge trout, and uncrowded waters are heavenly! Fishing typically starts on the Yellowstone River between late June and early July depending on the timing of the spring run-off. Follow this link to see the NOAA weather forecast for the Paradise Valley.
Missouri River- Land of Giants- Jet Boat Only
A place you go to catch a trout of a lifetime, the Land of the Giants or LOG, is an angler's dream come true. Think giant...monster...trout! The average trout in this stretch of the Missouri is 18 to 20 inches....and they get much, much bigger! This trip begins at 'The Gates of the Mountains' in Upper Holter Lake. Your captain will motor by jet boat across the lake, then travel upstream on the Missouri River to the Hauser Lake Dam. At this point, the jet motor is raised out of the water, and your guide relies on the oar and anchor system to row you down the river as in a drift boat. Your guide is required to have a US Coast Guard issued captains' liscense on this stretch of water. This limits the number of guides with access to the unrivaled fishing the Land of Giants provides. The best time to fish the LOG is late April to mid-June and September through early November. Helena offers the closest lodging options. Follow this link to see the NOAA weather forecast for the Land of the Giants.
For stream flow information on these rivers, follow this link to be redirected to the USGS water data website.