When to Come

November - April
Winter offers some great fly-fishing if you want to avoid the crowds and don't mind the weather. Afternoon is best when the temperature is above 30 degrees F. For the nymph fisherman, this time of year can offer some outstanding fishing. Dry fly-fishing on the Madison can be very good using midges. Blue Winged Olives offer fine fishing in April. Late in the month the caddis hatches on the Yellowstone and Madison rivers can be very productive—with a little help from the weather..

May - June
Spring runoff makes water conditions vary during this time of year. The Mother's Day caddis hatch on the Madison and Yellowstone rivers is great—if you can brave the weather. Nymph patterns and streamers produce some large rainbows and browns. The Salmon fly hatch starts around the end of June, when fly-fishing opportunities are plentiful.

July
In the first part of July the Salmon fly hatch is occurring on the Gallatin and Upper Madison rivers, along with some good caddis hatches. The Yellowstone usually clears up about the third week in July, and we take advantage of the opportunity to fish there. The Upper Gallatin and Yellowstone Park can offer some excellent dry fly and nymph fishing. Our horsepack trips are very popular this time of year.

August
The terrestrials (hoppers, ants and beetle patterns) are the way to go for the dry fly enthusiast. This is the time for the Humpy, Royal Wulff and the Hopper. The Madison and Yellowstone Rivers offer some outstanding float fishing opportunities.

September - October
The first part of September still is great for hopper fishing. Toward the end of the month the streamers and large nymphs will produce some big spawning brown trout. There are some hatches of small mayflies for the dry fly-fisher. This is a splendid time of year with some of the best fishing of the season—without crowds!