Montana Fly Fishing Trips

Montana is world-famous for fly fishing! Let Montana High Country Adventures, Inc. Hook you up with some of the best Montana fly fishing outfitters and guides in Montana while you stay with us and take advantage of our personalized service and accommodations! These wild trout and it’s endless opportunities to fish “Blue Ribbon” waters make Montana fly fishing trips the Mecca for millions of trout fishermen that travel the world over in search of these amazing trout angler fly fishing adventures and trips!...and our lodge sets in the heart of some of the best “blue ribbon” waters in the state! Some estimates have been that wild trout populations in this area are upwards of 2,000 trout per mile! Keep in mind that counts generally include all trout over 9". We can arrange your fly fishing trip in advance to assure a organized schedule during your stay with us to fish one or more of these amazing trout filled destinations!...just let us know in advance so we can plan ahead and have everything scheduled for your convenience! We work with some of Montana’s best fly fishing Outfitters and Guides to take you on an adventure you won’t forget! There’s nothing more exciting than chasing wild trout in their environment trying to “match the hatch” and read the water to land some of these gorgeous wild cutthroats, brook trout and big brown’s! You can fish everything from tiny mountain creeks to medium-sized freestone streams to big Western rivers all in one day. If you are looking to fish off the beaten path, a hike or a horseback ride will take you to secluded high mountain lakes. You will be treated to a truly unique fly fishing experience! Check out some of these Montana trout fishing trips you can choose from that include:

Montana Fly Fishing Rivers: The Yellowstone River, Madison, River, Gallatin River, Boulder River, Missouri River, Bighorn River, and Firehole River are all classified as exceptional wild trout fishing waters!

The Yellowstone River is one of the great trout streams of the world varying in width from 75 to 300 feet. . Excellent trout water’s exist from its tributaries high inside Yellowstone Park, downstream through Gardiner, the Paradise Valley, to well below Big Timber, a stretch of nearly two hundred river miles. Guides float many different stretches of the prime water between Gardiner and Big Timber, depending on fishing conditions and water levels. 

The most scenic portion of the Yellowstone is through Paradise Valley and this is also some of the very best fishing. The water closer to Livingston holds the most trout, where you will find a pleasant mix of browns, rainbows and our native cutthroats. Rocky Mountain whitefish are abundant, and provide plenty of action and fun on days when trout are tougher to catch. Although the guides use Mackenzie-style drift boats to float the river, they often stop to wade fish the better runs.

Once leaving the canyon, the river changes character again, slowing to a classic succession of riffles and pools, braiding into several channels in some places. This lower water is quite wadeable but access is more difficult. Only at higher water levels can it be floated. The water in this stretch is very diverse, deep holes, riffles, runs, log cover, and undercut banks provide hiding places for fish and challenging situations for the angler. The fish are a mix of browns and rainbows, mostly in the 12-15 inch range, but with an occasional larger fish. Like wise, other rivers like the Bighorn offer the rainbows and browns averaging 14-17 inches, but there are huge numbers of fish in the 17-19 inch class, and the larger fish top out at 21-23 inches.

Montana Mountain fed streams and Creeks: Smaller rivers in the area like Armstrong Spring Creek, Depuy’s Spring Creek, Nelson Spring Creek, and Slough Creek in Yellowstone Park offer a unique dimension for out smarting these native wild trout with fly fishing tackle!

There are a few big rainbows in these lower water’s as well as cutthroats, brook trout, and brown’s. Some creeks require about a 2 hour trek, but well worth it. The additional distance cuts down the number of anglers, but it also shortens the fishing day if you do this as a day trip. Many of the cutthroats you'll catch in some of these out-of-the-way places will hit 18 and even 20 inches. These are heavy fish, and some of the best fighting cutthroats anywhere! Best of all, they all love to rise to dry flies. Heavy hatches of caddis, PMD's, and large Green Drake mayflies make for some spectacular dry fly fishing in July. Later, hoppers and terrestrials are the ticket.

One of the most popular creeks is a classic, flat water, meadow stream that varies in width from 50-100 feet. Intense hatches of midges, caddis, and mayflies throughout the season make for some world class dry fly fishing and terrific sight fishing with nymphs. These are wild beautiful, fish that average a solid fourteen inches and often exceed twenty. Most of the trout are acrobatic rainbows, but some very nice browns and cutthroats are present as well. The fish are all brilliantly colored, some of the most gorgeous fish you'll find in Montana. The view, with the high Absaroka mountains as a backdrop, is breathtaking.

If you've never been to Montana fly fishing before, we'd highly recommend booking a day or two. These trips are a dream come true for photographers and anglers alike. Don’t forget your camera! The sight fishing can be incredible, but the fish are also quite "educated" so going with a guide your first time is a great idea. 

Montana High Country Lakes: There are several good day hikes, close to our area, especially for people that are in good physical shape. Pine Creek Lake is only a five mile hike, but you climb 4,500 feet to get there! Also the Beartooth-Absaroka wilderness area close to Livingston is rugged, but the country near Cooke City, up on the Beartooth Plateau, is flatter and easier hiking. Some of the best fishing in the Beartooths is above timberline. There are several back country outfitters and guides that can take you on a traditional pack trip into the wilderness, for several days to a week, or you can have them pack you in, set up a drop camp for you, and then come back a week later and pick you up. This is a great way to do it, if you feel comfortable on your own. The lakes and streams in the Lake Plateau area of the Beartooths hold mostly rainbow/cutthroat hybrids, but in some lakes you'll find pure rainbows, while other hold pure cutthroats. These high lakes are restocked periodically, but streams that flow between the many lakes offer good spawning sites for wild fish. The hike into the Rainbow Lakes area is about 10-12 miles, and you climb a few thousand feet in elevation. From Lake Pinchot, it is a spectacular 6 mile hike into Lightning Lake, where you can catch pure golden trout. These lake fishing trips are generally coupled with spectacular views but also require additional planning. So if this trip is something you consider, let us know well in advance so we can make arrangements for you with our selected Montana fly fishing outfitters!

Overall, whether floating the Yellowstone or wade fishing one of the spring creeks, you'll enjoy spending a day on the water with one of Montana's very best fly fishing guides. Here at Montana High Country Adventures, Inc. we can set you up with some of the finest Outfitters and guides in Southwestern Montana. Most of the time the guides utilize McKenzie style drift boats, the finest craft for float fishing the Yellowstone and other large rivers in Montana. On some rocky streams that are more difficult to navigate, rafts are used. We often stop to wade fish the better riffles. Relax while your guides prepare a gourmet stream side lunch and enjoy the spectacular views of the Absaroka mountains and Montana's Paradise Valley.

Walk and Wade fly fishing trips are also an option as well as the more popular rafting and float trips. Our fly fishing outfitters and guides generally have trip costs that offer transportation to the river, shuttle service, non-alcoholic beverages, lunches (on full day trips), additional equipment rentals and personalized professional instruction. Terminal tackle (leaders and flies), fishing licenses, taxes and gratuities are not included in the trip cost. However, local professionally stocked tackle shops with high quality gear and rental equipment will help eliminate any fear if you forgot one of your essential tools during your preparation of your trip!

Montana High Country Adventures, Inc. will provide during your vacation the planning, organization, personal service, and transportation from our facility for your fly fishing trips in Montana while staying with us!...cost of participating in such activity per day for each individual is extra, and payable to the outfitter or business associate(s) providing said activity or service. Any other activity or activities of interest can be added to your Montana vacation package during your stay, price for each is extra. 

Season Dates - April through August

Our Lodging Rates Include: All ranch home amenities and lodging listed on our accommodations page, meals, airport shuttle to and from Bozeman, (BZN) airport and transportation, planning, organization, and personal service during your stay to enjoy all your activities while you experience a Montana High Country Adventure with us!

Adult: $295 Per Day
Child (17 and under): $75 Per Day
Family Rates: $375 Per Day

Montana Fly Fishing Trip Rates: Vary depending on type of fishing, float, wade, back country, outfitter selected, etc. but range from ½ days $325/person to full days floats $450/person or private water floats at $525/day per person. We work with two of the best licensed outfitters in this area of Southwestern Montana! Rates subject to change yearly outside the control of Montana High Country Adventures, Inc. We will provide you updated and current pricing once we know your preference and selection on which Montana fly fishing trips package you are interested in! 

Extra Charge: May include up to a $50 extra gas charge for traveling to special arrangement destinations to far away rivers or fly fishing destinations per outfitter/licensed guide. Typically over 50 miles which is not a problem since most guided destinations are on waters a lot closer than that. 

Pricing for additional activities is approximate and subject to minor changes due to our business associates, outfitters, and guides here in Montana we work with adjusting their rates. Please call and have a list ready of all your activities you want to enjoy during your stay with us so we can provide accurate and up to date rates along with planning and organization of your Montana outdoor high country vacation!

Deposits, Payments and Refunds: Montana High Country Adventures, Inc. will gather your fly fishing preference(s) with your dates and type of fishing you want to experience, then contact the appropriate authorized agent from one of our professional licensed fly fishing outfitters or business associates to make the initial first step for you. You will then be in contact and speak directly with one of these outfitters after we assure your dates and style of fly fishing is available. They typically will ask for a deposit of $150 per guide / per day of fishing or 50% deposit. You can pay this deposit with your Visa or MasterCard. Once you have made your arrangements they normally will charge the card to secure your booking. More information can be gathered from the outfitter once deciding to book a fly fishing trip! We will help you walk through the process and supply you with a direct link to your particular outfitter you book a fly fishing trip with.

For Reservations and availability call Keith 717-512-3582
E-mail: info@montanahighcountryadventures.com