Spring Flyfishing

Spring in Montana is truly the overlooked flyfishing season. The fish come out of their winter torpor and want to make up for lost time. The flyfishing in the clear water prior to runoff is always some of the best of the year. Many rivers have excellent hatches and provide great dry fly fishing and most rivers nymph extremely well as the trout become active again with the warming water temperatures.

In March and April you can get a jump on the season with Spring Creek fishing at its finest. Fish world famous DePuy's, Armstrong's, or Nelson's Spring Creeks when they are at their most generous. Although Montana's spring weather can be fickle, the warming huts and shelters available on these private waters ensure your comfort. The creeks are loaded with trout this time of year, rainbows and egg-stealing browns offer much easier fishing now than they do in later months. Nymphing is excellent and consistent. Midging fish are always available and on the nasty days the blue-wing olive hatch can provide outstanding dry fly fishing. Floating the blue-ribbon Yellowstone River, which fishes very well at this time of year, is also an option on warmer days. Another early season favorite to which I return each year is the skwala hatch on the Bitterroot. These meaty bugs always produce some of the largest dry fly fish of the season.
another nice brown trout
heavy caddis hatch
As April turns to May on the Yellowstone and Madison Rivers the Mother's Day Caddis hatch offers the first blow-out hatch of the year. We have seen these bugs so thick it can give you the willies. This truly incredible hatch flirts with the start of high water so the Yellowstone can get blown out. Fortunately the lower Madison, protected by reservoirs, is almost always fishable. Combine this with a day or two on the Paradise Valley spring creeks for an unforgettable spring trip. The Missouri River just two hours north of Bozeman also comes on strong in the spring months with consistent dry fly action on this fantastic tailwater fishery.
spring creek overlook
hatching salmonfly
In June you can come chase one of Montana's most famous hatches, the giant Salmonfly, on one of Montana's legendary rivers, the Madison. An appetite for huge, juicy bugs coupled with the relative safety of high spring flows can make even the largest fish feed with reckless abandon. This is a chance to take some big trout on big dry flies. This month also often finds me fishing the spectacular Smith River with my good friend and fellow outfitter Mike Hillygus. This five day float is one of Montana's unforgettable experiences.
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