There’s nothing quite like having a calm river bend to just you and your fly rod on a quiet, cool summer evening when the sun is setting and the fish are biting. It’s relaxing to your soul, soothing the worries and troubles of life for a few hours of the day. As one of the best summer destinations you will ever experience, Southwest Montana offers some of the greatest (and hands down the most beautiful) river fishing you can find. For the adventure and great outdoors seekers, we’ve put together a little fishing guide from the hearts of our ERA Landmark agents.

An avid angler and river guide, Tyler Garrison fishes the upper Madison in Ennis, Montana all the way to Lyons Bridge which is about a 40 mile stretch of river! “There are FWP multiple put-in and take-outs and a person can wade fish or float on the whole stretch.” Sourcing in Yellowstone National Park, the Madison River flows north some 140 miles to Three Forks, Montana, where it joins the Jefferson and Gallatin rivers to form the headwaters of the Missouri River. Tyler brings up an excellent point of “fly fishing is a huge resource to our tourism”, seeing outfitters across the state having to turn away potential clients due to already overbooking their season. 

Between his six seasons of working as a flyfishing guide in Alaska and working in a fishing lodge in Patagonia, Amos Pierce is on the water often! “I find myself on the upper Madison quite a bit. This time of year can be busy, but there’s a reason why: Lots of fish and many of them are looking to surface for big, dry flies. Along with the Madison, I love to fish the Jefferson and its drainages (Big Hole & Beaverhead), the Yellowstone, the Missouri, and the endless amount of smaller creeks you can stumble upon in Montana.” Hey, Amos, where do you go about finding the local flies for the season as they hatch? “Luckily, we have lots of amazing fly shops in and around Bozeman that will provide all the gear and knowledge you need. I frequently visit Sweetwater Fly Shop in Livingston, Rivers Edge downtown Bozeman, and Fins & Feathers in four corners.”

Due to the above-average temperatures we’ve been facing since this spring, Montana FWP has begun enforcing a restriction on fishing in several of our Southwest Montana rivers. Hotter temperatures mean low rivers that are slow-moving with increased water temperatures. Tyler’s network stretches across Montana and he can comment on the pressure of the situation on the fish, “State and region-wide we are in a drought; fishing and drought don't go together very well. Trout are a coldwater species and in warmer weather, water temperatures can cause fish to literally die.” What does this mean for a restriction? The term “Hoot Owl” refers to the time anglers are allowed to cast their lines - currently being restricted from 2 pm to midnight every day. Even on water that doesn’t have restrictions, it is still the responsibility of the fisherman to know the best practice to conservation for fishing in Montana. Amos’ go-to rule of thumb is, “Unfortunately, many of these rivers and their fish are struggling due to warm and low water. As water temps rise, oxygen levels decrease which puts stress on trout and threatens to kill them. You can still fish responsibly with the right gear and knowledge. The best remedy is to start and end early, which is why the restrictions (hoot owl) are put in place. It is also very helpful to purchase and carry a thermometer with you while you fish. This way you can check temps for yourself and make an informed decision (typically, once the water is above 68-69 F, it's probably best to call it for the day). Other ways to keep the fish happy include: use a net, limit the time you fight the fish, crimp the barbs on your hook, and seek out higher elevation streams that will have cooler water.

Find all the resources you need to know about current fishing conditions for the rivers and lakes of Montana directly from Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks. Did you find your favorite fishing spot here while visiting, and now you can't see yourself living anywhere else? Go to our closest ERA Landmark office to you in Bozeman, Big Sky, Ennis, and Livingston!