Updated October 15, 2026

    Fly fishing inMontana

    Home to legendary rivers like the Madison, Yellowstone, and Missouri. Blue-ribbon trout fishing at its finest.

    Montana waters

    22 rivers, lakes and creeks with fly picks and reports.

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    Beaverhead River

    A technical tailwater located in a stunning canyon, known for producing massive 'toads' (large brown trout).

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    Big Hole River

    One of the Big Hole is famous for its Arctic Grayling and its legendary Salmonfly hatch that brings anglers from across the world.

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    Big Spring Creek

    A classic, highly fertile spring creek near Lewistown, offering crystal-clear water and challenging but immensely rewarding fishing for large, selective trout.

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    Bighorn River

    A high-desert tailwater famous for its incredibly high fish density and consistent water temperatures.

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    Bitterroot River

    A stunning freestone river in western Montana, renowned for its prolific insect hatches and exceptional dry fly fishing for wild trout.

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    Blackfoot River

    Iconic freestone river, famous for its scenic beauty and strong populations of wild trout, providing excellent float fishing and wade access.

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    Clark Fork River

    Montana's largest river by volume, offering diverse fly fishing experiences from its upper reaches to its confluence with the Flathead, with strong trout populations.

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    Dearborn River

    A tributary of the Missouri River, this small freestone stream is a hidden gem for wild brown and rainbow trout, known for its technical dry fly fishing.

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    DePuy Spring Creek

    America's most famous spring creek, DePuy's is a fee-fishing site (on private land but publically accessible) that offers technical dry fly heaven.

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    Flathead River

    The Flathead River system, particularly the Middle and North Forks, offers incredible wilderness and pristine freestone fishing for native cutthroat and bull trout.

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    Gallatin River

    A picturesque freestone river originating in Yellowstone National Park, famous for its accessible waters and consistent dry fly fishing amidst stunning mountain scenery.

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    Hebgen Lake

    A renowned stillwater fishery near West Yellowstone, famous for its "gulper" fishing, where large trout rise to terrestrials in shallow bays.

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    Madison River

    A legendary tailwater and freestone mix known for its high trout density and incredible pale morning dun and caddis hatches.

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    Missouri River

    A world-class tailwater fishery below Holter Dam known for its massive rainbow trout and prolific midge and Trico hatches.

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    Poindexter Slough

    A highly productive spring creek near Dillon, known for its consistent flows, clear water, and opportunities for large, wary trout.

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    Rock Creek

    A federally designated Blue Ribbon trout stream, this freestone creek is a fly fishing paradise known for its diverse hatches and challenging, rewarding fishing.

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    Ruby River

    An intimate and highly productive river in southwestern Montana, offering fantastic brown trout fishing in both its freestone and tailwater sections.

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    Shields River

    A smaller, often overlooked freestone tributary to the Yellowstone River, offering good fishing for rainbows and browns, especially in its lower reaches.

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    Stillwater River

    A beautiful freestone river in south-central Montana, known for its healthy populations of rainbows and browns and picturesque canyon stretches.

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    Sun River

    A diverse western Montana river, offering varied fly fishing from its wild upper forks to the productive tailwater below Gibson Dam, known for strong trout.

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    Thompson River

    A beautiful and often overlooked tributary of the Clark Fork River, offering excellent opportunities for native Westslope Cutthroat Trout in a scenic setting.

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    Yellowstone River

    The longest undammed river in the lower 48, offering world-class scenery and legendary Mother's Day Caddis and Salmonfly hatches.

    Flows, flies & reports→

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