Fishing conditions across Southwest Montana are excellent and getting better by the day on most waters. As temperatures creep up our spring hatches are starting to kick into gear. The next several weeks will provide for some exciting opportunities on our local waters. Although our high elevation snowpack is healthy, the lower elevation snowpack has already burned off and should set us up for a better than average spring!
Yellowstone River Fishing Report
- Good
Yellowstone River Fishing Report Current Conditions: The river is low and in good shape although there are still some locations where snow and ice shelves may make getting a boat in and out a challenge so do a pre-scout before launching a boat. Streamer fishing has been consistently good – not a...Read more
Upper Madison River Fishing Report
- Good
Upper Madison Fishing Report Current Conditions: The Upper continues to produce some consistent action although there have been some windy days to contend with recently. The best fishing is in the slower water which is sometimes hard to find on the Upper Madison. The waters around Ennis are a good...Read more
Lower Madison River Fishing Report
- Good
Lower Madison Fishing Report Current Conditions: The Lower has been a consistent producer recently and should hold form throughout the spring. The trout are still in the slower holding waters so setting up on the right buckets to thoroughly work the water is better than blindly spraying casts as...Read more
Gallatin River Fishing Report
- Good
Gallatin River Fishing Report Current Conditions: The Gallatin is low and clear and is fishing well for most of its length. The ice shelves are receding on the lower water and the river in the valley is fishing well. Mild days are even producing some risers over the midge hatch. Nymphing is the...Read more
Montana Spring Creeks Fishing Report
- Good
Spring Creeks Fishing Report Current Conditions: The spring creeks are a great spring option. The water that percolates from the springs are always at Montana’s mean annual temperature of 48 degrees which is much warmer than surrounding freestone rivers. This produces a higher metabolism in spring...Read more
Stillwater River Fishing Report
- Fair
Stillwater River Fishing Report Current Conditions: The Stillwater River is low and clear and cold. Baetis hatches aren’t showing up in strong abundance yet but should be showing up by mid April. Colder flows result in slow mornings. Fishing is generally best after lunch. Expect to target trout in...Read more
Boulder River Fishing Report
- Fair
Boulder River Fishing Report Current Conditions: The Boulder is low and the trout are spooky so making longer casts helps to reduce sending trout in the wrong direction. The good news is that fish are in deeper water where they aren’t as nervous. This is a cold fishery so the best fishing has been...Read more
Jefferson River Fishing Report
- Fair
Jefferson River Fishing Report Current Conditions: The Jefferson can be an interesting option in the early spring. Once ice clears out, it is best to stop at just one or two productive early season runs and spend some time nymphing slow seams that hold a lot of trout. The standard spring patterns...Read more
East Gallatin River Fishing Report
- Good
East Gallatin River Fishing Report Current Conditions: The water on the East is low right now but the fishing has been good. Nymphing the deeper runs is definitely the ticket. The trout are highly concentrated in these buckets and not found in the rest of the river so if you aren’t fishing some...Read more
Missouri River Fishing Report
- Good
Missouri River Fishing Report Current Conditions: The fishing on the upper waters can produce some nice rainbows that are in the river from Canyon Ferry but it is never a high numbers game. The water below Craig has been fishing well on nymphs but also some dry action on midges and early baetis...Read more
Ruby River Fishing Report
- Good
Ruby River Fishing Report Current Conditions: The Ruby is a nice option in the spring. The smaller valley doesn’t produce as strong of winds as the Madison and the dam protects the waters a bit early run off. Nymphing is always very productive with small worms, egg patterns, baetis nymphs and...Read more
Montana Lakes Fishing Report
- Poor
Lake Fishing Report Current Conditions: Not a good option at the moment. Lower elevation lakes will experience ice out soon and can produce some bigger trout slow stripping streamers The Month Ahead: Ice out can produce some good fishing for big fish on area lakes. Exact timing depends on elevation...Read more
Small Streams Fishing Report
- Poor
Small Stream Fishing Report Current Conditions: The smaller streams around Montana are cold and difficult to fish in early spring spring creeks and the larger waters are a better option. The Month Ahead: The smaller streams around Montana are cold and difficult to fish as a result. Most mountain...Read more
Southwest Montana Fishing Reports Overview
- Very Good
Fishing is definitely on the upswing around Southwest, Montana. The spring baetis hatches are just getting started and will become much more important in the weeks to come. The streamer fishing has also been very good – not always a lot of action but for those willing to stay with the big bunny...Read more
