What Are Current Montana Fishing Conditions
This is a fun time of year with a mixed bag of techniques producing. Every river is on the menu right now--from larger rivers to small freestones to spring creeks, there really isn't a bad place to fish.
Where Should I Fish Right Now
The Yellowstone River has really improved as of late. The town stretch has been very consistent with its faster water, but the water in Paradise Valley and the lower reaches near Big Timber are seeing plenty of fish starting to move into the longer runs and seek out small dries and slowly stripped streamers.
The Upper Madison is still a very solid option right now, with opportunistic trout looking for the occasional terrestrial or flying ant but also chomping streamers on a tight line or the smaller nymph behind it. Don’t be afraid to pull some big streamers nymphing even if the trout are only eating the smaller dropper – the big bug helps move the fish, and sometimes you hit a home run. The trout are still in the deeper, heavy runs, but some fish are sliding into the shallow riffles as temps drop and traffic on the river begins to wane.
The Gallatin River has good temps and has been consistent, but the trout are spookier with the clear waters and lower flows. This is still a nice after work option and a beautiful river to spend the day wading.
Southwest Montana Fishing Reports Overview
- Very Good
What are the current fishing conditions near Bozeman, Montana Almost all fisheries around the state are now an option, from tiny meadow streams to low-elevation waters. Fishing conditions are all over the place and vary by the day – some days they are looking for small mayflies, and nymphing is also...
Yellowstone River Fishing Report
- Very Good
Current Conditions: October is the month of Blue-Winged Olives on the Yellowstone, and we are seeing some on a regular basis. Dry-dropper rigs are the preferred rigs right now, but the most likely rigs to catch fish are going to be tandem nymph rigs with smaller beadhead nymphs or a large sculpin...
Upper Madison River Fishing Report
- Very Good
Current Conditions: The Upper Madison River near Ennis and towards West Yellowstone has been a consistent producer for us lately and is one of the best games around at the moment. There is no one dominant food source, so the trout have been pretty opportunistic. Some days, larger options like...
Lower Madison River Fishing Report
- Good
Current Conditions: The fishing on the Lower Madison has been very good. The fish are definitely looking for big pieces of meat, including crayfish and baitfish. Stripping streamers is productive with cloud cover, and nymphing something big like a Zonker or crayfish trailed by a small attractor...
Gallatin River Fishing Report
- Very Good
Current Conditions: We love the month of October on the Gallatin River near Big Sky and Bozeman. Water temperatures are good on the lower reaches of the river, and reduced irrigation demands are resulting in more water down low. Flows are at base level in the canyon. Fishing is not just a morning...
Montana Spring Creeks Fishing Report
- Very Good
Current Conditions: October is our second favorite month on the Paradise Valley Spring Creeks, and we are starting to see why--hatches of Blue Winged Olives are a regular occurrence right now. Even with the bright sunny days, fish are starting to look up, and there are some bugs hatching. A weather...
Stillwater River Fishing Report
- Fair
Current Conditions: October on the Stillwater River can be quite good, yet it can also be quite slow and tough. Even though it is low, the Stillwater River is a nice option right now and is producing some very good action on nymphs. The pressure has really dropped off, and the water temperatures are...
Boulder River Fishing Report
- Good
Current Conditions: It is October, and the Boulder River is low and gin clear. Focus entirely on the deeper holes and runs and expect some spooky fish in the crystal clear water. The Month Ahead: The Boulder River is too low to float, but it is wadeable, if you like walking and climbing over...
Jefferson River Fishing Report
- Fair
Current Conditions: Even though the Jefferson is very low, October is a good month to fish this river...but there are definitely options that have more fish. This is a low fish count river, so don’t expect a lot of numbers, and you really need to know exactly where these trout are holding, or it can...
East Gallatin River Fishing Report
- Good
Current Conditions: The East Gallatin River near Bozeman is low but a decent option for October fly fishing near Big Sky and Bozeman, Montana. A mixed bag of late tricos, early baetis, and mahogany duns are coming off, and fishing can be good if you make a careful approach. This is more like spring...
Missouri River Fishing Report
- Good
Current Conditions: October on the Missouri River means dry fly fishing is back on the menu, but pick your moments and your sections wisely. Most of the Blue-Winged Olives right now are being spotted more in the canyon sections that are above Craig or below Cascade. The Missouri near Craig and Wolf...
Ruby River Fishing Report
- Good
Current Conditions: It is October, and the Ruby River is a very fun early autumn option. Visiting anglers really drop off in numbers, and the river doesn’t see much pressure. Browns start to become less moody, and the catch rates become a bit more predictable. Cloudy days can produce some dry fly...
Montana Lakes Fishing Report
- Good
Current Conditions: Lakes are going to be hit-and-miss for most of October, which is pretty normal for this time of year. On Quake and Hebgen, some spruce moths can also bring large trout to the surface, but water temps are still getting warm. There may be a few gulpers cruising very early in the...
Small Streams Fishing Report
- Very Good
When fishing the small streams in Montana, it is always important to be aware of the Montana Stream Access Law. We are fortunate to be able to recreate and fish on miles and miles of water. If the small creeks or rivers you are looking to fish run through private property, be sure to check out...