Montana Angler Fly Fishing Blog

Standing in a river and waving a stick is just one of the ways renowned angling author John Gierach described walk-and-wade fishing. We could also add to his sentiments the following statement: “And, you’re trying to fool something that eats bugs and has a brain smaller than a pea.” Fly fishing...

Fly fishing travel can take you to some amazing places. One of those spectacular places in the world to go fly fishing is the Patagonia region of Chile. With several world-class lodges, hundreds of miles of rivers and shorelines to fish, and an abundance of excellent fly fishing guides, this region...

Large trout--we're talking fish over 20-inches long--do not come easily. They require a unique combination of being in the right place at the right time, a varying level of angling skill, and often fishing with a patient and knowledgeable fly fishing guide. Landing a truly large wild trout is a...

Visions of fly fishing in Montana in the fall conjure up leaves changing colors, mountain peaks dusted with fresh snow, and happy anglers holding large brown trout. The fall season in Montana is eagerly awaited each year by local and long-time visiting anglers. There are plenty of great months to go...

One of the lesser known insect hatches in southwest Montana is the nocturnal stonefly. As the name infers, these insects are creatures of the night. Many anglers will never see this species of stonefly, that is unless they are on the water at daybreak or fish past the hours of sunset. You may have...

Gather up some of the most experienced Montana fly fishing guides and although they may not all agree on the best streamer or the best grasshopper pattern, they can all agree on the importance of efficiently tying strong knots. The logic is simple--why would you spend well over a thousand dollars on...

The secret of fly fishing for big brown trout in the fall is out. In fact, it's been out for decades. But, did you know there are certain rivers in Montana with a reputation of producing large trout once the frost grows thick on the pumpkin? With such a massive variety of fly fishing rivers, creeks...

Patagonia is home to many spectacular fly fishing opportunities. Numerous international flights, improved infrastructure, and an abundance of lodges all make a fly fishing trip to Patagonia an annual event for many serious anglers. From the large rivers and rainforest-like beauty of Chile's waters...

Late summer in Montana—those weeks after the hatches of salmonflies and PMDs but before the frosty mornings of fall—have a unique set of circumstances for fly fishing in Montana. In most years, by late July and early August our local trout waters have experienced prolonged periods of bright sunshine...

In Montana we’ve got big rivers, small rivers, spring creeks, lakes, and a lot of other nooks and crannies where fish can swim. Montana is nearly 600 miles wide and over 300 miles tall. Is it possible that one fly fishing rod exists to fish all the great fly-fishing waters in Montana? Absolutely...