Category Archives: Hatches

Whether you've been fly fishing in Montana your entire life or just fished your first day of fly fishing in Montana, chances are very good that you experienced fishing a dry-dropper rig. Naturally, fishing two flies increases your chances of catching more fish and many of us like to see a trout rise...

If you enjoy going fly fishing in Montana, we are sure you have heard of the salmonfly hatch. For most anglers and many Montana fly fishing guides, the salmonfly hatch is one of the most highly anticipated hatches of the year. And, for good reason--the adult insects are so large, often times the...

The Mother's Day Caddis Hatch occurs on many of Montana's rivers during late spring. This exciting hatch can begin in late April and run well into May. Freestone rivers like the Gallatin, Smith, and Yellowstone Rivers near Bozeman can experience some pre-runoff dry fly fishing while tailwater rivers...

Planning a fly fishing trip should be an enjoyable experience. Whether you are looking at going on a fishing trip to Montana or wanting to fish a global fly fishing travel destination, it is important to carefully plan your trip. The success of catching fish on a fly fishing trip depends on many...

Spring fly fishing is some of the most anticipated of the year. Getting out of the winter hibernation mode is often an excuse enough to go fishing. For many anglers catching a fish is a bonus–the real success is just getting out on the water after another long winter. But, wouldn’t it be nice to...

Mayflies make up a large portion of any trout's diet. From the limestone creeks of the East to the untamed rivers of Chile, Argentina, and New Zealand, to our home waters in Montana, dozens of mayfly species provide food and forage for trout to grow healthy and large. Narrow the list of the dozens...

Late summer in Montana brings some of the most highly anticipated dry fly fishing of the season: "hopper fishing!". Montana's numerous large agricultural valleys filled with alfalfa fields are a haven for the large insects. Although grasshoppers fill the fields in the early summer, trout do not get...

Montana’s rich and varied wild trout fisheries offer anglers year round fishing opportunities. While it is difficult to elevate any one time of the year as the “best” time to fish the Big Sky state’s blue ribbon rivers, there is no doubt that the most anticipated time of year coincides with the...

Crayfish, sometimes called crawdads or mud bugs, are large freshwater crustaceans that inhabit many of the rivers and streams of southwest Montana. Resembling a miniaturized Maine lobster, crawfish have long antennae, a pair of claws that can pinch hard enough to break skin, and a segmented tail...

For many fly anglers, late winter and early spring is a time of dreaming about fly fishing during warm summer days. For those who might want to get an earlier start on their fishing season, midges provide a great fly-fishing opportunity. Midge fishing can be productive as early as January on the...