Ask a veteran Montana fly fishing guide about going fly fishing in Montana during the month of October and most likely their face will light up in excitement. They will have several stories about big brown trout chasing streamers, head-hunting to trout rising to Blue Winged Olives or smashing October caddis, and days on the water enjoying the contrast of solitude in the fall compared to the buzz of our rivers during the busy summer season. They may also have stories of hot coffee mugs warming cold fingers, frosty or snowy mornings scraping ice off the truck window, and golden sunsets lighting up mountain peaks dusted with fresh snow. Few places on the planet provide as much fall fly fishing variety and potential for splendor as the waters around Bozeman, Montana.
The available waters to fish near Bozeman in October is definitely a hall of fame line-up: the Yellowstone, Gallatin, Madison, DePuy's and Armstrong's Spring Creeks, and the waters of Yellowstone National Park. Spending a day fishing any of these waters in October is chance worth taking. Whether you plan to fish them on your own or with a seasoned Montana fly fishing guide, knowing a little bit about each fishery will help. So let's take a look at each of these great fisheries in our Guide to Fly Fishing near Bozeman in October.
The Yellowstone River
In October the river is lined with yellow leaved cottonwoods and the surrounding mountains are often freshly dusted with the first high elevation snows of fall. Brown trout are fall spawners and the largest fish in the river let their guard down as they become preoccupied with reproductive activities. Casting large streamers on cloudy fall days can produce some heart stopping strikes from trophy sized fish. October is also a great time to cast dry flies. The fall Blue Winged Olive hatch encourages pods of rainbows to sip the small mayflies out of current seams and eddies. With few other anglers on the water and productive fishing this is a great time to fish the Yellowstone River near Bozeman.
The Gallatin River
October on the Gallatin River feels very different than the Gallatin River during the summer. With being so accessible, the summer-time tourist crowd targets the Gallatin River almost exclusively. But, come October those crowds are gone and it is time to fish the Gallatin again...however be sure to pick the right type of day to fish the Gallatin during October. Because it is primarily a walk-and-wade fishery, the Gallatin River is best suited for fall fly fishing when hatches of Blue Winged Olives are thick. If the forecast calls for rain and drizzle or even a slight chance of snow flurries, bring the four weight, some 4X, and size 16 Parachute Adams and expect to see fish sipping Blue Winged Olives.
The Madison River
October is a guide's favorite month to fish the Madison River flowing out of Yellowstone Park all the way down to its confluence with the Gallatin and the Jefferson. Large browns begin moving in the river and some trout move out of the reservoirs into the river. The browns are colored up and aggressive and this is a great time of the year to target huge trout. The Blue Winged Olive mayfly appears and can produce good dry fly fishing on cloudy days. Streamer fishing can also be very good in October. On sunny days the hopper fishing can simmer into the first week of October. The Lower Madison is also back in prime shape with good water temperatures. Weather in October can be pleasant and there are very few people on the water...but weather can also be cold and snowy so be prepared with quality gear and good attitude because some of the Madison River's best fishing occurs in inclement weather.
The Waters in Yellowstone National Park
With so much water available to anglers in Yellowstone National Park, choosing where to target is often more difficult than the actual fishing. Just as it was at the start of the season, the Madison River drainage is the place to be for October, up until the season ends. Large trout push out of Hebgen Lake on their spawning run, giving anglers the shot at the biggest fish of the year. These fish are available in the Madison River as well as the lower reaches of both the Gibbon and Firehole. Target these fish, which average between 16” and 20”, with large nymphs and streamers. The rivers in the northeast corner of Yellowstone National Park--the Lamar, Slough Creek, Soda Butte Creek, and the Yellowstone River--are all good options during October as well, but the lure of great Blue Winged Olive hatches on the Firehole and potential for large lake-run trout on the Madison River keep most anglers headed to the west side of Yellowstone National Park.
The Paradise Valley Spring Creeks
These unique fisheries flow in the Paradise Valley of Montana. October is the last month for consistent dry fly fishing on the creeks but the potential for strong hatches of Blue Winged Olive mayflies exist every day. DePuy’s and Armstrong’s spring creeks should be experienced by any angler who enjoys matching the hatch or sight-fishing to subsurface feeding trout. October weather is diverse—from days of bright sunshine and highs in the 60s to blizzards and highs in the teens. The law of averages abides and the average daily high temperature hovers around 58 degrees F. Quality fishing opportunities on the spring creeks can occur in these variable weather conditions, and often the lousiest weather produces the best October fly fishing.
Going fly fishing in the fall near Bozeman, Montana is a time to swing for the fences. Weather can run the gamut from gorgeous sunny days to rain and snow and back to sun...all in the same day. This is the month for fly fishing in Montana without the hustle of the summer season or the uncertainty of late spring and runoff. October in the Bozeman area has a loyal following of anglers. The browns start getting aggressive as they prepare to spawn in early November. As a result, large fish that have been either too smart or too hidden the rest of the summer suddenly become less wary and more aggressive. A lot of big fish also run out of reservoirs and into rivers like the Madison and Upper Missouri Rivers allowing a few lucky anglers to tangle with 10-15lb. browns each fall. Fly fishing the Yellowstone River also produces massive browns during the fall run. The rivers are nearly empty because lots of locals are chasing hoofed critters in the hills and the tourists have gone home for the summer. October is a beautiful time to fish near Bozeman, Montana with snow on the peaks and yellow leaves on the aspens and cottonwoods.
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