In Montana we are always glad to experience the cool mornings of Autumn, see the brilliant colors of leaves changing colors on river-side trees, and enjoy a more mellow pace in our angling towns compared to the bustle of summer. As anglers we relish the fall season because feel like we get some of the magic back as the summer-time tourists are gone. Additionally, many people who only fish in summer are in the mountains or on the prairies chasing four-legged wild game. For those that have experienced it in the past, the fall fishing season in Montana can serve up some of the best fishing of the year. During our fall season, Montana fly fishing guides are thrilled to have made it through another busy summer, our water temperatures and hatches are very favorable for hungry trout, and it is easy to get a seat at your favorite local watering hole because the summer crowds are gone.
If you've got the time to experience Montana fly fishing in the fall, here are 3 Quick and Easy Trips for a Fall Fly Fishing Getaway.
Madison River or Missouri River All-Inclusive Trip
These two tailwater fisheries have a reputation for being the most consistent fisheries in all of Montana during September, October, and November. The Madison River begins in Yellowstone National Park and has several distinctly unique sections for fishing in the fall. Additionally, the Madison River is broken up by two lakes. During fall large brown trout can migrate upriver into the Madison offering opportunities for truly large, trophy-sized trout. The furthest downstream section of the Madison River, locally referred to as the "Lower Madison," is the section of river closest to Bozeman and is a favorite river of many local fishing guides. During September, October, and November prolific hatches of Blue Winged Olive mayflies are common on the Lower Madison.
The Missouri River's world-famous tailwater section begins north of Helena near Wolf Creek and Craig and flows for nearly 50 miles towards Great Falls. The Missouri River is home to over 6,000 fish per mile and many of them average 15-inches or bigger. The Missouri River boasts a loyal following of dedicated streamer anglers paired with anglers who desire to match the hatch and head-hunt for rising trout. While some of the Missouri River's fly fishing can occur on foot, the name of the game here in Autumn is to get paired with an experienced guide and cover water by using a drift boat. With seemingly endless runs, flats, riffles, and good looking streamer banks, fly fishing the Missouri River in the fall has been a favorite of many anglers for many years.
These two rivers are serviced by the Madison River Lodge and the Missouri Cliffs Lodge. These two sister lodges are inspired by some of the world's greatest, purpose-built destination fishing lodges. Anglers making a fly fishing getaway to either of these lodges will find experienced guides, professionally trained chefs and lodge staff, and a flexible range of durations of stays. For example, anglers can choose from 3-night/2-day packages for a weekend trip or up to 7-nights/6-days for a weeklong fly fishing bender.
Bozeman, Montana Hotel Lodging and Fishing Package
Bozeman--and the mountains and rivers surrounding the town--have earned the reputation as one of the West's best fly fishing towns. However, along with that great reputation can also come summer tourists. Emphasis on summer. During Autumn, the pace of life is much slower compared to summer. Main Street and the variety of places to dine and eat are a lot less busy, the staff are much more friendlier, yet all of the variety of summer-time fishing options are still on the table...in fact, one could argue that in fall the local rivers and creeks are in better shape than during late-summer. With water temperatures and stream flows aligning for ideal conditions, a fall fly fishing getaway at one of Bozeman's hotels and with a professional fly fishing guide can bring an experience quite different than the typical summer-time fly fishing trip to Montana.
Many experienced anglers and travelers enjoy the freedom that hotels offer for dining out in the evenings at local restaurants. Hotel fly-fishing packages are the most economical and flexible of the various lodging and fishing options in Montana. For example, a Bozeman-based hotel fly fishing package means all of the waters near Bozeman are on the menu each day of your trip. Fish the Yellowstone River one day, the Madison the next, and then roll with it the following days on a guide's/angler's choice. Variety, flexibility, and customization are the reasons to choose a Bozeman-based hotel package.
Yellowstone River Valley and the Paradise Valley Spring Creeks
We know you've seen the pictures--the meandering Yellowstone River underneath the snow-capped peaks of Paradise Valley. Or, images of anglers walking-and-wading in one of the Paradise Valley Spring Creeks with the towering mountains in the background. If you ask any of our veteran fly fishing guides to describe September, October, and November fly fishing in the Yellowstone River valley and on the spring creeks of Paradise Valley, two words will run common: large brown trout and sight-casting to rising trout. They can be experienced with a Bozeman or Livingston based hotel and fishing package.
The Yellowstone River is a free-flowing freestone river beginning in Yellowstone National Park. While it doesn't have the high fish numbers as area tailwater rivers, it is home to some of southwest Montana's largest predatory brown trout. Additionally, if the big browns aren't on the prowl the river is home to plenty of wild rainbow trout and native Yellowstone cutthroat trout and Mountain Whitefish. The river runs low and clear in Autumn and with nearly 100 miles of floatable water, it is clear why so many fly fishing guides target this river well into November.
The Paradise Valley Spring Creeks of Armstrong's and DePuy's feel like they were created exclusively for exceptional fall fly fishing. The star of the show on the creeks in fall are hatches of Blue Winged Olive mayflies. Anglers who enjoy walking-and-wading and a pace of fly fishing that is slow, yet deliberate where seeing fish throughout the day is the norm compared to fishing to structure while floating in a boat, a fall fishing adventure on the spring creeks could be ideal. These creeks are located on private property so a rod fee is required and hiring an experienced guide is encouraged.
Planning a fly fishing trip in Montana can feel a little overwhelming. If you are fortunate to live in one of the best areas for fly fishing in Montana, some of that burden is eased. However, there is still always the question of when is the best month to go fly fishing in Montana....our answer is always simple: whenever you can! If you got the time to get away during the fall, these options are good options to take advantage of some of the best fly fishing in the fall in Montana.