While we do fish twelve months out of the year I would never suggest that anyone plan a trip to fly-fish in Montana during November through March. Very often the weather is nice (above freezing and little wind) and the trout very cooperative, but this is Montana. The weather can be nice and warm one minute and cold and snowy the next. All I would suggest is that if you are going to be in Montana on a skiing or hunting trip, if you have the room go ahead and bring your rod. You just might get a nice afternoon to get some fishing in.

The early spring, March, April and May can offer some amazing fly-fishing in and around Paradise Valley. (I know that I mentioned March in both the not recommended and the come on out categories. March is a transitional month, and the later in March it gets, usually the better the conditions and the fishing gets.) The Spring Creeks are fishing very well and the big rivers are starting to open up. The main concern during this time is the unpredictable nature of the weather. The weather can go from warm and sunny one day to cold and snowy the next. One big difference now though is that the later in the spring it is the more likely it is that any bad weather will be over quickly. During March and April the midges will be out in the afternoons and we are all awaiting the early baetis hatch. If you like to fish big streamers this is a very good time to be here. The browns are waking up and the streamer fishing can be very productive.

There is one word that sums up the fly-fishing in Montana for the month of May. That word is Caddis!!! More accurately, the Mother's Day Caddis Hatch. This is a major event that every fly-fishermen should experience. When these bugs get going every fish in the river is looking up and literally gorging themselves on the massive amounts of these caddis flies. This hatch really gets the dry fly fishing season going strong. The days leading up to the peak of the hatch offer just unbelievable fishing. If you have never experienced this hatch before it truly is something to add to your “To do” list.

The one area of concern with the caddis hatch is that while it is going on the beginning of the run-off is looming over us. But, if the run-off hits one river it is still possible to run over to a different river for a few more days of amazing fishing.

Next we have the month of June. Typically June is the peak of the run-off and with the exception of some of the tail waters the rivers are usually blown out, high and muddy. However, there are some notable exceptions. This past June saw the Yellowstone clear up and begin to fish unusually well. This was the result of a significant period of cool weather that literally shut the high elevation snowmelt down. The only problem was that this was totally unexpected and so there were no visiting fishermen around to fish with. That left all of us locals with the Yellowstone to ourselves just wishing that there were some of you here to share it all with.

The moral of this story is to keep an eye on the conditions, and if you can be flexible with your schedule make a mad dash out here for some unbelievable fishing. As always feel free to either call us, 406 223-1506, or send us an email to get an honest, up to the minute report on the conditions and the fishing.

You all know what is coming next! Late June into early July means one thing out here: Salmon flies! This is perhaps the most exciting event in fly-fishing. When you have huge bugs, both nymphs and adults, along the banks and in the willows you will have huge trout hanging out just stuffing themselves. There is nothing quite like throwing size four and two dry flies into the willows and having a monster trout just explode on it. The fishing can be fast and furious when all the elements come together! If you have never had the chance to float down a river during the salmon fly hatch then you really do need to get out here during late June or early July.

The days leading up to the actual salmon fly emergence offer some of the best “big and ugly” fishing of the year. Prior to the emergence the salmon fly nymphs congregate under stones along the riverbank. The trout look forward to this even more than we do. When you chuck a big, black fly and have a big ole brown smack it in the high, swift water you will have your hands full! When you take a look at these fish you will see their bellies just bulging from feasting on the nymphs. You can even feel the nymphs in the fish's stomach! If you want to see what “bugger chucking” is all about then this is the time to be in Montana.

In our ongoing effort to be as honest with you as possible we need to explain some of the realities of the salmon fly emergence. First of all it can be difficult to predict when it will happen. This is an extremely weather dependant event. The water temperature needs to be just right, the weather needs to be relatively stable and a few other “X” factors need to fall into place. Such a remarkable event as the salmon flies will have just about everybody out chasing them. It is possible though to get away from much of the crowd by getting either ahead of the hatch or behind the hatch. The good news is that if you are in Montana and willing to chase the big bugs it often is possible to fish when and where the salmon flies are.

At around the same time, or just a little after, the salmon flies show up their smaller cousins the Golden Stone Flies appear. The golden stones are a size or two smaller than the salmon flies but they tend to stay around a while longer. Many anglers actually prefer to fish the golden stones over the bigger bugs. You will find the Golden Stones in just about the same places as the salmon flies. Some species of the golden stones are around in fishable numbers well into the summer and even in the fall.

This brings us to the heat of the summer, mid July and August. Basically this is hopper time in Montana. Like all the other “hatches” the hopper fishing does not always get going on any given date. Sometimes the hopper fishing is better on one section of the river than other sections. But, when the fish are tuned into the hoppers the fishing can be very exciting! There is something magical about splatting a fat hopper pattern next to a grassy bank and seeing it disappear in a giant swirl.

This being the middle of the summer it can and does get hot, even in Montana. Most of the days will bring a sunny and very bright sky. This does have an affect on the fishing, especially the dry fly fishing. When it is very bright and sunny the trout are very vulnerable to predators, primarily birds.                   As a result most of the trout, basically those that have not been eaten, will be holding very close to structure and or deeper water.                     You can still catch fish on dry flies, but often nymphing is much more productive during the heat of the day.

As the crowds begin to fade after labor day and the days get shorter, the nights cooler there is something else going on. The brown trout start getting very active and are more and more willing to chase down and smash big streamers. Late fall is the spawning time for the brown trout and as that time grows closer the big boys come out to play, or actually they come out to kill your big streamers! This is a time to pull out the big guns, six, seven and even eight weight rods and sink tips. A size two, or bigger, streamer is not too big, not by a long shot. Big brown trout are predators and they get territorial as well. When you invade their space with a big ole streamer they may not want to eat it, but they sure may want to kill it! The later it gets into the fall the better the fishing can be. So, pack a few fleeces and a pair of fishing gloves and come chase down the brown trout of a lifetime. Early fall also presents plenty of dry fly fishing as well. The fall baetis get going and there will be some hoppers around until the first heavy frost, often into October. There will also be some caddis around through September as well.

The four or five weeks spanning early to mid September to mid October are simply a magical time to be here. The Cottonwood and Aspen trees are at the peak of their fall colors, the air is brisk and cool, the bull elk are bugling and the brown trout are aggressive. What a time to be in Paradise Valley, Montana!