Rivers
The Yellowstone River
The Yellowstone River (Rodney's favorite) is the longest freeflowing "wild" river in the continental United States -- it flows some 670 miles with no dams along its course. The float through the Paradise Valley is one of the most scenic in Montana, if not the world, and it is home to four fish species; native Yellowstone cutthroat, native mountain whitefish, rainbow trout, and brown trout. If you love fly fishing, you have to fish the Yellowstone at least once in your lifetime.
The Missouri River
This expansive river fishes like a giant spring creek, and has offered arguably the best fishing in Montana for the past several years, with 3-4 pound rainbows being caught fairly commonly and in good numbers. It's best to spend two days fishing and one night in Wolf Creek while fishing the "Mighty MO" due to its location, and there are many nice places to stay near the river that we can recommend.
The Madison River
The world-renowned Madison River is usually referred to by guides in two separate sections; totaling 120 miles, the "Upper" and the "Lower". The Upper flows from Hebgen Lake down to Ennis Lake, through the Madison Valley, and the Lower flows from Ennis Lake down to the Missouri headwaters in Three Forks. Each section fishes very differently, depending on the time of year, and both offer tremendous opportunities for dry fly and streamer fishing for big rainbows and browns.
The Gallatin River
This classic freestone river is so picturesque that it was chosen as the setting for the fishing scenes in the movie "A River Runs Through It." The upper stretches of this scenic trout river offer terrific wading opportunities, with an abundant population of 10-14" rainbow trout. In the lower sections, we wade and float in search of its larger rainbows and browns.
The Big Hole River
This wonderful Blue Ribbon trout stream is one my grandfather fished way back when. Some say that it's "what a Montana trout river should look like," with tumbling riffles, deep pools, and a world-famous salmonfly hatch every June. It's loaded with nice rainbows and browns, and the chance of catching a rare native grayling is a welcome bonus.
Many other Rivers available
Ask Rodney about the Bighorn, Bitterroot, and Smith rivers, as well as the private spring creeks and lakes to which he has access. Whatever the time of year, there are always options to fish in this part of Montana.
