Montana Fly Fishing Outfitters
Experience premier guided fly fishing on Montana‘s world class rivers.
Our Experience
With over 15 years of guiding experience, Parker Smith leads our team at Montana Fly Fishing Outfitters. We are passionate about providing memorable fishing adventures on the Yellowstone and Madison rivers, as well as some lesser known waters in Southwest Montana.
Fish Like a Pro with Montana Fly Fishing Outfitters
Expert Guides
Our skilled guides have years of experience and will take you to the best fishing in the area. They will provide you with all the gear you need and teach you the best techniques for successful days on the water.
Rates
Full Day: $675
Includes all tackle. Lunch and non alcoholic beverages are provided.
Half Day: $575
Includes all tackle. Lunch is not provided on half day trips, but we do provide non alcoholic beverages.
Maximum of two anglers per guide.
Not included is a Montana fishing license and any gratuity you may wish to leave with your guide.
Booking and Cancellation Policy
We require a 50% deposit to book. At this time we accept cash, check, Venmo, or Zelle. Please contact Parker Smith directly at 864-423-7082 to book.
Cancellation Policy
If you cancel your trip outside of 30 days from the day you have booked, your deposit will be refunded.
If you cancel within 30 days of your booked trip, we can refund your deposit if we are able to rebook that day.
You are responsible for the full cost of the trip if you cancel within 24 hours of your booked day.
Waters We Fish
Yellowstone River
The Yellowstone River is a big freestone river that originates in Yellowstone National Park. At 692 miles in total length, it’s the longest river in the lower 48. Montana Fly Fishing Outfitters is permitted to guide from Carbella Fishing Access and downstream. Carbella Fishing Access is at the upper end of Paradise Valley, which is one of the most picturesque places to float and fish in the world. The Yellowstone River meanders through Paradise Valley until it flows right by the town of Livingston, where Montana Fly Fishing Outfitters is headquartered. The Yellowstone makes a hard turn to the east at Livingston and continues its journey east until it joins the Missouri River in North Dakota.
The Yellowstone River has Yellowstone Cutthroat, rainbow, and brown trout. As well as a healthy population of whitefish. Pre-runoff is in my opinion the best time to fish the Yellowstone, although the weather can be a bit of a crap shoot. March through early May is when we typically see the largest brown trout of the year being caught. There can be extremely productive streamer fishing, and the dry fly fishing can be fantastic as well. Blue Wing Olive and March Brown mayflies, as well as some caddis and midges dry fly action.
As runoff wanes, the Yellowstone sees a salmon fly hatch. This can make for some explosive dry fly fishing! Caddis, pmds, and yellow sallies make up the bulk of hatching insects during the summer months. Nocturnal stoneflies and grasshoppers make for great dry fly action as the summer progresses.
The Yellowstone River is a world class fishery and is best fished with dry flys and streamers. Nymphing can be productive, but once you drop flies below the surface the native whitefish will make itself known!
Madison River
The Madison River is a world famous destination for trout anglers. The Madison River also originates in Yellowstone National Park before it flows into Hebgen Lake. There is a stretch of river below Hebgen Dam that is aptly called Between The Lakes, as the Madison flows into a naturally formed lake called Earthquake Lake. In 1958 there was a 7+ magnitude earthquake that caused a mountain to slide into the Madison River and obstructing its flow. Hence, Earthquake Lake. From Quake Lake the Madison flows through the Madison Valley, which is another stunningly beautiful valley. The Madison flows through Ennis, MT until it flows into Ennis Lake. The Madison flows out of the Beartrap Dam through the Beartrap Canyon and on downstream to the town of Three Forks where it confluences with the Gallatin and the Jefferson rivers to create the Missouri River.
The Madison River is a prolific river. There is an immense amount of bug life which sustains a healthy population of brown trout, rainbow trout, and whitefish. Runoff is typically May through early June. The Madison offers some impressive wade fishing during runoff. Nymphing and streamer fishing are the name of the game. Once the river comes into shape, the bugs start hatching. Caddis, PMDs, Yellow Sallys, crane flys, green and grey drakes all start hatching at different times of the day. The Salmonflies show up late June into early July. As the summer progresses the hatches start to peter out and the fish turn their sights to sculpin and terrestrials. There can be some very underrated streamer fishing in the dog days of summer on the Madison. And there’s something special about fishing terrestrials right down the middle of the Madison on a hot, windy summer day. In the fall, the name of the game is streamer fishing!