Fly fishing · Montana
Montana trout rivers — hatch charts + live conditions
12-month hatch grids, live USGS readings, top-3 fly picks for each river.
· Gallatin Valley · Wild trout
Gallatin River
brown trout · rainbow trout · brook trout
Classic freestone river paralleling Highway 191 through the canyon south of Bozeman. Wild fish in the upper valley; strong stonefly, caddis, and terrestrial action July through September.
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· Madison Valley · Blue Ribbon
Madison River
brown trout · rainbow trout
One of Montana's legendary Blue Ribbon rivers. PMD, caddis, and salmonfly hatches make June and July exceptional. Strong PMD and trico activity through August. Prolific wade and float fishery.
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· Great Falls / Holter · Tailwater
Missouri River
rainbow trout · brown trout
World-class tailwater below Holter Dam near Craig. Midge and BWO hatches year-round; PMD and trico dominate summer. Massive rainbows in clear, slow water — demanding presentations required.
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· Western Montana · Wild trout
Blackfoot River
rainbow trout · bull trout · brown trout
Immortalized by Norman Maclean's A River Runs Through It. Recovered wild fishery with strong stonefly and caddis hatches. Bull trout present — catch-and-release only for that species.
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· Big Hole Valley · Blue Ribbon
Big Hole River
brown trout · rainbow trout · arctic grayling
One of the last wild arctic grayling rivers in the lower 48. Blue Ribbon trout water with massive salmonfly and golden stonefly hatches. Float or wade the upper valley for grayling.
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· Paradise Valley · Blue Ribbon
Yellowstone River
brown trout · rainbow trout · cutthroat trout
The longest free-flowing river in the lower 48. Paradise Valley section near Livingston is prime Blue Ribbon water. Strong caddis, PMD, and terrestrial action. Big fish, big water.
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· Bitterroot Valley · Wild trout
Bitterroot River
rainbow trout · brown trout · cutthroat trout
Scenic freestone river in the Bitterroot Valley south of Missoula. Good caddis and PMD hatches. Native westslope cutthroat in upper tributaries.
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· Western Montana
Clark Fork River
rainbow trout · brown trout · bull trout
Recovering river through Missoula and western Montana. Bull trout present — handle with care. Good caddis and PMD hatches in summer. Flows through beautiful mountain terrain.
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· Bighorn Canyon area · Tailwater fishery
Bighorn River
brown trout · rainbow trout
Premier tailwater fishery below Yellowtail Dam. Consistent flows support excellent fly fishing. 35+ miles of quality water.
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About these charts
Each river page shows a 12-row × N-column hatch grid (month × active patterns), live water temp and flow from USGS streamgages, the top 3 fly picks for the current month, and FAQ-style answers to the questions we get asked most.
Hatch timing is hand-curated from regional fly shop calendars and angler logs. Always confirm current regulations with your state authority. If something's off, tell us.