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Hey all it's been a long time since my last post but wenever I have a question TPO is always the best place to find an answer so here goes. As of now a trip to Montana is a very good possibility and I was wondering what is the best time of year to go? And where should I go? It will most likely be a week long trip between June and august. Any info is greatly appreciated.
-kyle
Kyle,
I'm planning a similar trip. I made a post about this a month back, and there was some good info there. It's 3 posts down in the Western United States area of the forum titled "Planning a trip to Montana..." From what everyone has told me, post-runoff is the best time to go up there. This means any time after mid-June. If it is your first trip, you might want to pick out two or three rivers and focus on them. My plan is to drive up to Bozeman and set up camp there (or around there). From there you have VERY easy access to the Big Horn, Yellowstone, Gallatin, and Madison Rivers. Take your pick, its Montana, they're all good.
If you're in search of some big boys then I suggest you take a look at the Missouri River. It's a good distance away from Bozeman though, and you can pretty much forget it if you don't have a boat. The tailwater is DEEP.
Its a good water year, and mid June would be peak runoff. I would suggest mid July, good water with hatches in full swing. My choice wiould be West Yellowstone area for base. Lots of prime water close. I would also go to Blue Ribbon Flies web site for a free weekly e-mail report. You can follow the season. I may be biased, I showed up 30 some years ago to fish the Madison and have still not had enough. I don't fish the Madison much anymore but still run down once or twice a year. You cannot go wrong in July.Only bummer might be crowds. If you like to hike you'll be fine. Enjoy.
thanks guys
reeler, thanks for the info I think we will be going mid july just one question, when you say hatches in full swing what hatches do you mean?? thanks
-kyle
Kyle, generally you will have reliable caddis activity in the evenings, spinner fall Epeorus mayfly. There should be PMDs, maybe Flavs, green drakes. I would always have some midges. I would keep up with current info from a few local shops. wwwmadisonriveroutfitters.com has a decent hatch chart and puts out a weekly report once season gets going. I receive the email report from wwwblueribbonflies.com all year to keep up with the hatches. They are the shop I get most of my info from prior to trips. I would call them right before you left for current hatch info. There are many good shops in West but these are my favorites. If I had one bit of advice it would be don't chase trout everywhere. This is big country and during a short trip you could burn too much time travelling. I would make a trip to the Fork even if it was to only look at its hallowed water. Rene Harrop's Trouthunter or Mike Lawson,s shop for hatch info. Have a great trip. I can still remember my excitement when I first waded into these waters some thirty years ago.
Kyle
Do ten days!
Go for the opener on the Yellowstone in the park. Try to get a big original strain Yellowstone Cutthroat.
You have to fish the Madison because it's the Madison and like reeler said it never gets old.
Go to the Ruby, just because it's a lot of fun.
The beaverhead and Poindexter are lots of fun too.
Thats plenty for a ten day trip. Maybe throw in the gallatin for good measure!
The advice I like to give is open up a map of Montana. Look at all the blue lines. You can't go wrong. Mid May through June, lots of rivers may be blown out but there are tailwaters to fish then or mountain lakes. Every drainage has a great river system.
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