I’ve been fly fishing in Montana for 40 years and here is some information that will help you plan your trip.
The main fly rod for the large and medium size streams is a 9ft medium action rod that balances with a 5-weight line. The Scott Session, Scott Centric, and St. Croix Imperial are some that I would recommend. If you plan to fish many of the small streams a 7.5ft medium action rod that balances with a 3 or 4 weight line is good. Murray’s Exclusive Mountain Trout Fly Rod, Winston Pure, and Scott F Series are some of my favorite.
My favorite streams are the Yellowstone, Madison, Gallatin, Missouri, Rock Creek, Bitterroot, Smith, Nelson’s Armstrong, and all of the Yellowstone National Park.
August and September are both excellent months for fly fishing in Montana.
Recommended Dry Flies for Montana
- Mr. Rapidan Parachute Dry Fly size 14, 16, 18
- Royal Wulff Dry size 14, 16
- Mr. Rapidan Ant size 14, 16, 18
- Elk Hair Caddis, Olive size 14, 16
- Mr. Rapidan Delta Wing Caddis, Olive size 14, 16
- Murray’s Sulphur Dry size 14, 16
- Dave’s Hopper size 10, 12
- CDC Blue Wing Olive size 18
- Parachute Adams size 14, 16
- Light Cahill Dry size 14, 16
- Yellow Humpy size 12, 14
- Murray’s Flying Beetle size 14, 16
- Shenk’s Cricket size 12, 14
Recommended Nymphs
- Hare’s Ear Nymph size 12, 14
- Bead Head Prince size 12, 14
- Cress Bug size 14, 16
- March Brown Nymph size 12, 14
- Pheasant Tail Nymph size 16, 18
- Copper John Nymph, green or zebra size 14, 16
- Perdigon Nymph, Olive size 14, 16
Streamers for Montana
- Shenk’s White Streamer size 4, 6, 8
- Spuddler size 4, 6, 8
- Muddler size 10, 12
- Murray’s Strymph, Olive size 4, 10
- Woolly Bugger, olive or black size 6, 8
- Murray’s Marauder, pearl or black size 6, 8
- Shenk’s Sculpin size 4
- Silver Outcast size 4
There is such a broad variety of water to fish in Montana, I would suggest you talk to some of your friends that have fished many of the streams. Tell them the types of streams you like to fish, the types of trout you like to catch, then start to make a plan. There are many good books on fishing in Montana. I would recommend getting one of these and then compare this to the information you got from your friends.
During and after your trip, if you are considering a future trip, then I strong encourage you to keep good notes. What was the best fishing? The slowest fishing? Waters with easy access, waters with difficult access, waters that were crowded? Which streams gave you the greatest experience and what flies were best? This can help prepare for your next adventure.