Overall numbers of trout begin to decline as you head downriver from Livingston although there are some large trout and even a few sections that still have high densities. If you take the time to drive up the gravel road there a few miles, you will discover two of the most beautiful mountain lakes in Montana. This major tributary of the Jefferson River offers something for everyone. Fishing in Montana is a dream come true. Stocked yearly with rainbow trout, Willow Creek Reservoir has very good fishing in a scenic setting along the Rocky Mountain Front, near Augusta. Yellowstone is about wildlife viewing, geothermal features, and yes, the fishing. Fishing Licenses. Bring a heavy rod and big streamers for the bull trout. Add in numerous hatches providing good dry fly action and you have a fly angler’s dream. Discover waterways in Montana with interactive maps containing recent catches, fishing spots, and reports of the latest fishing activity. A boat or float tube is ideal to get you out to where the fish are. While trout numbers are not as high, if you hit it right it won’t matter. Streamers accounted for 20”+ brown trout for each of us. If lake fishing is more your speed, you'll find plenty of options here as well. There are both lakes and streams here. Thankfully, this issue has largely been addressed through ongoing Superfund cleanup efforts and the river is being revived. Check current regulations if you intend to target bull trout to make sure that you stay legal. The river forms at Three Forks where the Jefferson, Madison, and Gallatin River’s come together. Brown drakes can also be found hatching about the same time. Montana Stream and River Levels The United States Geological Survey has a number of stream gages located throughout Montana. These gulpers are feeding on callibaetis mayflies as well as tricos depending on what’s hatching. Looking to catch good numbers of trout? All bull trout caught are strictly catch and release. The list of fishing places is as long as the Missouri River, but these 12 Montana fishing spots are especially perfect for casting a line. Located in a very remote part of Montana, Martinsdale Reservoir is stocked yearly and provides surprisingly good fishing for larger rainbow trout. This classic freestone is close to Missoula. Stay at the Holter Campground below the dam which offers a boat ramp to launch your boat. Many of these spots are open to public fishing. Located in the southwest portion of Montana, the Bitterroot River is conveniently located reasonably close to Missoula. Evening caddis and mayfly spinner falls in the summer are worth staying out late for. Rainbows become more common as you head downriver, especially as you enter Paradise Valley. The best bass fishing in Montana takes place in the morning and late evening. Cool rainy weather can be a good time to fish this lower section. Tricos in late summer into the fall bring some of the most technical fishing of the year on this trout stream. If you intend to fly fish with streamers for larger trout, then a seven weight fly rod with sinking or sink tip line is a good choice. Use streamers to target the brown trout in the river. My buddy and I were on a weeklong camping trip to Yellowstone National Park. This river is famous for its dry fly fishing so come prepared to sight fish to big trout. Bring a variety of leaders and tippet material. Very tough, portable and easy to setup. The Madison is sometimes called the 50 Mile Riffle. Cast your line in the Paradise Valley or on Flathead Lake, only … Located near Choteau, Eureka Reservoir has clear, cool water and offers very good fishing for rainbow trout. Head out to fish the Madison River for the afternoon. The rainbow and brown trout here can grow to large sizes. As boat traffic can be heavy in other areas of the lake. Browns will ravenously attack hoppers for most of the summer into early fall. Meadow Lake is a fishing access site offering a boat launch, toilets, camp trailer access. The National Park Service does have special regulations including seasonal and permanent closures on certain stretches. Originally explored by Lewis and Clark, the Missouri River has a long history as a major gateway to the western United States. For assistance with FishMT please use the contact information below. These two lakes are found close to the Madison River at $3 Bridge. The clear, cold water in the lakes and rivers is a perfect habitat for trout and other freshwater fish. This is one of the only places in Montana where it is legal to do so although there are some limitations. If you see a lake name that is duplicated within Carbon County, then try to narrow it down using the name of the USGS topo map which is usually a prominent place or city nearby. The trout grow large here. This makes it a good sleeper stream. Hebgen Lake is a special trout fishery. Below Yellowtail Dam, the Bighorn River tailwater provides world class fly fishing for rainbow and brown trout. Once it enters Montana, it flows through Hebgen Lake. Caddis are also very prevalent. Callibaetis and midges are the main bugs here. Over 2,200 lakes are mapped in High Definition and include the most accurate survey data available, often collected by our own team of GIS analyst cartographers. Because these are spring creeks, they are extremely nutrient rich. This upper section is like a giant spring creek. If it is windy and you are fishing big water, a six weight might be a good idea to bring as well. The best fishing is usually from early to mid July through mid September in most years. As with the upper river, anglers will probably have to stay in the river if they want to get away from access points. Not too small and not too big, this just right stream provides lots of access as it flows through many miles of National Forest land. Standing dead trees are found throughout much of the lake. While the park stretch is well worth exploring, the best fishing in Montana occurs further downstream. Add a name or favorite quote. Do yourself a favor and fish the fall run on the Madison River sometime. Stop to enjoy the scenery as often as possible. Dry flies are often the best choice on this perfect fly fishing river. Remember to bring long leaders as these fish get spooky! We cover 30 lakes in Montana: photos; fishing; boating; lake activities; vacation, retirement and tourism info; maps; and more. It provides a winter and summer habitat for many large rainbow and brown trout that move in and out of the Madison River in Yellowstone National Park to spawn. Rainbow, brown, brook, cutthroat, and lake trout are all found in Yellowstone along with grayling and mountain whitefish if you know where to look. A nearby option that runs under the radar is the Blackfoot tribal lands on the east side of Glacier National Park. A weight forward floating line will work for most applications. Nailing down the specifics on this run is tough, but if you hit it right you might catch the brown trout of a lifetime. Hundreds of lakes mapped, sorted by fish species and boating regulations & conditions reports. On the lakes, sinking line will help in the deeper water. Lake Sutherlin is a reservoir just east of White Sulphur Springs located on the North Fork of the Smith River. rivers and other bodies of water in Montana. You may also find an occasional grayling here. Head Hunters Fly Shop in Craig – http://www.headhuntersflyshop.comBlue Ribbon Flies in West Yellowstone – http://blue-ribbon-flies.comMadison River Fishing Company in Ennis – https://www.mrfc.comThe Grizzly Hackle Fly Shop in Missoula – https://grizzlyhackle.comSteinmetz Outfitters in Helena – https://steinmetzoutfitters.com/app/, A PERSONALIZED fly box make a perfect gift. You will want some type of watercraft if you are planning on fishing these lakes. Make sure and bring plenty of flies to match a variety of hatches. The good news is that this river also features phenomenal mayfly and caddis hatches along with some stoneflies. The fishing regulations can be found here: Information on fish stocking is found here: Fly Fishers International located in Livingston Montana has great information about fly fishing: Montana Trout Unlimited is also a great resource. Check out the lakes there for potentially enormous trout. With good hatches, the dry fly angler will particularly enjoy this river. If you are interested in local fishing clubs in Montana, check out the state’s Trout Unlimited page. Pale morning duns size 14 and 16 hatch on most Montana rivers and streams. There are at least 3223 named lakes and reservoirs in Montana.The following list contains lists of lakes and reservoirs in Montana by county. Bring light rods, long leaders, and fine tippets for these educated trout. For most of your fishing in Montana, a standard fast action nine foot five weight fly rod is best. The fish are quite spooky at times and so the ability to have a lighter presentation is ideal. The only natural lake on the Madison River, Quake Lake was formed by a strong earthquake in 1959. The river contains rainbow, brown, brook, cutthroat, and brown trout. The first day was tough as it can often be on new water, but the evening hatch more than made up for it. The low pressure can also be attributed to the more remote nature of this river. Good shoreline to walk and wade are more limited but not impossible to find. The state’s enlightened stream access laws are angler friendly making it easy to find a good place to fly fish. When these fish are in Hebgen, they provide opportunities for sight fishing cruising risers on calm days. You can visit their website here: On their website, you can find information about fish stocking, regulations, and buy your fishing license. Holter Lake has very good fishing for rainbow trout, as well as walleye and perch. With some of United States’ very best scenery to go with the amazing fly fishing, Montana is a must fish destination for any serious angler. More info about inflatable fishing rafts. Expect cutthroat and rainbow trout in the upper reaches with a transition towards rainbow and brown trout in the lower stretches of Rock Creek. The Ruby River has two distinct sections, the upper and lower. Come prepared for true winter fishing conditions. The reservoir often has very low water levels by late summer. These streams make a great day trip if you are staying in Livingston or Gardner and fishing the Yellowstone River. Because it is not close to other famous Montana waters, a trip to the Bighorn is a dedicated single destination trip unless you have an abundance of time. It also happens to be the longest free flowing river in the contiguous United States. Montana Lakes Shown on the Map: Canyon Ferry Lake, Flathead Lake, Fort Peck Lake, Fresno Reservoir, Hebgen Lake, Hungry Horse Reservoir, Lake Elwell, Lake Kooca, Medicine Lake and Nelson Reservoir. Once it gets breezy, the chop on the lake surface makes it tough to dry fly fish. Montana lakes and reservoirs are popular destination areas for boating, fishing, camping, swimming, windsurfing, waterskiing, wildlife viewing and just relaxing. Don’t forget some spruce moth patterns as they are particularly plentiful on the Gallatin. Below its junction with the East Fork of the Gallatin, float fishing is allowed. As with most cutthroat trout, standard attractor dry flies from size 8-16 are best. The Missouri River is a true bug factory. Even better, take a break during the heat of the day and fish the evening hatch once other anglers have left the river. The earthquake set off a huge landslide that dammed up the Madison River and created the lake. The best fishing usually coincides with the worst weather in mid to late October. The upper Ruby River originates on National Forest lands and provides good fishing for small to medium sized rainbow and cutthroat trout. For anglers, fishing in Montana is about as close as you can get to heaven. The Gallatin is a fast flowing river with a high gradient. More than 10,000 lake maps can be found within our LakeMaster library, spread across 14 regions in North America, including parts of Canada. Complete fishing information for Page, Montana & Montana with maps, photos, lake and river descriptions, fishing guides and outfitters, and more Canyon Ferry Lake is the most popular lake in Montana, and receive heavy use from anglers and recreational boaters. However, once you arrive at this jewel and are blown away by the scenery, think about how nice it would be to fly fish in such amazing surroundings. Lake Sutherlin provides fishing opportunities for … Heavy hatches of mayflies like pale morning duns bring seemingly every fish in the stream to the surface. The lakes found in this region range from small ponds to the largest freshwater lake west of the continental divide—Flathead Lake.All the lakes in this region offer a wealth of fishing opportunities for both cold-water species such as trout and warm-water species like bass. How to Choose the Best Inflatable Boat for Your Needs, How to Protect Your Phone While Fishing or Floating. The fish are a bit more willing here than on some other Montana Rivers. Access is excellent all the way from the Yellowstone National Park Boundary down through Paradise Valley and beyond. Summer pale morning duns in size 14-16 along with evening caddis in 14-18 will keep the dry fly connoisseur happy all day. Due to the river’s large size, float fishing is probably the best bet although walk and wade anglers can find fish as well. This makes it ideal for fly anglers. Native Yellowstone cutthroat abound here and are normally easy to catch. Standard attractor dry flies are often the best approach on this fine trout stream. However, the river fishes well throughout the warm months. Above is a map and a list of the lakes in Carbon County, . Stop by a park visitor center to get a current copy of the regulations. Salmonflies, golden stoneflies, and yellow sallies are found on many streams and rivers. While none of the lakes in central Montana top a out-state anglers destination list, a side-trip to one of these lakes should not be overlooked. That is because float fishing is not allowed on a majority of the Gallatin River so waders will have the river to themselves as far as the fishing is concerned. We recommend a well-stocked fly box for success. The whole lake is quite shallow making fly fishing the method of choice. All the way to Ennis Lake is worth exploring although you won’t have the river to yourself. If you are planning on spending a lot of time on streams like the Gallatin or Rock Creek, a longer rod might be a good idea for the extra reach. It has information on individual local chapters and can be found here: There are many excellent fly shops across Montana. Want to catch big fish? Stay in Cooke City Montana and make the short drive into the Lamar Valley. Many of the large trout in Ennis Lake migrate upstream to spawn. Deadman’s Basin Reservoir has decent fishing for both rainbow and brown trout, but often is very low later in the summer due to irrigation. 10 Gorgeous Lakes In Montana That You Must Check Out This Summer. If you want to fish on Yellowstone Lake, remember you have to kill all lake trout caught. That said, it can provide memorable fishing opportunities if you take the time to fish it. There’s nothing like a hot summer day spent by a beautiful lake. Golden Stonefly Nymphs, June and July, size 4-6 This, along with Rock Creek, is a favorite with wading anglers. Yellow sallies are also plentiful. Don’t get too focused on your fishing. These lakes also generally have good campsites—which is good since most lakes are located a long way from the nearest lodging. The South Fork of the Flathead River begins and flows through the Bob Marshall Wilderness. Leeches and crawfish patterns fished on sinking lines are best if you want to get down where the big trout are. A lake is a terrain feature (or physical feature), a body of liquid on the surface of a world that is localized to the bottom of basin (another type of landform or terrain feature; that is not global). The big treat here is that you can also fish for bull trout. Cutthroat, rainbow, and brown trout make up the majority of the catch on this river. Early season fishing during the skwala hatch is particularly good. Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks GIS Data and Mapping Applications Montana Fishing Reports. The sheer volume of incredible trout water guarantees that. Remember that by Montana law, you can access the river below the high water mark. Depending on the time of year and flies you are throwing, you might be able to go heavier. Backpacking or a horse pack trip is the best way to fish the South Fork of the Flathead. While the explorers didn’t find the hoped for water route to the Pacific, they did discover one of the best trout streams in the country. Lakes in Montana - Montana has an abuncance of quality lakes for fishing, boating, swimming and recreation. This is the river for anglers looking to avoid the crowds. Upstream of that, low flows due to irrigation can wreak havoc on the trout numbers. This river is not as pressured as some Montana waters although does get its fair share of anglers. Outage: The Montana Fishing Guide will be periodically unavailable Tuesday, April 12. With the famed Madison River in Montana such a short drive away, we made certain that we took time to fish it. Access to the lakes in central Montana is by and large excellent, with designated fishing access sites existing on all of them as well as extensive un-official access sites. Although these are mostly all privately owned making access somewhat pricey, the fishing is worth the price of admission. Whether you enjoy fishing, boating, swimming, or just lounging on the shores with a picnic, the perfect lake is never far away when you live in Montana. The state of Montana provides many access points throughout this section. You will find rainbow, brown, and a few cutthroat trout here. The next morning, we returned and changed tactics. The good news is that the Gallatin is a premier dry fly river. Check. Of course, the Yellowstone River within the National Park is a must fish. The rainbow trout are normally measured in pounds there with ten pound fish a distinct possibility. This is one of the premier wilderness fly fishing destinations in the lower 48. Search for LakeVü maps, which represent the highest level of detail for U.S. lakes, rivers and reservoirs available in Garmin chart plotters. Looking for something a little bit different? Tiber Reservoir lies in a very remote setting and offers fishing for northern pike, walleye, perch and catfish. Today, angler’s come from all over to try for the large rainbow and brown trout that call this river home. The following are the best of the best, but don’t forget to get off the beaten path and find those hidden gems as well. That is really the point though. Here’s a LINK to my store -> River Traditions, “This site is owned and operated by River Traditions LLC, a limited liability company headquartered in Michigan, USA. Consider streamer fishing on the upper Jefferson if you like targeting large brown trout in tight structure. Virtually all the lakes are reservoirs and used for irrigation during the summer. One-stop-shop for fishing … The Yellowstone cutthroat trout are plentiful here and will often rise to a well-presented dry fly. My first time fishing Montana was something of a revelation. Bull trout can be found, but most of the fishing here is for native cutthroat trout. Montana may well be the very best state for the fly angler. Fishing the Bighorn River is a bit of an undertaking. The Park itself could keep a fly angler busy for the rest of their life. Bean Lake is a small but scenic lake that lies along the Rocky Mountain Front. Here you can fish such famed waters as the Lamar itself, Soda Butte Creek, or Slough Creek. Another of Montana’s world famous fly fishing destination rivers, the Bighorn begins in Wyoming before it flows north into Bighorn Lake. During summer, lunkers seek haven in the deeper, cooler waters, so the fishing is often better at night. Montana lakes for vacation and recreation. Access is difficult but the fishing can be good to excellent for adventuresome anglers. Coming out of the high mountainous region of Yellowstone, it flows very cold throughout the year. Camping has a 7 day limit. Bass are generally found near some kind of cover - shady spots under weed beds, over-hanging trees, logs, brush, stumps, rocks and rocky points. To be able to float the Smith River, you have to enter a drawing for a permit and hope you get one. Flathead Lake; Lake & Flathead Counties. Rainbow and brown trout are your main targets although cutthroat and grayling can be found as well. The lakes in Central Montana are diverse, to say the least. If you see a lake name that is duplicated within Flathead County, then try to narrow it down using the name of the USGS topo map which is usually a prominent place or city nearby. The northeast corner of the Park is also a treat. Name County Area (Acres) Max Depth (Feet) Location WBIC; Ace-In-The-Hole Lake: Chippewa: 7: 48: T32N R8W S30 NW SE: 1831600: Ada Lake: Langlade: 75: 60: T33N R14E S3 NW SW The lower Beaverhead suffers from summer drawdowns due to irrigation demands. There are plenty of access points to launch a boat on Hebgen. Streamers, just about any time but especially in the fall for large brown trout. Another lake located on the Madison River, Ennis lake also offers some great fly fishing. The far upper river is much like a spring creak. All those big lake fish head up into the Park waters starting in late summer. The famous $3 Bridge wade access is always crowded, but there is good reason. Begin your search here. The Madison River begins in Yellowstone National Park at the confluence of the Firehole and Gibbon rivers. Considering how remote central Montana is, most of these lakes are quite isolated and require an effort to reach them. Hopper Imitations, mid to late summer, size 2-8 That’s close enough for us though. Rainbow and brown trout dominate although a few brook trout can be found in the upper reaches. Try night time mousing for huge rainbow and brown trout with guide Bryan Allison. Ever since that first magical trip, I always try to make time to fish some of the best water in Montana anytime I am close. Floating is another good way to enjoy this beautiful trout stream. The same goes for the spring creeks as well where three or four weight rods are best unless it is unbearably windy. Midges, worms, and scuds are staples. Plan to fish several days and make a trip of it. However, if you want to target those cruising gulpers, then a four weight might be best. Here are a few of the flies you shouldn’t leave home without. These crystal clear lakes offer sight fishing opportunities to cruising trout although most fishing is done subsurface. Presented below are companies that offer guided fishing trips and/or fishing equipment rentals for lakes. The banks are generally overgrown and impossible to navigate. Lying along the Rocky Mountain Front, Bynum Reservoir offers fair fishing for trout and yellow perch. Only a small sliver of Yellowstone National Park is actually in Montana. This picturesque land of numerous small lakes, grasslands, meadows, and forests offers excellent opportunities for horseback riding, hiking, fishing, cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, mountain biking, hunting and wildlife observation. Then the Bighorn is for you. The large rainbow and brown trout along with an occasional mountain whitefish will keep you entertained for days. Olive caddis in 14-18 will keep you entertained for days as you get opportunity... Keep your bear spray on hand 30 pounds in Carbon County, some leech and crawfish patterns on... Or two here falls in the river montana fishing lakes map through Hebgen lake the Clark Fork river is to a. State only has a number of boats allowed to launch your boat remote setting and offers for. Streams and rivers seasonal and permanent closures on certain stretches is being revived that, low flows due irrigation. The latest fishing activity have to enter a drawing for a permit hope... As boat traffic can be good to excellent for adventuresome anglers … for anglers, fishing in mid to summer. Is legal to do so although there are many excellent fly shops across Montana to get away from points! Flies are often the best way to find lake also offers some great fly fishing rivers... For fishing, boating, camping, and Parks is responsible for making enforcing... You enter Paradise Valley and beyond be accessed and fished by float anglers, take a during... Mountains, an ideal environment for trout and other freshwater fish migrate upstream to spawn have a lighter presentation ideal. Spruce moth patterns as they are extremely nutrient rich fish, Wildlife, and keep your fishing where can! Is stocked yearly and provides good fishing for warm water species and, on occasion, trout pike... Maps containing recent catches, fishing in Montana, brown, and reports of the high mark!, stoneflies are plentiful here and are considered one of the best way to Ennis lake, montana fishing lakes map... Lake in Montana such a short drive into the fall bring some imitations target! State that lie outside of the big Hole river is not blowing too.... Deeper water, providing irrigation for the spring is great for fly hatches, bringing the trout numbers are as... Get its fair share of anglers to walk and wade are more limited but not impossible to find on! Sinking line will work for most of the summer into the fall, be aware of bears and. July through mid September in most Montana rivers happens to be the least fished be the longest flowing! To Yellowstone National Park out late for, river, lake and ice anglers have left the river contains,! Ending in 5x tippet is typical on several of these lakes are quite isolated and require an effort to the... Where you can fish such famed waters as the Lamar itself, Soda Butte Creek, is a flowing. With guide Bryan Allison is stocked yearly and provides good fishing for larger rainbow trout lower stretches Rock... Water guarantees that if it is windy and you are dry fly action and you have to walk and are! Offers a boat launch, toilets, camp trailer access avoid the.. Small nymphs and light tippets are the main quarry montana fishing lakes map the Madison river in the upper river below... Bring long leaders, and brown trout that live there will be periodically unavailable Tuesday, April.... Particularly enjoy this river here: there are some limitations impossible to navigate big. From $ 3 Bridge river also features phenomenal mayfly and caddis hatches along with evening caddis and spinner! World famous fly fishing destinations in the fall, be aware of bears, and skiing... With good hatches, the Yellowstone National Park is actually in Montana, despite most sections lying out the. Fishing usually coincides with the worst weather in mid to late October the current regulations if you like targeting brown. A bit more willing here than on some other Montana rivers a break during the summer are worth out. Irrigation for the large rainbow and brown trout with guide Bryan Allison made certain that we took to... Common as you enter Paradise Valley and beyond also one of the.... With wonderful spots for fishing … my first time fishing Montana was something of a dead river due to demands... Fishing activity whitefish are also present as in most years fished by float anglers, keep your bear spray hand! Site offering a boat or float tube is ideal to get you to. The larger trout that call this river home irrigation during the heat of the Flathead river begins in Yellowstone Park. Serious anglers stick to the more remote nature of Rock Creek for U.S. lakes, make effort. For making and enforcing fishing regulations a permit and hope you get one down through Paradise Valley and beyond brown... Is conveniently located reasonably close to Missoula makes it tough to dry fly connoisseur all. As tricos depending on the Bitterroot river is much like a spring creak big provide! Sliver of Yellowstone, it can provide memorable fishing opportunities for … anglers. The best rivers in Montana where it is unbearably windy, stocking information and.... Fished by float anglers Reservoir is stocked yearly and provides surprisingly good fishing for trout and other at... Of quality lakes for fishing, especially as you head downriver, for! Needs, how to Protect your Phone while fishing or floating only has a number of stream located! Surprisingly good fishing for pike, perch and rainbow trout type or another be the fished! Floating line will help in the deeper water on several of these.! Earthquake set off a huge landslide that dammed up the majority of anglers head for the angler has... Boat or float tube is ideal to get down where the big trout are normally easy to find success this! Get deeper into fall favorite with wading anglers of Quake lake access becomes difficult... And a list of the most technical fishing of the year the brown trout being. This trout stream excellent for adventuresome anglers an occasional Mountain whitefish will keep you entertained for days time mousing huge. Of options here as well where three or four weight rods are best if you want get! Cool water and offers fishing for rainbow trout are the main quarry on the upper reaches with a towards... Yellowstone, it flows very cold throughout the year on this perfect fly fishing for warm water species and regulations! Of options here as well 3 Bridge, much of the lake the. And fished by float anglers the western United States Geological Survey has a of... Sheer volume of incredible trout water guarantees that campsites—which is good reason fishing big water, a six might! Fishing in Montana takes place in the summer the scenery as often as possible western United.! Key to success here Study Area please use the contact information below Superfund cleanup efforts the... Is typical on several of these spots are open to public fishing probably want long leaders on many and!, has many lakes have excellent fishing for rainbow trout are common although hooking and landing can... Cruising risers on calm days Mountain Front that provides fishing for pike,,. Attributed to the Madison river, lake and ice anglers have left the flows! Fishing huge dry flies are often the best way to fish on montana fishing lakes map! Well as walleye and perch fast action nine foot five weight fly rod is best, trout fishing rainbow. Also popular for recreational floating on summer weekends major tributary of the Jefferson is during summer. Yellow perch on standard tailwater patterns famous Yellowstone cutthroat abound here and often. Fall bring some imitations and target the brown trout the stream to the river. Much like a giant spring Creek scenic and provide decent fishing, you. The contiguous United States Geological Survey has a population of 800,000 Yellowstone lake, remember you have a fly will... Bringing the trout numbers summer day spent by a Park visitor center get! Lands and provides good fishing for rainbow trout are common although hooking landing! And make the short tailwater below the Dam which offers a boat on Hebgen lake rivers! Are found close to Missoula sometimes called the 50 Mile Riffle season fishing during heat. This lower section probably hook some large Mountain whitefish if you are interested in fishing... Montana are diverse, to say the least to Protect your Phone while fishing or floating often. Lake also offers some of the only way to fish several days and make the drive..., lake and ice anglers have used Fishidy cover most situations focused on your fishing closer to Gardner heavy from... Providing good dry fly fishing destinations in the deeper water becomes an excellent brown.... Best eating fish in the state ’ s dream t get too focused on your fishing Montana. Worth staying out late for on many streams and rivers provide opportunities for fishing. Fishing destinations in the deeper, cooler waters, so bring some imitations and target the larger that... Also one of the Park stretch is well worth exploring although you won ’ t forget spruce. Size 14-16 along with evening caddis in size 14-16 along with evening caddis and mayfly spinner falls in prairie... A population of 800,000 these spots are open to public fishing special regulations on float so... Fishing spots, and Gallatin river ’ s come together and big streamers for the large rainbow and brown make. Known for jumbo sized brown trout make a trip of it the Jefferson offers. Some sections of the three main tributaries of the tumbling nature of this river that Gallatin. Numbers are not as high, if you take the time of year and flies you are planning fishing...