How to fly fish like a local in Montana

Fly fishing like a local in Montana requires some research. As in any endeavor, you are rewarded based on the effort that you put into a project.

One of the first requirements is to purchase a topographical atlas for the state. Delorme offers a good atlas for less than $20.00 that is very detailed. There is a state map showing the identity for different locations and the code number takes you to a detailed page where 1″ equals 4 miles. It shows contour intervals and many of the natural features of the landscape as well as major highways.

Make a listing of the major river systems. You should concentrate on the western part of the state, as this offers the best fly fishing.

Use this list to do an Internet search for details about these river systems and gather as much information about water conditions, fish species and terrain.

Some good fishing guidebooks are good investments. They will provide details about rivers, fish species, local fly shops and guide services. Some good choices are: “Fishing Montana” by Michael Sample (Falcon Publishing Company), “The Yellowstone Fly-Fishing Guide” by Craig Matthews and Clayton Molinero (Lyons and Burford, Publishers), “Fly Fishing the Madison” by Craig Matthews and Gary LaFontaine (The Globe Pequot Press), and “Flyfisher’s Guide to Montana” by Greg Thomas (Wilderness Adventures Press). Another neat volume is “Fly Patterns of Yellowstone” by Craig Matthews and John Juracek (Blue Ribbon Flies) which may be out of print now.

After all this research, call some fly shops in the area that you have determined as the best prospects. Ask them about the best time period to visit the selected waters. Most shops will gladly share this information in hopes of booking a guided trip for you.

Once you determine the best time period for a trip, book the travel and arrive, visit the local fly shops and find out which fly patterns are successful on which streams. Even if you have plenty of the flies recommended, purchase some flies and items as a goodwill gesture for the information that they share. Most of these guys are long-time fishermen and want to help you have a good trip, but they are businessmen as well and need to generate revenue. They may even share some specific location information with you to get you into some fish in a hurry.

Now you are armed with information, maps, recommended flies, and some specific locations to start, it is up to you to use your skill as a fly fisherman to pursue and take some trophy trout. You have taken the steps to assure that you will be able to fish like a local.

“Freelancing” is a very rewarding way of fly-fishing. You know that you have met the challenge without the services of a guide and been successful. There certainly nothing wrong with booking a good guide, but if you are up to the challenge of freelancing, you can save a significant amount of money and still have a great trip.

My friend and I live in South Carolina and we have freelance fly-fished in Alaska, Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, British Columbia and Alberta and these are some of our most memorable trips. There is a special thrill in “doing it your own way”.