The Northern California Fly Fishing Board

Heading out to Montana late June. Staying between Livingston and Bozeman. Any tips on where to avoid high flows? types of hatches? etc... I've never been before. It's my cousin's wedding, and her husband is a fly fishing guide for the area, but they're getting married so they're not really available for advice.

I've been to that area several times. I seem to remember late june being a mix of PMD's, caddis, and green drakes, and the beginning of hopper time. You will be surrounded by blue ribbon water. Some of the places that I recommend for your short list are Gallatin between Bozeman and Big Sky, Madison below quake lake (slide in and three dollar bridge), slough river in the park, Box Canyon and the ranch section of Henry's Fork of the Snake in Last Chance Idaho (not v. far from Bozeman), and if flows allow the Missouri (wolf creek access) is great big fish water.

Hope this helps.

MarcP

Here are a few pictures:


The board at Mike Lawson's shop on 6/29/07:


A better then avg. Gallatin River Bow (they're not v. big):


Sunset on Henry's Fork:


Madison River below Three Dollar Bridge:


I wish I was headed back that way...someday!



MarcP

Late June most water conditions should be coming into shape. It will be a tad early for much of the Park, except the Madison, Firehole and other warmer water stretches. The Yellowstone in the Park won't be open yet, but should be good in Paradise Valley. Also the Spring Creeks there should be in great shape. Will be salmon fly time on the Madison, and some other rivers. PMD and Caddis might just be starting, although might be a tad early. Caddis should be going. Golden Stones. Henry's Lake should be great, a little early for Gulpers on Hebgen.....Too much water to mention. Find a good fly shop in the area to get the up to the minute info before you go. BTW, don't be late to the wedding, even if there is an epic hatch going on. The groom would understand (especially since he's a guide), but the bride won't!

HAHAHAHA

Phil, I am the cousin, nephew, brother in law, etc... that notoriously finds fly fishing, and is always late, at any wedding.
This one I can't mess around w/ though.

Thanks to both for the advice. Very helpful already. Looks like i'm flying into spokane and driving to montana... so if you have any ideas for stops on the way.

Also, is the Henry Fork within a decent driving distance from livingston? (actually staying in Chico, mt. at the Chico hotsprings)

To get to some of these waters from the Bozeman/Livingston area, the fastest way would be to go through The Park, which will cost you $25, the fee the last time I was there, but the pass is good for a week. However, you can get to the Galatin and the Madison via Hwy 191, but it's a longer loop up through Bozeman to get there.

If the snowpack is REAL heavy, like it was last year, even the Madison might be high in late June, in spite of the fact that it is a tail water...of sorts. If the flows are high, you might want to head to Idaho and fish the lower Henry's Fork, below the Ashton Dam when the PMD spinners are on the water each evening. Some good memories of when I hit that right in late June one time...

The Warm River, also in Idaho, is known for it's consistent flow, but the fish are all pretty small, at least in my experience, but it is fishable when other rivers are high.

There's also Robinson Creek in Idaho and the Fall or the Teton Rivers as well.

I could go on...and on...and on... but I'd suggest you stay a few days (or weeks!) after the wedding and get a feel for the place. It draws me back almost every year.

Cheers!

--FlyGuy (Dave)

Google maps puts it at 120 miles to Island Park, and about 62 from Big Sky. Worth the trip, although tough water! Guides are very worthwhile for a first time on that water. Let me know if you need some specifics via PM or email.

If you're coming from Spokane, you could check out the Bitteroot, Clark Fork, Blackfoot, Rock Creek (probably top of the list), the Jefferson, Big Hole, all before you get to Bozeman (and plenty more). Honestly, it is worthless to tell you what will be happening in June. My impression is that a lot of stuff can be blown out that time of year, including the Yellowstone in Paradise Valley. I'd just check with the fly shops in Missoula and Bozeman a week or two before your trip. And if the groom can't spend ten minutes on the phone to give you some tips he's a no good dirty rotten bum.

I have used these with great success on the Madison and Boulder Rivers in late June, they also work on the Yellowstone. Tie some up in #12 and #14 on Tiemco 5262 hooks. They are not available in fly shops and, click on the link to Al and Gretchen Beatty's pattern specifics in this post...

http://pla...ing-the-madison-in-june/

Tight lines...

PT/TB

This is all good stuff. Thanks guys!

i wish i had a wedding to go to in montana this summer. oh wait, i do!!!!! cant wait to get out there sammy, dreaming about it already. we also have to consider that some of our relatives have mentioned that they would like to fish with us, so although it may be annoying to plan around, we might want to prepare ourselves for that particular day.

we'll just bring an extra 12 pack to the river to make it easier.

iceman wrote:
relatives have mentioned that they would like to fish with us
DANGER WILL ROBINSON. This is a no win scenario. Call in sick if possible. Or just change expectations of actually catching any fish.
If you could arrange it so THEY don't catch any it may improve the odds in your favor of them ever asking to go again...


Buzz