Big Sky, Montana is home to the largest ski area in the United States. Excellent winter sports combined with numerous summer activities such as fishing, horseback riding, hiking, mountain biking, and rafting have made Big Sky a popular year-round destination for vacationers who crave outdoor recreation. Big Sky is also close to some of the best fly fishing in North America.
Gallatin River
If you close your eyes and envision a perfect trout river, the Gallatin River will surely remind you of the river in your dreams. This beautiful fishery begins in Yellowstone National Park, just a short walk from Big Sky. The landscape along the Gallatin was made famous by Robert Redford’s classic “A River Runs Through It”, where all the fishing scenes were filmed. After dropping out of the park, pass the Big Sky crossing and enter Gallatin Canyon for the next 30 miles. As it exits the canyon, the Gallatin turns into a beautiful aspen-lined prairie river on its journey to form the Missouri near Three Forks. The river offers great trout fishing along its course. The highest numbers of trout occur below the Big Sky crossing after numerous underground springs enhance the river’s productivity. The canyon boasts thousands of trout per mile and the fishing can often be fast and furious. Rainbow trout in the 10-17 “range dominate the fishery here, but the occasional brown trout provides some diversity. The trout in the canyon are not very fussy and all that is needed to provide consistent action. Gallatin leaves canyon, trout numbers begin to decline, but trout size increases. Lower Gallatin produces fish in the 20-28 “range each year and is a favorite fall destination for those looking for fish. trophy.
Madison river
The Madison River is frequently ranked as the number one trout stream in North America. This legendary fishery originates from Yellowstone National Park and traverses one of Montana’s most scenic valleys on its journey to form the Missouri River. The Madison River has it all – great hatches, spectacular scenery, huge trout, and great water. A day of floating Madison from a drift boat is a prerequisite for any Montana fishing trip. The upper part of the river is intended solely for wader fishing and is an ideal place to target large, strong, healthy browns and rainbows in fast, rocky waters. Big rocks and fast currents are not for the faint of heart, but those who are willing to do aggressive wading are always rewarded. Through most of the Upper Madison Valley, the river flows through what is fondly known as the 50-mile riffle. This swift, shallow stretch of water provides an ideal shore-to-shore habitat for trout. This incredibly productive stretch contains many browns and rainbows of all kinds of the year with fish up to 30 “caught each season. Beneath Ennis Lake, the river changes character dramatically as it enters the tumultuous Bear Trap Canyon. Big Sky Angler guides Brian and Miles McGeehan are two of a handful of guides qualified to offer fishing trips through the Class V Whitewater Race. Bear Trap is safely the premier float fishing day trip in North America. After exiting Bear Trap Canyon, Lower Madison slopes downward Currents wash over large thickets full of sculpines, mayflies, and crayfish Some of Madison’s largest trout reside in its lower waters and are a prime destination in the spring and fall, when water temperatures are ideal for trout fishing.
Fishing on the Yellowstone River
Yellowstone is the longest undammed river in the Lower 48. After making your way through Yellowstone National Park, it travels through Paradise Valley and finally through the state of Montana to join the Missouri River in North Dakota. This large river is great for float fishing and offers some of the best dry fly fishing in Montana. Most of the Big Sky Angler trips take place in the 100 miles of water from Gardiner at the park boundary to just beyond Big Timber. Impressive hatches of caddis flies, stone flies and mayflies bring fish to the surface from April to July and again in the fall. In the late summer months, Yellowstone is home to some of Montana’s best land-based fisheries, including some amazing grasshopper fishing. Numerous alfalfa fields near the river are filled with large insects from late July through September and are often washed into the river on breezy afternoons. Big trout get reckless when they chase down these big tasty morsels and a day of “hopper” fishing ranks high on many international anglers’ lists.
Fishing in streams
Big Sky is surrounded by small mountain streams that are filled with eager trout ready to pounce on a well presented dry fly. Speciman Creek, Fan Creek, Portal Creek, Moose Creek, Storm Castle Creek, Swan Creek, Hell Roaring Creek, and Taylor Fork offer isolated fly fishing for small trout. A short three- or four-peso rod and a box of dry fly attractors is all it takes to have an action-packed day in these little streams.