The Rivers

Yellowstone          Missouri          Beaverhead          Madison          Jefferson          Big Horn          Boulder          Stillwater

Begin planning for your river trip

The Rivers

Yellowstone          Missouri          Beaverhead

Madison          Jefferson          Big Horn          Boulder

Stillwater

Begin planning for your river trip

About the maps used on this site.

The maps of Montana and Yellowstone National Park are hand-drawn by artist Chris Robitaille. These and many other maps can be found at Xplorer Maps which creates the world’s finest hand-drawn and hand-lettered illustrations of national parks and other significant historical sites and destinations throughout the world. Every line, letter and icon is unique, custom and original to each new map rendered. Originally designed to pay homage to the early cartographers, these high quality and exceptionally detailed custom maps are rendered by Chris Robitaille (Xplorer Maps artist and co-owner) using an antique, old-world style.

visit xplorer maps here

  • Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button

  • Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button

  • Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button

  • Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button

  • Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button

Yellowstone River

The longest undammed river in the lower 48! The Yellowstone River provides great dry fly fishing opportunities all summer long starting with the Mothers Day Caddis hatch that typically rolls into the large and epic salmon fly hatch which then rolls right into Grasshoppers on the surface through August. If you enjoy watching eager trout rise to a dry fly the Yellowstone River is the place for you! With chances to catch rainbows, browns, brook trout, and our very own Yellowstone cutthroat trout.

Length of river

692 Miles. From Yellowstone Park to the North Dakota border.

Section Floats

From Gardiner to Big Timer. 105 Miles, in 6-10 mile sections.

The catch

Rainbow, Brown, Cutthroat, Brooke

Yellowstone River

The longest undammed river in the lower 48! The Yellowstone River provides great dry fly fishing opportunities all summer long starting with the Mothers Day Caddis hatch that typically rolls into the large and epic salmon fly hatch which then rolls right into Grasshoppers on the surface through August. If you enjoy watching eager trout rise to a dry fly the Yellowstone River is the place for you! With chances to catch rainbows, browns, brook trout, and our very own Yellowstone cutthroat trout.

Length of river

692 Miles. From Yellowstone Park to the North Dakota border.

Section Floats

From Gardiner to Big Timer. 105 Miles, in 6-10 mile sections.

The catch

Rainbow, Brown, Cutthroat, Brooke

  • Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button

  • Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button

  • Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button

  • Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button

  • Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button

Missouri River

The Missouri River has an abundance of hard fighting rainbow and brown trout eager to eat nymphs and rise to the surface to sip a variety of bugs including Midges, PMDS, and blue winged olives. Giving off more of a freestone feel a few miles down from the dam, the canyon section of the Missouri River winds through breathtaking views of steep canyon walls dotted with deer and Bighorn sheep. The Missouri River fishes well year round, typically you can expect midges and bwo’s in May with PMDS following in June. A Hopper dropper rig is very common over the summer months with streamer fishing being a productive way to catch that brown trout of a lifetime in the fall.

Length of river

2,341 Miles. From Three Forks Montana to the middle of Missouri.

Section Floats

Holter Reservoir to the town of

Cascade Montana. 35 Miles, in 6-10 mile sections.

The catch

Rainbows, Browns

  • Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button

  • Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button

  • Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button

  • Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button

  • Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button

  • Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button

Missouri River

The Missouri River has an abundance of hard fighting rainbow and brown trout eager to eat nymphs and rise to the surface to sip a variety of bugs including Midges, PMDS, and blue winged olives. Giving off more of a freestone feel a few miles down from the dam, the canyon section of the Missouri River winds through breathtaking views of steep canyon walls dotted with deer and Bighorn sheep. The Missouri River fishes well year round, typically you can expect midges and bwo’s in May with PMDS following in June. A Hopper dropper rig is very common over the summer months with streamer fishing being a productive way to catch that brown trout of a lifetime in the fall.

Length of river

2,341 Miles. From Three Forks Montana to the middle of Missouri.

Section Floats

Holter Reservoir to the town of

Cascade Montana. 35 Miles, in 6-10 mile sections.

The catch

Rainbows, Browns

  • Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button

  • Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button

  • Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button

  • Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button

  • Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button

  • Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button

  • Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button

  • Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button

  • Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button

  • Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button

  • Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button

  • Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button

Beaverhead River

The Beaverhead is a tailwater that starts below Clark Canyon Reservoir and flows into the Jefferson River near Twin Bridges Montana. Just below the dam you will find large quantities of Rainbow and brown trout in the 16’’-20’’ range. The preferred method for fishing the “Upper Beav” is with the “Ubangi” rig which is a euro style of nymphing. This can be a very effective and productive way of catching LOTS of trout! Not to mention Large trout. The bug life and hatches can be very impressive with carpet hatches of PMDS and Yellow Sallies starting in June, along with BWOs and Midges alost all year long. If your looking to try and land that Brown Trout of a lifetime The Beaverhead River is the place to go!

Length of river

69 Miles. From Clark Canyon Reservoir to the Twin Bridges.

Section Floats

6-10 mile sections

The catch

Rainbows, Browns

Beaverhead River

The Beaverhead is a tailwater that starts below Clark Canyon Reservoir and flows into the Jefferson River near Twin Bridges Montana. Just below the dam you will find large quantities of Rainbow and brown trout in the 16’’-20’’ range. The preferred method for fishing the “Upper Beav” is with the “Ubangi” rig which is a euro style of nymphing. This can be a very effective and productive way of catching LOTS of trout! Not to mention Large trout. The bug life and hatches can be very impressive with carpet hatches of PMDS and Yellow Sallies starting in June, along with BWOs and Midges alost all year long. If your looking to try and land that Brown Trout of a lifetime The Beaverhead River is the place to go!

Length of river

69 Miles. From Clark Canyon Reservoir to the Twin Bridges.

Section Floats

6-10 mile sections

The catch

Rainbows, Browns

  • Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button

  • Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button

  • Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button

  • Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button

  • Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button

  • Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button

Madison River

Referred to as the 50 mile riffle The Madison River is shallow and swift with the Rainbows and Brown trout holding in buckets or small depressions in the stream bed. The Madison River is known for its epic bug hatches, including midges, brown and green drakes, PMDs, Stoneflies, and Terrestrials throughout the summer months. Just before the runoff there are good hatches of BWOs and midges. This can be great fishing and a much less crowded time to fish if the weather will cooperate.

Length of river

183 Miles. From Yellowstone Park to Three Forks Montana where is converge with two other rivers to form the the Missouri River.

Section Floats

6-10 mile sections

The catch

Rainbows, Browns

  • Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button

  • Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button

  • Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button

  • Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button

  • Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button

Madison River

Referred to as the 50 mile riffle The Madison River is shallow and swift with the Rainbows and Brown trout holding in buckets or small depressions in the stream bed. The Madison River is known for its epic bug hatches, including midges, brown and green drakes, PMDs, Stoneflies, and Terrestrials throughout the summer months. Just before the runoff there are good hatches of BWOs and midges. This can be great fishing and a much less crowded time to fish if the weather will cooperate.

Length of river

183 Miles. From Yellowstone Park to Three Forks Montana where is converge with two other rivers to form the the Missouri River.

Section Floats

6-10 mile sections

The catch

Rainbows, Browns

  • Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button

  • Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button

  • Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button

  • Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button

  • Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button

  • Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button

  • Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button

  • Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button

  • Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button

  • Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button

Jefferson River

The Jefferson River is the shortest (83 miles) of the three tributaries that make up the Missouri. From its source near Twin Bridges to its confluence with the Madison at Missouri Headwaters State Park, the Jefferson is one of the primary water sources for this section of the state. For the most part, the Jefferson is a three-season fishery. The pre-runoff spring season and the late summer / early autumn shoulder seasons are hands-down the best producers. Because the Jeff is big and wide, expect to do a lot of casting when prospecting for hookups. Due to comparatively low fish density, (700 to 800 fish per mile) the trout in the Jefferson can be on the larger side, but they can also seemingly disappear.

Length of river

83 Miles. From Twin Bridges to Three Forks Montana.

Section Floats

6-10 mile sections

The catch

Rainbows, Browns

Jefferson River

The Jefferson River is the shortest (83 miles) of the three tributaries that make up the Missouri. From its source near Twin Bridges to its confluence with the Madison at Missouri Headwaters State Park, the Jefferson is one of the primary water sources for this section of the state. For the most part, the Jefferson is a three-season fishery. The pre-runoff spring season and the late summer / early autumn shoulder seasons are hands-down the best producers. Because the Jeff is big and wide, expect to do a lot of casting when prospecting for hookups. Due to comparatively low fish density, (700 to 800 fish per mile) the trout in the Jefferson can be on the larger side, but they can also seemingly disappear.

Length of river

83 Miles. From Twin Bridges to Three Forks Montana.

Section Floats

6-10 mile sections

The catch

Rainbows, Browns

  • Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button

  • Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button

  • Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button

  • Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button

  • Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button

Big Horn River

The Yellowtail Dam created a classic tail water fishery that is cold and clear in the summer and ice free in the winter. Rainbow and brown trout are prevalent. Recent fish counts indicate an unsurpassed fish population of 5000 - 6000 brown and rainbow trout per river mile. Typically we fish scuds and midges year round and expect to see BWOs in the spring and fall with PMDs, caddis, and Yellow sallies during the summer months.

Length of river

The Bighorn River is  approximately 461 miles long, starting in Wyoming and and flows north to its confluence with the Yellowstone River.

Section Floats

6-10 mile sections

The catch

Rainbows, Browns

  • Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button

  • Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button

  • Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button

  • Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button

Big Horn River

The Yellowtail Dam created a classic tail water fishery that is cold and clear in the summer and ice free in the winter. Rainbow and brown trout are prevalent. Recent fish counts indicate an unsurpassed fish population of 5000 - 6000 brown and rainbow trout per river mile. Typically we fish scuds and midges year round and expect to see BWOs in the spring and fall with PMDs, caddis, and Yellow sallies during the summer months.

Length of river

The Bighorn River is  approximately 461 miles long, starting in Wyoming and and flows north to its confluence with the Yellowstone River.

Section Floats

6-10 mile sections

The catch

Rainbows, Browns

  • Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button

  • Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button

  • Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button

  • Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button

  • Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button

  • Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button

  • Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button

  • Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button

Boulder River

The Boulder River offers a chance to get out in one of our rafts and really go for an adventure with beautiful scenery as well as hit little pocket water with your fly as our guides put you in the right spot. The Boulder River is a blue ribbon fast moving stretch of water that is home to rainbow and brown trout. Our ability to fish this piece of water is dependent on spring runoff so call us for availability during the month of May.

The catch

Rainbow, Brown, Cutthroat, Brooke

Boulder River

The Boulder River offers a chance to get out in one of our rafts and really go for an adventure with beautiful scenery as well as hit little pocket water with your fly as our guides put you in the right spot. The Boulder River is a blue ribbon fast moving stretch of water that is home to rainbow and brown trout. Our ability to fish this piece of water is dependent on spring runoff so call us for availability during the month of May.

The catch

Rainbow, Brown, Cutthroat, Brooke

  • Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button

  • Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button

  • Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button

  • Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button

Stillwater River

The beautiful Stillwater River begins in the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness and flows North toward the town of Columbus, Montana where fishing access sites are good. Typically fishing this stream starts by mid July and August via rafts, but good wade fishing can also be had in the early spring with very good mayfly hatches starting around early March. This is definitely a dry fly fishing river and fishing this pocket water stream with a big hopper or stonefly pattern can be awesome. While this is primarily a pocket water fishery – which lends itself to attractor flies – there are very consistent hatches of March Browns, Baetis (Blue winged olives), Golden Stones, Yellow Sally’s and numerous caddis hatches. Stillwater River fishing averages rainbows and browns range from 10-16″.

The catch

Rainbow, Brown, Cutthroat, Brooke

  • Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button

  • Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button

  • Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button

  • Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button

  • Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button

Stillwater River

The beautiful Stillwater River begins in the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness and flows North toward the town of Columbus, Montana where fishing access sites are good. Typically fishing this stream starts by mid July and August via rafts, but good wade fishing can also be had in the early spring with very good mayfly hatches starting around early March. This is definitely a dry fly fishing river and fishing this pocket water stream with a big hopper or stonefly pattern can be awesome. While this is primarily a pocket water fishery – which lends itself to attractor flies – there are very consistent hatches of March Browns, Baetis (Blue winged olives), Golden Stones, Yellow Sally’s and numerous caddis hatches. Stillwater River fishing averages rainbows and browns range from 10-16″.

The catch

Rainbow, Brown, Cutthroat, Brooke

  • Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button

  • Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button

  • Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button

  • Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button

  • Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button

Our Half and Full Day Rates

half day includes:

Up To Two Anglers

All Necessary Fishing Gear

Professional Fly Fishing Instructor

Shuttle To and From Fishing Selection

Four Hours of Fishing

does not include:

Gourmet Streamside Lunch

Montana Fishing License

$550

choose date buy fishing license

full day includes:

Up To Two Anglers

All Necessary Fishing Gear

Gourmet Streamside Lunch

Professional Fly Fishing Instructor

Shuttle To and From Fishing Selection

Full Day of Fishing

does not include:

Montana Fishing License

$700

choose date buy fishing license

Plan your river float trip today. Send us your Preferred Date

teach  •  inspire  •  preserve

Share by: