Boulder River and Other Montana Fly Fishing Waters

The Yellowstone River and Yellowstone National Park are in our backyard, but we also guide on other Montana rivers when clients want to see new water. These trips are a great way to expand a multi-day adventure, fish during shoulder seasons when local waters aren't producing, or check legendary Montana rivers off your bucket list. Travel fees and advance booking apply for all of these trips.

The Boulder River

The Boulder River is a tributary of the Yellowstone, located north of Big Timber, MT. It can be either waded or floated, depending on flows and the time of year.

Floating the Boulder from mid-June to mid-July is an excellent trip. Because the Boulder is a smaller river with more technical water, we use fishing rafts rather than drift boats. The river can only be floated at certain flows, so timing matters.

The Boulder is best suited for intermediate and advanced anglers. The fish are willing but the casting is tight, so quick, accurate casts get rewarded. If you're newer to fly fishing, a wade trip on the Boulder can still be a great experience at the right pace.

Other Tributaries We Fish

Beyond the Boulder, we run trips on several other Montana rivers when conditions and trip schedules align:

Bighorn River: Located southwest of Billings, MT, the Bighorn is a tailwater fishery, which means its flows and temperatures stay more consistent than the freestone rivers. That makes the Bighorn one of the best shoulder-season and winter options in Montana. The Bighorn is famous for big rainbows and browns and consistent year-round fishing.

Madison River: About a two-hour drive from Livingston, the Madison is on the Montana bucket list for nearly every serious fly angler. The "50-mile riffle" between Quake Lake and Ennis is some of the most iconic dry-fly water in the country.

Missouri River: Located near Helena, MT, the Missouri (or "Mo") is another excellent shoulder-season and winter option. Tailwater flows, prolific hatches, and large, well-fed trout make this a destination river for technical anglers.

Trips on the Bighorn, Madison, and Missouri are full-day adventures that require advance booking and additional travel time. We're happy to discuss which river fits your goals, skill level, and time of year.