I will be traveling through Bozeman, Livingston, and Billings, Montana in the near future and I need some fly tying materials. Some fly shops stock more fly tying materials than other shops and there are a dozen or more shops in the area, can anyone help narrow down the list of the shops that cater more to fly tyers and keep a selection of fly tying materials on hand? I suspect that “Blue Ribbon” in West Yellowstone would be my best bet, but they would be a long way of out my way to visit.
Specifically, I want a good soft hackle partridge neck, some squirrel tails, and possibly some other soft hackle necks.
Anyone have any suggestions for the Bozeman, Livingston, or Billings area?
Troutfitters, in Bozeman is a good shop; decent selection of tying materials and no-b.s. fishing reports. The Bob Wards has some tying stuff, too, and you can often get screaming deals on hackle there. A few other shops in BZN that I’m sure are good, too, but no personal knowledge. Been to Yellowstone Angler and Dan Bailey’s in Livingston, but I was only there to get my license and didn’t do much sniffing in the tying sections. I’ve only been to Bighorn River Fly Fishing in Billings once, but it was a pretty cool shop.
If you have the time while in Bozeman, you would sure enjoy driving down to West Yellowstone. 5+ great fly shops. Of them, Blue Ribbon Flies caters to the tier.
Guess you did say you won’t have the time. Sorry about that.
Might also try George Anderson’s just out of Livingston…
There is a fly shop west of Bozeman at four corners, I don’t recall the name but as you turn south towards West Yellowstone they are on the right. They have a very good selection of materials. There is another shop in Livingston, other than Dan Baileys it’s next door to the IFFF headquarters and museum. Both the owner and his daughter tye so they have a good stock of stuff.