A few weeks ago I asked for suggestions about fishing in Montana and got some good suggestions. Our plans are now a little more finalized and I’m looking for specifics.
Our plan is to be traveling along I-90 on July 4th and end up in Livingston. Any specific spots along I-90 where I should stop and wet a line for a couple of hours? We will have all day to get from Spearfish, SD to Livingston so I should be able to stop along the way and try my luck.
We will be in the Livingston area the night of the 4th and all day the 5th. What can a person do for a couple hours in an evening or early morning?
On the 6th of July we will be traveling down Hwy 191 along the Gallatin River. Would like to spend an hour or two someplace along there as well. Where do you suggest? We will have all day to get to West Yellowstone so I think stopping once or twice is a good option.
We will then spend a couple of days in the West Yellowstone area. I think I would like to hire a guide for a float trip in this area, perhaps on the Madison. Any suggestions as to guides, etc.? Should I spring for the full day trip or maybe a 1/2 day trip and spend the rest of the day on my own?
We will then head through “The Park” on our way toward Red Lodge and end up in Billings for one night before heading home.
Royce,
I’m very interested in responses to your post. My son and I will be in West Yellowstone from July 6 through July 14. It’s just the ‘guys’ without mom so we’re going to be mostly fishing for those days.
He’s 13 so we have to mix in some sight seeing and “town time” to keep him interested.
With above average snowfall and cool spring so far, runoff may be an issue on some of the rivers you’ve mentioned. Just based on my experience, I’d avoid 191 from Bozeman to WYel - it’s the route most of the truckers use to-and-from the park, and I’ve been in more backups there than anywhere else in Montana due to accidents. I’d either take 89 from Livingston-Gardner (lots of places to stop and fish the Yellowstone in Paradise Valley and the scenery is spectacular) and then go through the Park to WYel or take 84 from Bozeman to Norris and then follow 287 along the Madison (lots of good fishing all along there) to WYel. As far as guides go, if I had the money I’d do a full day trip, listen real well to what the guide says, and then go out and try it yourself - get some pointers on evening fishing, too because there’s lots happening on the rivers when the sun goes down. Lots of good shops there; I’ve used Blue Ribbon and can recommend them highly.
My son and I have been going to the Madison the past 2 years. We are planning to go again but the fuel cost sure is adding up. We are still trying to finalize the dates since they had a record snow fall this year and we would like to catch the Salmon fly hatch. My son is 12 and he likes to fish hard but he is still a kid. We stayed at the Slide Inn who let us car camp for $10 night. Kelly Galloup has nice water right behind place and it worked out well for us. We could fish hard for a few hours and head back to camp and there were kids my son could play with during the breaks. I know Kelly has guides working out of his shop but we have not used them but I hear they are highly recommended. We fished Soda Butte Creek in the park for Native Cutt Throat. The Deer flies have been really bad the last couple years and 100% deet does not seem to slow them down. The SA Ultrathon product seemed to work the best. I would take some Benedryl to keep the swelling to a minimum.
My son hung out in Kelly’s fly shop and was aloud to tie all the flies he wanted with their materials. He caught a nice brown with a monkey butt sculpin pattern for the $1 fly bin.
If we do go we will be camping at the Slide Inn so stop by and say hello.
Neil Travis reported the Yellowstone (Jellystone to locals) will probably crest on the 4th.
That means high water, looks like chocolate milk. No, not fishable.
There is still a LOT of snow in the high country that feeds most of the rivers in the Livingston, Bozeman, West Yellowstone area. Given the current weather situation, wet and cool, I would not anticipate that the Yellowstone will be ready for serious fishing until at least the 2nd week in July. The Gallatin, in the upper reaches above Taylor Fork, should provide some action by the 1st week in July. The Madison should also be producing by then, however, the 4th of July period is a busy time, and with some of the more popular rivers marginal at best the remaining waters will be crowded. Plan accordingly.
