HOT TO GO
Though we had a great winter of ice fishing here in Montana, we just wrapped up our last trip on the ice and couldn’t be more excited that we are rolling into full-on fly fishing mode.
Yes, folks are still skiing local mountains and kids are still playing winter sports, but we are now hitting the water almost every day and are loving every minute.
If you didn’t know, from now, when the ice melts, until runoff makes our rivers look like an unfishable torrent of chocolate milk, is a great time to hit the water in Southwest Montana for a few reasons.
One, there are fewer people in the water because tourist season and school vacations are still months away.
Two, when it is cold the fish eat less to conserve energy and have seen little to no angling pressure during the winter months, which means they are more willing to eat and easier to catch as we head into warmer spring days.
Three, there are a slew of great hatches that happen as the water temperatures begin to rise as we move into March, April and May. It starts with Midges, and then we see a variety of mayflies like Blue-winged Olives, then come the Skwalas, and, finally, Caddis–all of which the fish will key on at certain times during the spring.
Last week we had a great float on the Varney to Burnt Tree stretch on the Upper Madison, with everyone in the boat landing their fair share of fish. Each day more boat ramps are opening up, making more water accessible to anglers.
While the Upper Madison is coming online, let’s not forget about the Lower Madison, a great fishery only about a half-hour drive from downtown Bozeman. Early in the year (and again in the fall), this river fishes incredibly well and supports some amazing insect life with the Caddis hatch especially producing some epic fishing.
SNOWPACK UPDATE:
The recent spurt of warm weather means our driveways are starting to widen out from the encroaching piles of snow and we are even seeing spots of grass along the roads in Bozeman.
But, from the looks of it, the snowpack is holding up pretty well at higher elevations. In fact, at last check, the Madison, Gallatin, and Yellowstone ranges have actually seen a slight uptick in snow water equivalent since our last newsletter and the same goes for the Jefferson and Missouri basins.
Remember, while we’ve had a great snow year here in Southwest Montana, which should translate to some great summer fishing, we’re hoping for a slow melt that feeds our rivers with a steady stream of the cool water trout love and saves our towns and wildlands from any damaging floods.
LICENSE TO FISH
Just a reminder, we’re into a new license year in Montana, which runs from March 1, 2025 to the last day in February 2026. If you are planning on doing any fishing in Montana this year we recommend grabbing your license as soon as possible so you don’t forget.
If you book a trip with us, once we get your deposit, you’ll receive an email with a link to buy your license on the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks website.
Montana residents have the option to buy seasonal or 2-consecutive days licenses, while out-of-state anglers can get seasonal, 5-consecutive, or single-day licenses.
To legally fish on the waters we guide on, you need to have your license on your person while you are fishing. We recommend printing out your license but you can also have it on your phone–just make sure it is downloaded because many places we fish don’t have cell service.
Also note that Yellowstone National Park has its own license so if you plan to fish in the park or want to book a trip with us in the park, you’ll need to purchase a separate license.
The National Park Service offers yearly (Jan. 1-Dec. 31), seven-day, and three-day licenses, all of which can be bought on Recreation.gov. The same rules apply regarding having your license with you at all times while on the water. Purchase your YNP fishing permit HERE.
GUIDE PROFILE
MATT HOFF
HOMETOWN: Conifer, Colorado. It’s about an hour west of Denver, near Cheesman Canyon. Its claim to fame is that it is close to Red Rocks Amphitheater. The best show I saw there was the DJ Pretty Light with members of the Colorado Symphony.
FIRST FISH ON THE FLY: I was fishing with my dad and I caught a rainbow trout on a red San Juan worm in Waterton Canyon in Colorado.
FLY FISHING LINEAGE: My dad Dave was a pretty well-known fly designer for folks like Pat Dorsey, so I grew up in the world of fly fishing. His most famous fly was probably the Antron Baetis, a really cool emerger pattern.
FAVORITE FLY: That’s a tough one, but simple is usually the best, so I’ll say with the wireworm. It’s not the most exciting answer, but what can you say, they just work.
FAVORITE DETOUR: In between living in Colorado and Montana, I spent five years in Hawaii fishing around Maui on a 42’ Bertram. I crewed for three years and then got my captain’s license. To this day, my favorite thing in the world is fishing for marlin–there’s nothing like it!
LESSON FROM BEING A CAPTAIN: If something bad happens, it’s your fault. On the positive side, it has helped me take control of situations and communicate what I expect of others and myself, which really can be helpful when guiding clients–giving them clear expectations really improves the experience.
WHY GUIDING: Because I love watching people overcome things they don’t think they’ll be able to do. I’ve had so many clients say, “I’m not going to be good at this,” and then, after they learn to cast or catch a few, they surprise themselves and fall in love with fly fishing.
FAVORITE PLACE TO GUIDE: Land of the Giants on the Missouri. Not only do I get to drive the jet boat, but the scenery is amazing, and the fish are big. Plus, there’s all the history with Lewis & Clark and Sacagewea that just adds something special to a day on the water.
FAVORITE BOOK: Trout Bum by John Gierach. It makes me think back to when I was younger and dreamed about the freedom of being a trout bum. And now, here I am, making a living from it.
FAVORITE MUSIC: Classic rock, I’m talking eighties hair rock. Def Leppard, Bon Jovi, and my favorites, Van Halen. It’s great cruising music.
FAVORITE ACTIVITY: Fishing. There’s nothing else. I could say tying flies, but I’d be lying.
FAVORITE MEAL: Steak. I like it rare, bloody, and purple.
GUIDING ETHOS: It’s supposed to be fun, so don’t get frustrated. The more you enjoy it, the better you’ll be.
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