SEPTEMBER TOTF NEWSLETTER
Last night in Bozeman, the mercury dipped to 41 degrees. Not great if you still have tomatoes on the vine but a relief if you’re a Montana trout. Cooler nights mean cooler water, which is a welcome change for fish looking for relief from an August that saw less than half an inch of rain and most days hitting the 80s or 90s.
The changing weather is evident in the recent removal of Hoot Owl restrictions on the Jefferson and Gallatin Rivers. Both rivers are now fully open to fishing, giving us a few more fishing options.
Breaking news!! As of 9/8/25, fishing restrictions have been lifted on the Madison River in Yellowstone National Park. Anglers can now fish during regular fishing hours from sunrise to sunset on the Madison and all associated tributaries.
In Yellowstone National Park, conditions have improved, and rivers that were previously under afternoon closures are now fully open. Effective immediately, the Madison, Firehole, and Gibbon rivers, along with their tributaries, are open to fishing without restrictions. There are currently no temperature-related closures park-wide. This is fantastic news! Let’s get fishing.
BYE BYE BEETLES…
…and ants, and grasshoppers. Sadly, it looks like the terrestrial bite is in its final days on local rivers. If you’re really persistent, you can find a fish here and there that are willing to move on a hopper/dropper set up but as each day goes by it makes fishing with these patterns harder and harder.
As we wait for the October caddis to make their reemergence, we’re keeping our eyes peeled for Blue-winged olive hatches. As the weather changes from summer to fall the chance increases of getting those cool, overcast days that make BWOs pop.
Keep your eyes on the forecast, and if you see a crummy-looking day in the forecast, be sure to have your BWO patterns ready to roll.
BOOK EARLY, BOOK OFTEN
Other than great outings and guests, our biggest takeaway from this summer’s fishing season was that the folks who book with us don’t mess around when it comes setting up their trips. Before many were even done with their day’s fishing they were already booking for next year. Needless to say, we have more than a few guides that are already booked solid from April to August in 2026.
Luckily, not only is our guide pool incredibly talented, it’s also incredibly deep. We still have full-day and half-day slots open for peak times next spring and summer but don’t wait too long. If you want to get your first choice of day or days on the water give us a call as soon as possible. And when you book with us make sure you also book your lodging as well–good places to stay go as fast if not faster than good guides!
SOUVENIR SHIPPING SALE
So you came to Montana this summer, fished with us, but didn’t get a chance to pick up some Trout On The Fly swag. Let’s remedy that unfortunate situation. Pick from our selection of TOTF-branded merchandise, including apparel (t-shirts, fishing shirts, hats, sweatshirts) and accessories (koozies, stickers, gift cards) for the perfect way to remember your trip.
When you make your purchase, be sure to mention in the order notes that you read about our gear in the newsletter, and we’ll give you free shipping.
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