Big Sky Anglers
Travel & Tackle Guide

Welcome to your Fly Water Travel trip guide. We’re excited to help you prepare for your upcoming adventure! Inside, you’ll find everything you need: your to-do list, travel logistics, destination notes, and a curated tackle guide tailored to your trip.

Getting Ready

We’ve created a quick checklist of essential tasks to make sure you’re fully prepared for the journey ahead. If questions come up or you need anything at all, just give us a call, we’re here to help every step of the way.

To-Do List:

✓ Review itinerary

✓ Arrange flights to/from West Yellowstone or Bozeman, MT or Idaho Falls, ID

✓ Arrange transfer from airport to lodge

✓ Purchase fishing license – see below for details

✓ Complete your personal online guest registration

✓ Sign the outfitter’s waiver via your guest registration


Big Sky Anglers
Travel Guide

From how to get there and what documents you’ll need to tipping guidelines and destination details, this section covers the practical information to ensure smooth travels.

Getting to the Lodge:
To get to Big Sky Anglers and the Golden Stone Inn, guests need to arrange flights to West Yellowstone or Bozeman, Montana or Idaho Falls, ID. If flying to West Yellowstone the lodge can arrange a transfer from/to the airport. If flying to Bozeman or Idaho Falls, guests will rent a vehicle and drive themselves to the lodge. The drive to the lodge from Bozeman or Idaho Falls is approximately 2 hours.

Golden Stone Inn
115 S Faithful Street
West Yellowstone, MT 59758

Big Sky Anglers
39 Madison Avenue
West Yellowstone, MT 59758

Arrival Day:
Guests are asked to arrive at the lodge anytime after 4:00 PM.

Departure Day:
Guests are asked to depart the lodge by 11:00 AM.

Shuttle Services:

Travel Cash:
We recommend each guest travel with enough cash for staff and guide gratuities.

Credit Cards:
The lodge accepts credit cards

Gratuities:
Guides at Big Sky Anglers typically receive $150-$200 per day per guide. Gratuities may be handed directly to your guide at the end of each fishing day in cash or check, or you can leave gratuities with the lodge at check-out to be distributed to your guides. Lodge cleaning staff typically receive $10-$20 per night per room, gratuity may be left with the lodge manager at the end of the trip.

Fishing Licenses:
Fishing licenses are not included. We recommend purchasing your
licenses after establishing the fishing plan with your guides at Big Sky
Anglers. Licenses can be purchased online:

Alternatively, licenses are available at local fly shops and may be paid for with cash or credit card. Please be aware this will cut into your fishing time.

Cell Coverage and Wi-Fi:  
Cell service is reliable in West Yellowstone and Wi-Fi is available at the inn.

Power:
The inn has 24-hour power.

Laundry:
Laundry facilities are not available at the inn, please pack accordingly.

Water:
Water at the inn is potable.

Beverages/Alcohol:
The Inn’s lounge has wine and beer for guests to purchase after fishing. Guests who prefer cocktails can walk or taxi to the liquor store a few blocks away.

Emergency Medical Assistance:
The nearest medical facility is in Big Sky, Montana, approximately one hour from the Inn. Guests
have the responsibility to disclose any special medical, physical or dietary needs to the lodge ahead of time.

Recommended Medical Evacuation Carrier and Insurance Provider:
Global Rescue

Big Sky Anglers
Tackle Guide

Here you’ll find everything you need to be ready on the water. You’ll find our preferred setups, favorite flies, recommended packing list, and notes on tackle available at the lodge.

Big Sky Anglers Fishing Tackle Overview

Big Sky Anglers can provide all needed fishing equipment, including waders and boots, though you are welcome to bring your own gear tailored to the region's diverse rivers. For the area's waters, a 9-foot, 5-weight rod serves as the primary workhorse, while a 9-foot, 4-weight offers excellent reach for technical sections and a 9-foot, 6-weight is ideal for handling wind and larger patterns. While weight-forward lines are standard, double tapers excel at technical mending, and for walk-and-wade trips, breathable waders with studded rubber-soled boots are required, though wet wading is a great option on warm summer days. Finally, the guides supply an excellent assortment of the most effective local patterns as part of your package price, though you are welcome to bring along your own flies as well.

Big Sky Anglers Primary Setup

A 9-foot, 5-weight rod is the ultimate workhorse for the diverse waters of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. Whether you are fishing the broad, sweeping runs of the Madison River, wading the technical spring creeks, or exploring the varied waters of Yellowstone National Park, this setup offers the ideal balance of delicacy and power.

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Big Sky Anglers Secondary Setup

A 9-foot, 6-weight rod serves as the heavy-duty workhorse in your lineup when conditions demand extra power, wind resistance, and the ability to throw larger rigs. While a 5-weight handles general tasks, the 6-weight shines when you need to turn over bulky terminal tackle or fish larger waters with confidence.

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Big Sky Anglers Five Favorite Dry Flies

Dry fly fishing in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem offers some of the most visual and rewarding moments an angler can experience. From technical spring creeks to broad, sweeping rivers, presenting a floating imitation perfectly to a rising trout requires precision and the right pattern selection. Carrying a thoughtful assortment of dries—such as the Chubby Chernobyl, RIO's Morrish Hopper, Elk Hair Caddis, Parachute Adams, and RIO's Foam Run Caddis—ensures you are prepared to match the hatch and capitalize on the region's prolific seasonal fly activity.

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Big Sky Anglers Five Favorite Nymphs

Nymph fishing in the waters surrounding West Yellowstone one of the most effective ways to target trout when they are feeding below the surface. From deep, heavy runs on the Madison River to technical spring creeks and pocket water, presenting the right subsurface pattern is key to consistent success. Having a well-rounded selection of nymphs—including the Pheasant Tail, Dirty Bird Nymph, Zebra Midge, Prince Nymph, and Rubber Leg Stone—ensures you are prepared to match the river's daily food sources and handle the varying currents of the region.

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Big Sky Anglers Five Favorite Streamers

Streamer fishing in the Yellowstone area is one of the most productive and exciting methods for targeting large or trophy trout holding in deep, heavy pools. Whether you are stripping through the swift, sweeping runs of the Madison River or exploring the varied waters of the region, presenting a subsurface baitfish pattern can trigger aggressive strikes when other methods fall short. Carrying a well-rounded selection of streamers—such as RIO's Brown Town, the CH Bow River Bugger, the CH RL JJ Special, RIO's Soccer Mom, and the CH Olive Blossom Special—ensures you are fully prepared to imitate local forage and move the biggest fish in the river.

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Suggested Packing List

We understand packing for an adventure is not easy. On a trip like this it is very important to have everything you need and nothing you do not. As the climate is extremely changeable and a wide range of temperatures and conditions can be expected, we recommend layering clothes. Anglers should be prepared with thermal underwear, fleece/soft shell jacket, and a rain jacket. Synthetic fabrics are preferred to cotton. Dress at the lodges/camps is neat but casual.

Documents:
Passport, plane tickets, itinerary, credit card, cash, business cards

Socks:
Four pairs of wool or synthetic socks to wear under your waders. Two pairs of town socks.

Base layers:
One to two pairs of synthetic or merino wool long underwear (tops and bottoms) to wear beneath your waders. One mid-weight and one heavyweight. These can be worn alone or together depending on conditions.

Shirts:
Two or three long sleeve fishing shirts. One or two lodge shirts.

Pants:
One to two pairs of long pants

Shorts:
One pair of quick-dry shorts

Warm Layers:
One or two warm insulating layers. Down, synthetic or fleece mid layers are good options. Avoid cotton.

Warm Jacket:
One warm jacket

Rain Jacket:
One high quality rain jacket

Gloves:
One pair of sun gloves and one pair of warm fishing gloves

Waders/Boots:
Some guests choose not to wear waders during the warm summer months. When fishing early or late in the season lightweight breathable waders are recommended. Neoprene socks are recommended when wet wading. Please note that felt soled wading boots are not legal in Yellowstone National Park.

Hats:
Two fishing/baseball hats. One warm cap.

Shoes:
One pair of sturdy walking shoes

Buff:
One “Buff” facial sun protector (good for bugs too)

Sunglasses:
One pair of polarized sunglasses. It is great to have a lens cleaner and a soft cleaning cloth as well.

Sunscreen:
One bottle SPF 30+

Lip Balm:
One tube of SPF 30+ lip balm

Backpack:
One waterproof backpack or boat bag for day gear

Headlamp:
One small LED headlamp with batteries

Camera:
Camera with extra batteries

Toiletries Kit:
Toothpaste and toothbrush, deodorant, razor, lotion, mini shampoo bottle, anti-inflammatory, sleep aid, earplugs, band aids, anti-bacterial ointment, antihistamines

Contact: Max Salzburg - Western Trout Destinations Manager

Max is Fly Water Travel's Destination Manager for Europe, New Zealand, and the trout fisheries of the Rockies and Pacific Northwest. The joke within Max's family is that he has always been a tour guide at heart who loves nothing more than traveling to new places and being a stranger in a strange land.

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