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:

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

✓ Arrange transfer from airport to lodge

✓ Purchase fishing license

✓ Complete personal online guest registration and sign the outfitter's waiver

✓ Get travel cash

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 (WYS), Bozeman (BZN), Montana or Idaho Falls (IDA), 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 two 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 on the day they are scheduled to check in.

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:
The following are guidelines, gratuities are up to the discretion of the individual guest.

  • Guides: $150-$200 per day per guide.

    Gratuities may be handed directly to the guide at the end of each fishing day (cash or check), or this can be left with the lodge at check-out to be distributed to the guides.

  • Lodge Staff: $10-$20 per night per room.

    Gratuities may be left with the lodge manager at the end of the trip.

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

Alternatively, licenses are available at local fly shops the morning of the first scheduled fishing day (in cash or by credit card), though this will cut into the fishing time.

Cell Coverage and Wi-Fi:  

  • Cell Coverage: Reliable in West Yellowstone
  • Wi-Fi: 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 Flys

The guides have an excellent assortment of the most effective flies for the West Yellowstone area, and they supply them as part of your package price. With that said, you are welcome to bring along as few or as many of your own flies as you like.

If you would like to pack your own box, five regional favorites for the area's rivers include:

  • Sparkle Dun
  • Elk Hair Caddis
  • Royal Wulff
  • Parachute Adams
  • Pheasant Tail Nymph

Please feel free to call Fly Water Travel for assistance in putting together a selection of flies best suited to your trip.



Support Your Local Fly Shop

If you need assistance with assembling your gear for your upcoming travels, we encourage you to support your local fly shop. This curated list of tackle is handpicked for your destination by our experts and can serve as your shopping list to get your ready for your next adventure. Find your local Far Bank dealer.

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

Facial Sun Protection:
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

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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