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 Bozeman, Missoula, or Butte, Montana

✓ Arrange transfer to/from airport to lodge

✓ Purchase fishing license – see below for details

✓ Complete your personal online 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 Complete Fly Fisher, most guests fly into Bozeman (BZN) or Missoula, Montana (MSO), rent a vehicle, and drive to the lodge. With advance notice, the lodge can arrange an airport shuttle for an additional fee. Butte is also a viable option.

Complete Fly Fisher
66771 MT-43
Wise River, MT 59762

Drive time from BZN to lodge: 1 hour 45 minutes
Drive time from MSO to lodge: 2 hours 10 minutes
Drive time from BTM to lodge: 1 hour

Directions to Complete Fly Fisher from Bozeman Airport:

  • Start out driving northwest on Gallatin Field Rd./Wings Way toward Service Dr.
  • At the traffic circle, take the second exit onto Gallatin Field Rd.
  • Continue onto Airway Blvd.
  • At the traffic circle, take the second exit on Airway BLVD
  • Take the ramp onto I-90 W, stay on I-90 for 65 miles
  • Take exit 121 for I-15 S toward Dillon/Idaho Falls
  • Continue onto I-15 S for 18 miles
  • Take exit 102 for MT-43 toward Divide/Wisdom
  • Turn RIGHT onto MT-43 for 18.3 miles
  • Complete Fly Fisher will be on your right

Directions to Complete Fly Fisher from Missoula Airport:

  • Head North on Airway Blvd toward the I-90 entrance
  • Continue through the traffic circle and turn right onto I-90 E toward Missoula
  • Continue for 117 miles
  • Take exit 219 for I-15 S toward Dillon/Idaho Falls
  • Continue on I-15 S for 18.2 miles
  • Take exit 102 for MT-43 toward Divide/Wisdom
  • Turn RIGHT onto MT 43
  • Complete Fly Fisher will be on your right

Arrival Day:
Guests are asked to arrive at the lodge any time after 3:00 PM.

Departure Day:
Guests are asked to depart the lodge by 10:30 AM.

Travel Cash:
We recommend each guest travel with enough cash for staff and guide gratuities. The lodge asks that guests pay all gratuities in cash.

Credit Cards:
The lodge accepts credit cards.

Gratuities:
We recommend gratuities of 15-20% of your package price before taxes. Gratuities may be given to the lodge manager at the end of the week to disperse amongst guides and lodge staff.

Fishing Licenses:
Fishing licenses are not included. Please purchase your license online before your trip.

Licenses can be purchased at: https://fwp.mt.gov/buyandapply/fishinglicenses

Cell Coverage and Wi-Fi:
Cell phone coverage in southwest Montana continues to improve but can be sporadic. Most guests will not have cell phone coverage and Wi-Fi is available throughout the property.

Power:
Complete Fly Fisher has 24-hour power.

Laundry:
Laundry service is not available, please pack accordingly.

Water:
Water at the lodge is potable.

Beverages/Alcohol:
Alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages are included in your package.

Emergency Medical Assistance:
The nearest medical facility is in Butte, approximately 1-hour from the lodge. 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 - https://partner.globalrescue.com/fwtravel/index.html


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.

Complete Fly Fisher Fishing Tackle Overview

Complete Fly Fisher provides all necessary fly fishing equipment, including premium rods, reels, terminal tackle, waders, and boots, though you are welcome to bring your own gear tailored to the region's rivers. For these waters, a 9-foot 5-weight rod serves as the primary workhorse for dry flies and light nymphing, while a 9-foot 6-weight rod is ideal for handling afternoon mountain winds, throwing larger indicator rigs, and casting heavy streamers. Weight-forward floating lines are standard, but double tapers are also acceptable. For comfortable walk-and-wade fishing, breathable waders and rubber-soled boots are required, though wet wading is an excellent option on warm summer days. Finally, while your guides supply an extensive assortment of the most effective local fly patterns as part of your package price, you are always welcome to bring along your own favorite flies.

Complete Fly Fisher Primary Setup

A 9-foot 5-weight is the most versatile rod for the area. It’s delicate enough to present dry flies cleanly on the Wise River, but it has the backbone to punch through the afternoon wind across the Big Hole Valley. It easily manages dry-dropper rigs and weighted nymphs, and it gives you the leverage you need to quickly land the river's larger trout without exhausting them.

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Complete Fly Fisher Secondary Setup

A 9-foot 6-weight is the ideal choice for handling more demanding conditions on the Big Hole River. This rod provides the extra power needed to cut through the frequent afternoon winds and efficiently cast heavier setups, such as large foam hopper-dropper combinations and weighted nymph rigs. Additionally, a 6-weight offers the necessary backbone for throwing streamers along the banks.

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Complete Fly Fisher Flies

The guides have an excellent assortment of the most effective flies 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 Big Hole include:

  • Chubby Chernobyl
  • Pat's Rubber Legs / Girdle Bug
  • Sparkle Dun
  • Elk Hair Caddis
  • Bead-Head Woolly Bugger

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


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.

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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