Who is best suited to this destination?
Montana Fly Fishing Lodge is a great destination for anglers of all skill levels and physical abilities.
Where is the lodge?
The lodge is located in Southcentral Montana, approximately 5-miles south of the town of Absarokee, 1-hour west of Billings and approximately 2-hours east of Bozeman.
How do I get there?
To get to Montana Fly Fishing Lodge, guests will fly to Billings (BIL), then take the included lodge shuttle to the lodge. Guests are also welcome to fly to Bozeman (BZN) and rent a car or pay for a
shuttle to the lodge.
When should I go?
The season runs from April 1 – November 15, with peak dates being between May 15 – October 1. Generally, April 1 – May 15 and October 1 – November 15 experience cooler and less settled weather, but the shoulder seasons can be very productive fishing.
How will I fish?
On the spring creeks and smaller freestones, guests will walk and wade, while on the mid-sized and larger rivers, rafts and drift boats are employed. Guests will employ a wide range of techniques depending on the conditions at hand.
Is there wade fishing?
Yes. On the small private ranch, spring creeks and smaller freestone rivers, guests will walk and wade. On the larger float fishing rivers, the guides can pull over and walk and wade some of the choice runs.
Where will I fish?
The lodge’s home waters are the Yellowstone Basin coming off the east slopes of the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness. While fishing at Montana Fly Fishing Lodge, guests will have access to:
- Eight miles of small, private ranch spring creeks.
- Three small, freestone walk/wade streams. East Rosebud, West Rosebud, and Rock Creek.
- Four mid-sized rivers floated with a fly fishing frame outfitted raft. The Stillwater, Boulder, and Shoshone Rivers.
- Two larger rivers floated with a Mackenzie style drift boat. The Yellowstone and Bighorn Rivers.
- One spring-fed lake
How long does it take to reach the fishing grounds?
Anywhere from 5- to 90-minutes each way, depending on which river guests are fishing. Most drives are 15- to 30-minutes.
What type(s) of fish will I catch?
Brown trout, rainbow trout, brook trout, Yellowstone cutthroat trout, and mountain whitefish.
How many fish will I catch?
Depending on the conditions and the fishery, guests can expect to land approximately 10 fish per day, with some days offering higher catch rates.
Will I see other anglers?
You may see a few other anglers during peak season on the larger rivers, but Southcentral Montana sees much less pressure on the rivers than other parts of Montana. When fishing the private spring creeks, guests will not see other anglers.
What are the guides like?
The guides are all safe, professional, energetic, gregarious, easy going, and patient.
What are the physical demands?
The small spring creeks are easy to walk and wade, and great for guests of all physical abilities. The small freestone rivers are more rigorous and will require a general level of fitness to be fully enjoyed. When rafting or drifting, the physical demands are minimal.
Are there any special skills required?
No.
Does the lodge provide equipment?
The lodge can provide all fishing equipment if needed. Flies are provided by the guides.
What is your favorite setup for the trip?
The fully outfitted guest would have a 3-or 4-weight rod for the spring creeks, a 5-weight for the mid-sized rivers, and a 6-weight streamer rod for use on the Yellowstone River.
What are the top flies?
Standard, straight-forward, classic trout flies. Throughout the season and over the course of individual days, it will be common for your guides to change flies often. Smaller mayflies, ants, beetles, and hoppers all come into play, but your guides will have what you need.
What are the options if water conditions become challenging?
Due to the variety of fisheries, it is unlikely that none of the local rivers will be fishable, but should the conditions become challenging, the lodge has a games barn and hot tub on-site. The lodge can also offer lots of non-angling activities, including massages, horse riding, mountain biking, hiking, wilderness tours, whitewater rafting, and golf. The tourist town of Red Lodge is approximately 30-minutes from the lodge and guests can poke around town at their leisure.
What is a typical day like?
7:15 AM: Breakfast
8:00 AM: Launch with your guide
12:00 PM: Lunch riverside
4:00 PM: Return to the lodge. Upon arrival back at the lodge, you will be greeted by staff with the drink of the day and welcome-back service.
6:30 PM: Evening activities start with appetizers and live music (many nights), followed by dinner.
What is the general vibe, atmosphere, and style of the lodge?
Authentic, relaxed, and unpretentious, with a very high level of service ingrained in all that they do.
Is there an on-site owner, manager, or other point-person at the lodge?
The owner/operators, Lincoln and Judi Powers, are present every day.
Where do we eat, and what are the meals like?
The dining area is on the lower level of the lodge. They do, however, like to change venues for dinner based on the client count and profile. They have several covered outdoor options they use for al fresco dinner service when the weather is nice. The meals are highly acclaimed, chef prepared, four course dinners.
What is the alcohol policy?
All beverages are included in the package pricing. If guests would like something specific, guests are welcome to bring it with them. The staff are trained bartenders and ensure clients have the beverage they are interested in.
Where do we stay, and what are the accommodations like?
Montana Fly Fishing Lodge has nine accommodations made up of four lodge rooms and five canvas cabins. For two of the lodge rooms and all canvas cabins, the bedding arrangement is a flexible configuration. They can either be two XL Twins or a single King. The other two lodge rooms are a fixed configuration of double Queen beds in each. Regardless, throughout the property, all mattresses are BeautyRest Black mattresses.
Single/private accommodation is available for an additional $200/night/client.
Is there internet and/or cell service?
Yes. There is Wi-Fi throughout the property. Both AT&T and Verizon cell carriers operate well at the lodge.
Are there other activities?
Yes, lots! Horseback trail riding, Fly Fishing day-trip via horseback, driving tours of the area, golfing, whitewater rafting, massage therapy at the lodge, and UTV riding on jeep trails in the mountains.
Are there any other expenses?
Lodge transfer from/to Bozeman, staff and guide gratuities, and fishing licenses.
Do I need a Visa?
No
Are there any health concerns, dangers, or annoyances?
We recommend that guests always consult with the U.S. Department of State and the Center for Disease Control websites for general travel information and guidelines.
