Tiny streams can hold big rewards,
especially if you’re willing to hike off the
beaten path. Credit: Tempest Technologies
Southwest Montana
A trout fishing
mecca in Montana
The Madison. The Blackfoot. The Big Hole. The rivers
of Southwest Montana are legendary even to anglers
who have never ventured to this region. And those are
just the famous spots. In this vast landscape between
Glacier and Yellowstone national parks, equally great
fishing can be found along quiet waterways and within
the crystalline depths of stunning mountain lakes.
The only challenge is deciding where to start. Here are
eight waters where an angler can catch a stringer full
of memories.
The Madison River, nicknamed the “Fifty Mile Riffle,”
is home to vast quantities of hungry trout. The Missouri
River just below Holter Dam boasts classic tailwater
fishing; visitors often spend an entire vacation fishing
just this one short stretch of water.
The Beaverhead River’s tight twists and willowy
banks present technical challenges while harboring
the highest concentration of trophy brown trout in
the state. Just down the highway, the Big Hole River
is wide, gently winding water, home to hard-fighting
trout as well as fluvial arctic grayling.
Montana’s serene beauty provides
a stunning backdrop to every day of
fishing. Credit:Tempest Technologies
At Canyon Ferry Lake, hard-fighting
rainbow trout coexist with trophy
walleye. Credit: Donnie Sexton
In Southwest Montana, the fly that
catches fish today was probably tied by
the shopkeeper you met last night.
Credit: Tempest Technologies
Montana’s rivers are rightly famous,
but don’t forget still water hotspots
like Georgetown Lake.
Credit: Lisa Wareham
Even people who don’t fish tend to know about the
Blackfoot River. This is the waterway that braids
its way through Norman Maclean’s “A River Runs
Through It.” The Blackfoot remains one of Montana’s
wildest and most productive fisheries.
For a taste of fantastic still water fishing, Clark Canyon
Reservoir is a great bet for landing the biggest rainbow
of your life. Georgetown Lake offers nonstop action
for pan-sized kokanee salmon and slab-sized rainbow
and brook trout. For even more diversity, spend a day
at Canyon Ferry Lake targeting feisty walleye in the
morning and stout rainbows in the afternoon.
140 Fall 2016 Adventure Outdoors