Frequently Asked Questions

No—you are welcome to book a day, or two (or three!) of guiding with us without staying on-property. In fact, we’ve had a lot of Bozeman locals go fly fishing with our guides to either learn to fly fish, go out on an unfamiliar river, or practice or refine their skills.

Not at all. We get a number of beginners, and our guides are more than happy to offer guidance and patient instruction. All you need is the desire to learn.

That depend on a few factors. One of those factors is whether you want to float versus walking or wading in the river. Others include the kind and number of fish you’d like to catch, water flows, your ability level, and of course, the weather. Your TroutChasers fly fishing guide will discuss these factors with you prior to deciding where to take you.

The State of Montana makes purchasing a fishing license easy: you can do it online. Please note that anyone over the age of 11 will also need to purchase a conservation license in addition to a fishing license. An Angler Aquatic Invasive Species Prevention Pass, or AISPP, is also required for everyone fishing in our state. Find out more here. You can also pick up a license after you arrive at one of many local businesses.

In our opinion, the best days to go fly fishing in Montana are days that end in “Y.” Nevertheless, seasons do differ, and prime fishing can vary based on our winters—and on the kind of fish you’re looking to land. Waters usually begin to warm in April and the first part of May, and trout and insects become more active. It is once the spring runoffs have ended by early June, however, that we see our peak season beginning. It lasts well into September and folks are still on the rivers in October and early November. As for booking, we suggest you do so six months to a year in advance.

Absolutely. It may take some finagling on our part in terms of scheduling, but we’ll do everything we can to make it happen.

Yes, we do. We invite you to reach out to us to discuss options that will help you be comfortable while enjoying a fantastic day of fly fishing.

Of course! Almost all of our guides began fishing when they were kids and are excited to help young people learn and enjoy the sport of fly fishing. We do ask that you let us know how young your children are so that we can structure an adventure that’s perfect for them.

Yep! Please note that you do have to be over the age of 21 to consume alcohol in Montana, and we encourage all guests consuming alcohol to drink responsibly.

We can’t guarantee you’ll catch a specific type of fish; however, we’ll be going after a variety of local species, including:

• Rainbow Trout

• Brown Trout

• Cutthroat Trout

• Cutbow Trout (Cutthroat/Rainbow Trout Mix)

• Mountain Whitefish

Although we’ve had many guests ask this question with the hopes of dining on their catch, our answer is “no.” Montana rivers and waterways have experienced mounting pressures over the last decade, impacting our native trout populations. That’s why, TroutChasers practices to catch-and-release fly fishing exclusively. If you’re craving a delicious trout dinner, however, we can recommend several excellent local eateries in and around Bozeman.