THE BEST OF THE BEST OF MONTANA

The best price

on fly fishing packages in Montana

Spring & Fall Specials

April 1 - June 1

October 1 - October 30

(for mid summer prices please refer to our fishing and lodging page)

Enjoy the best of off season fly fishing that Montana has to offer. The variety of packages available gives you the opportunity to pick and choose based on the amount of time you have and your budget.

The fishing options are endless. Packages offered include fishing on the Yellowstone, Madison, Gallatin or Boulder Rivers, the three famous Spring Creeks (DePuy’s, Armstrong’s or Nelson’s) or any combination that you choose.

All lodging is at the historic Mission Creek Ranch. Formally the sight of Ft. Parker, Mission Creek Ranch is without a doubt once of the most beautiful and historic ranches in Montana. The ranch offers 2 miles of private access to the Yellowstone and one mile of access to the Mission Creek that meanders throughout the upper ranch. The lodge was built in 2001 and offers all the modern amenities along with spectacular views of the Absaroka Mountain Range. The entire facility is beautifully decorated with traditional western antiques and Montana memorabilia.

Fishing and Lodging Packages

3 nights ~ 2 days
Two full days of fishing on the Yellowstone, Madison or Boulder Rivers
Single Angler $1400.00
Based on 2 anglers / double occupancy $750.00 per person

4 nights ~ 3 days
Three full days of fishing on the Yellowstone, Madison or Boulder Rivers
Single Angler $1900.00
Based on 2 angler / double occupancy $950.00 per person

5 nights ~ 4 days
One full day on a Spring Creek, two days on the Yellowstone, Madison or Boulder Rivers. Final day is anglers choice.
Single Angler $2300.00
Based on 2 anglers / double occupancy $1250.00 per person

6 nights ~ 5 days
Two full days on the Yellowstone, Madison or Boulder Rivers, two days on Spring Creeks (Armstrong’s Nelson’s or DePuy’s). Final day is anglers choice
Single Angler $3250.00
Based on 2 anglers / double occupancy $1650.00 per person

Packages include all breakfasts, lunches, lodging, fishing, two-dozen flies, rods and reels, private access to two miles of the Yellowstone River and Mission Creek.

Not included with package: Transportation to and from airports, fishing license and gratuity.

Fishing Report, May 16, 2007

Yellowstone River

Water Levels
Livingston: 13,000 cfs
Water Temperature: 51
Visability: 0
Water conditions: Poor

Comments: The Yellowstone River is out of commission and will be until the middle of June. With our temperatures in the 80's through Mother's day, the CFS could reach the 13,000 - 15,000 level. All tributaries into the Yellowstone are also blown out as well. So, we will be driving off to the Madison or Missouri Rivers, area lakes, etc..

I do think that with the run off starting early, we should be back on the Yellowstone by mid-June.

Patterns: Nymphs (size 16 - 20), Pheasant Tail, Copper John's, Rubber Leg Hair's Ear, Rubber Leg Stone, Prince Nymph, Caddis Larva, Caddis Pupa, Red Midge Larva, San Juan Worm and egg patterns.

Streamers: Woolly Buggers - olive, brown and black, Double Bunny, Sculpin patterns- olive, dark brown, black and all Mohair Leeches - all colors.

Spring Creeks

Armstrong's, DePuy's & Nelson's

Water Level: 200 - 250 CFS

Temperature: 48 degrees

Water Conditions: "Gin" clear

Hatches: Midges are early and late in the day. Baetis hatches are best from about 11:00 - 2:00.

Patterns: (size 18 - 22)Griffith's Gnat, Zebra Midge- red, black, Midge Clusters, Sawyer Pheasant Tails, Pheasant Tail Flash Backs, WD-40's, RS2's, Midge Larva-red, black, tan and grey, Caddis Pupea & Larva, San Juan Worm, egg patterns. Baetis patterns include, CDC Comparadun, CDC Baetis Emerger, Barrs Emerger and Trey's Baetis Emerger.

Comments: The Livingston weather this week has been more like winter than spring. Daily highs have been in the low 40's, with evening lows in the teens. Livingston has recieved a little of 1 inch of moisture in the last few days and is suppose to continue into next week. The photos above were taken mid and late March on DePuy's Spring Creek. The fishing on all of the Spring Creeks has been great. The dry-fly fishing has steadliy become more consistant due to the nice weather we have had over the last week and a half or so. We feel that the fishing on the Spring Creeks will continue to fish well as long as the weather cooperates.

The spring creeks are currently loaded with spawning rainbows and the fishing has been excellent. Midge activity is more consistent early and late in the day. Spring Baetis are more active mid-day. If there is no surface activity taking place, nymphing, riffles and slow water around weed beds should produce.

Lower Madison

Water Level: 2700cfs
Water Temperature: 58 degrees
Water Conditions: Visability 2-3 feet


Comments: The Lower Madison is still fishing well with golden stones, yelly sully, baetis, midges, caddis and soon we can add salmon flies to the list. Our fish time has been split between dry's and streamers and have been successful with both. The dry's pretty straight forward, just match what you see. Fish at the bottom, rust, olive, black streamers, 4-6, cray fish patterns, nymphs emergers caddis, baetis midge under a dry or through standard nymphing methods.

The Lower Madison should continue to fish well, but one thing to keep your eye on is the amounts of water they release from the dam. With run off underway, some day's the flow is increased, which can result in tough fishing.

Hatches: Midge activity is intermittent. It is best early and then again late in the day. Baetis activity is going to pick up in the next few weeks.


Patterns: Dry- Midge and Baetis patterns
Nymphs - Pheasant Tail, Pheasant Tail Flash Back, Prince Nymphs, Hare's Ears, Lightning Bugs, Caddis Larva, Pupa, Copper John's, Midge Larva's - red, black, grey and tan.


Streamers - Woolly Buggers - olive, rust, black and tan, Craw fish patterns, Double Bunny, Mohair Leaches and Muddler Minnows.

Boulder River

Water Level: 155cfs
Water Temperature: 39


Water Conditions: Clear above West Boulder
Hatches: Midges





Patterns: Nymphs, Pheasant Tail, Pheasant Tail Flash Back, Saw Bugs (grey, orange and pink), Copper Johns, any Midge Larva, Pupa, San Juan Worm, Hare's Ear, Caddis Pupa.



Dry Fly Patterns: any midge pattern size 18 - 22





Comments: Even though the Boulder is only flowing at 155cfs it is fishing quite well. All of our success came from fishing the deep holes with small streamers and double nymph set-ups. The rainbows are very active due to the fact that they are in their spawning run and are quite numerous. The West Boulder has been throwing quite a bit of mud due to run off. The best results are above the confluence of the West and Main Boulder.

Yellowstone

The Yellowstone
Originally uploaded by champy1013.

Yellowstone National Park on a beautiful morning.