Frequently Asked Questions

• We are located in Columbia Falls, MT which is 30 minutes form the west entrance of Glacier National Park. The closest airport is Glacier International Airport (FCA) in Kalispell, MT. Nearby towns include West Glacier, Whitefish, Kalispell, and Big Fork.
• We also travel to the Missouri River which is located near Craig, MT. The closest airport is Great Falls International Airport (GTF) located in Great Falls, MT or Helena Regional Airport (HLN) located in Helena, MT.

It depends! Dress for the weather, since Montana weather can change fast. Always bring a rain jacket, hat, and sunglasses. Sunglasses are a must at all times for eye protection on the water; polarized lenses also help you spot fish.

• Hot, sunny days: a long-sleeve sun shirt or sun hoodie, lightweight sun pants, and sandals or water shoes like Chacos that can get wet.
• Cooler, partly sunny days: add a mid layer or light jacket.
• Cold months: layer up with a good base layer, a warm mid layer, and a quality outer shell.

Do I need waders?

• Usually not. Waders are only worth bringing in very cold temps, or on rainy or snowy days when you want the extra warmth.

Your Montana fishing license. Buy it online from Montana FWP or locally at select stores, such as Super One or Murdoch's in Columbia Falls. 

Snacks and food. Bring whatever you'd like to eat on the boat. We have a cooler on board for anything that needs to stay cold.

You'll be in good company. Most of the anglers we guide in the Flathead Valley are brand new to fly fishing, and we take you from start to finish. Every trip begins with a fly casting lesson, and we'll talk through where fish hold in the river, what bugs they eat, and the how, why and where behind catching them. Then we put it all to work as we drift the river, targeting (and hopefully landing) some Westslope Cutthroat. If you catch the fly fishing bug, you'll head home with skills you can use on your own home waters.

We fish year-round. Montana offers great fishing in every season, and having several rivers to choose from means there's always somewhere good to go.

• Winter: Can be particularly productive, especially on days above freezing. There's very little fishing pressure and bigger fish in the system, which makes for some memorable days.
• Spring: A big push of fresh fish moves into the system, many of which haven't seen a fly in months, and the fishing can be extremely good. The Flathead can get tricky with changing conditions and bumps in water levels, but the Missouri is a dam-fed tailwater that stays stable and fishes phenomenally until about July 1.
• Summer: The rivers drop and settle, and the dry fly fishing takes off. Cutthroat look to the surface for bugs, so the fishing is visual and fun, and the weather is warm and predictable.
• Fall: As temperatures cool after the late-summer heat, fish get more active. Bigger fish drop down from the upper river system into the main stem of the Flathead where we guide, giving you shots at big, mature cutthroat and rainbows on small dry flies.

Whatever time of year you're visiting, we'll take you out.

Yes, we fish through some rough weather. Rain, wind and cold are part of Montana, especially in spring and fall, but those shoulder seasons also happen to be some of the best times to catch fish. That's why we recommend bringing comfortable, weather-appropriate layers, so you can stay warm, enjoy your day and keep fishing.

If conditions become dangerous, such as heavy lightning, extreme winds or high water events, we won't go out. We'll reschedule your trip to another available date, or if that's not possible, refund your trip in full.

Yes! We take out beginners and kids all the time and teach them to fly cast at their own level. The goal is simply a fun day on the water together.

Kids need to be at least 5 years old to join a trip, since younger children have a hard time spending four hours on the water. Around age 7 is when most kids can really start fly fishing themselves. Some get hooked right away and others less so, but there's plenty to do either way: skipping rocks, peering into the clear water, soaking in the views, and hanging out with family.

Our drift boats are built for small groups, so larger families often book multiple boats and split up The boats hopscotch down the river together, staying close so you can enjoy each other's company and share the day.

On the Flathead, you'll primarily be catching Westslope Cutthroat and rainbow trout. The Flathead  river is also home to whitefish, suckers, brook trout and bull trout, so you never quite know what's on the end of your line. Jet boat trips on the lower Flathead add Northern Pike and Smallmouth Bass to the mix.

On the Missouri River, it's brown and rainbow trout, plus whitefish. 

On float trips, we fish out of fiberglass drift boats, built specifically for fishing moving water. They have comfortable seats and lean bars that give you stable footing for casting through the currents. There's no motor, just your guide on the oars. Each boat fits two anglers comfortably, and we can often make room for two parents and a small child.

Yes. We primarily guide fly anglers, but if you'd rather spin fish, we're happy to put you on likely water and share tactics to help you succeed. Spin gear can be provided if you don't have your own, just let us know when you book. Fair warning, though: we'll probably try to talk you into giving fly fishing a shot. Fly fishing a Montana river is something special, and we think everyone should experience it at least once.