Winter Fly Fishing In Montana: Insider Tactics For Anglers

Fly fishing in Montana is one of the most enjoyable outdoor activities in the state, attracting visitors from all over the world to our fishy waters. Montana's peak season runs in the summer, with warmer weather and the big hatches following the rising water temperature.

If you're like me you may not be ready to hang up your waders for half the year and call it quits. Just because the water got colder doesn't mean the fish suddenly disappeared! The only things that disappear are the crowded rivers and the added pressure on the fish.

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If you are willing to add layers and learn new tactics, you might have even more success than you would think during the so-called "non-peak" season.

How do you pick the right fishing spot?

Before you tie a fly on, switch up how you scout the water. The fish are no longer in the shallows that produce during summer months. The water is cold, and they congregate in deep, slow-moving pools. The great news about this is if you do find a good pool, then there are likely to be not just one but dozens.

Other good spots are side channels and slow bankside water.

What time of day is the best to catch trout in the winter?
There's no need to wake up at the crack of dawn for winter trout fishing. The best times to catch trout are typically late morning to mid-afternoon. Even a slight change in temperature from the sun can significantly affect their feeding patterns.

What type of Fly should I use?

You will have the most success using a nymph.

If you're entirely new to fly fishing, nymphs imitate bugs in the larva stage and float down on the bottom of the river.

A girdle bug, aka stone fly or rubber legs, is something I always have in my fly box. Usually, a size 6 or 8 is tied to a smaller nymph to trail behind.

Another excellent option for your first nymph is the classic San Juan worm.

Think super small for trailing nymphs tied to the larger rubber legs or San Juan worm. Pheasant tails or a zebra midge in the range of size 20 are good options.

How to find the right depth?

You've found a fishy-looking pool, and you're all set with the right nymphs, but you still can't catch anything. Start to change up the depth of your indicator. You never know exactly where your fishy snacks are presenting underwater, which will take trial and error. Some other solutions to this are casting further up the river to give it more time to sink, or you can add weight to your nymphs. They make weighted nymphs, or you can use beadhead patterns.

I hope these tips help you in your winter fishing adventures! If you have more, please message us on our app!

Credit: Montana Angler