Book a fly fishing trip with us
Yellowstone Angler is the place to go to find the best gear and the most knowledgeable guides for fly fishing in Southwest Montana! Whether you are looking to float the Yellowstone River, wade fish one of the Paradise Valley Spring Creeks, or experience a hike and strike in Yellowstone National Park, you’ll enjoy spending a day on the water with one of Montana’s best fly fishing guides.
At the Yellowstone Angler, we act as booking agents, not only for some of the best fly fishing guides in Montana but also for Montana outfitters - who operate under their own outfitter's license. Most all of these guides and outfitters have documented over 500 days experience on the water.
We are eager to hear your fishing wishes and help match you up with the perfect guide, whether you require extra patience as a first-time angler, or you are a seasoned veteran.
- Three person float trips must include one angler 11 years of age or younger
- Rod fees (fees paid to fish private property) are not included
- Guide trip rates do not include fishing licenses
- YNP trip rates do not include the YNP entrance fee
- Recommended gratuity (15-20%)
What’s Included
- Flies
- Leaders / Tippet
- Rod and Reels (if needed)
- Boots and Waders (if needed)
- Lunches
- Beverages
- Shuttle
What’s Not Included
- Fishing Licenses
- Guide Gratuity (20% of trip cost recommended)
- Entry Fee to YNP (if applicable)
- Beer or Alcoholic beverages
- Hats / Polarized Sun Glasses
- Raincoats / warmer clothing (if needed)
- Sunscreen/lip balm
Call us to book your Trip
The best way to book your trip is to call us at 406-222-7130 and discuss your plans in detail. Logan Brown is our guide booking manager, but any of us here at the shop can help you set up your trip. Even if you’re not quite ready to book a trip, please feel free to give us a call — we’re always happy to talk fishing and can hopefully steer you in a good direction of where to go to achieve your fishing goals. You can also e-mail us at staff@yellowstoneangler.com. Or, you can send a letter to Yellowstone Angler, P.O. Box 629, Livingston, Montana 59047.
Give us an idea of the time you are considering for your trip, the number of guests, and the number of days you would like book. It is important to book as early as possible, especially if you would like to fish with some of your favorite guides.
Spring creek reservations in particular are very limited in June and July. We’ll do our best to line you up with the outfitter or guide of your choice. Keep in mind that returning clients retain the option to rebook their favorite outfitter or guide for the following year. If clients do not exercise this option at the end of their trip or make other arrangements, we book our guides on a first-come, first-served basis
Customize Your Fishing Trip
We will be happy to create a custom itinerary that is perfect for your schedule and make all the necessary reservations for you on any of the private waters you want to fish including the spring creeks, or any private lakes. During peak season, a little flexibility with your schedule goes a long way. Feel free to ask us about our favorite local accommodations and restaurants.
Once we set up an itinerary for your trip, we’ll send it your way for approval by email or letter. We’ll try to make whatever revisions you request. Once we have your trip set, we’ll charge a 50% deposit. Please note there is a 3% credit card processing fee if you chose to pay with a credit card. Alternatively, you are welcome to pay with a check, money order, or cash. The remaining 50% balance is due at the conclusion of your trip.
Float Trips
Major “blue ribbon” rivers we fish include the Yellowstone, Bighorn, Madison, Missouri, Jefferson, Gallatin, Boulder, and Stillwater rivers. Most of these call for McKenzie style drift boats, but the smaller rivers may require a raft depending on the time of year. We also use boats to fish local and private lakes. (*Note, the section of the Gallatin we float you have to get out of the boat to fish, so the boat is used primarily as a river taxi).
Typically, the guides utilize McKenzie style drift boats, the finest craft for float fishing the Yellowstone and other large rivers in Montana like the Madison River, the Missouri River, the Bighorn River, and other blue ribbon rivers. On some of the smaller, rockier streams that are more difficult to navigate, the guides use inflatable rafts that are comfortably equipped for anglers.
Wade Trips
Some of the finest fishing close to Livingston are the famous Paradise Valley Spring Creeks: Armstrong’s and DePuy’s. These spring creeks are on private ranches and the owners charge rod fees of $50-$150 depending on the season. Other good streams we wade fish are the Boulder River, West Boulder River, Stillwater, Gallatin River, East Gallatin, and a handful of streams we don’t care to mention online!
Yellowstone National Park Trips
We are one of only a few select fly shops that maintain a commercial use fishing license inside Yellowstone National Park. This allows our Yellowstone fly fishing guides to take you to superb rivers and streams within Yellowstone National Park, including Slough Creek, the Lamar, Soda Butte, the Madison, the Gardner, the Firehole, and others. Those who are willing to “hike a nd strike” will experience some of the most remote and beautiful streams in the country. We also have several spots that are closer to the road if you have members in your party that are unable to hike very far.
Yellowstone National Park Info
Private Lake Trips
Stillwater fishing can be great fun for both beginner and exper anglers. In general, you will catch more trout (and bigger trout) on a day of guided lake fishing verses a day guided on the Yellowstone or Spring Creeks.
There are different size classes and species on the private lakes we fish, meaning the smaller fish are great for beginners to learn to strike, strip set, get tight, let the fish "run" and other skills required to catch and land fish. Since there are lots of smaller fish, (often 10-12"), the opportunities to improves skills are plentiful.
Advanced anglers will appreciate the larger fish found in these lakes. The thrill of sight fishing to a two footer who is cruising the weed line looking for callibaetis spinners on 5X can be quite a thrill. It reminds us of saltwater fishing, but if you look up at the scenery you are rewarded with beautiful, sometimes snow capped mountains.
LUNCH
The guides and outfitters we work with go to great lengths to make your lunch a memorable part of the fishing day. At the time of your booking please specify if you have any food allergies, dietary concerns or requests. Many anglers prefer a quick lunch so they can keep fishing, but if you prefer a longer lunch, or even a "hot lunch" please let us know and we can do everything we can to make your experience on the river better.
Please note that half-day trips do NOT include lunch, but your guide will have a cooler with beverages for the day and plenty of space for you to bring your own snacks.
Payment, Deposit & Refunds
We take a 50% deposit at the time of the booking, we will run the remaining 50% balance either on the day of your trip, or the final day if you are fishing with us multiple days. Most anglers choose to pay with a credit card for both their deposit and balance, however please note there is an added 3% credit card fee processing fee for this option. We also welcome a check, money order, or cash.
If you wish to pay your deposit with a check, we must receive the check within two weeks from the day you make the booking. This option is only available for bookings at least 1 month in advance. In the event that we have not heard from you, or received your deposit, we will make a final effort to contact you. If we have not received a deposit within two weeks from the date the booking was made, we will be forced to cancel your reservations.
Our Cancellation Policy
Deposits are fully refundable up to 30 days prior to your trip. Within 30 days of your trip, we will still refund in full if we can rebook the outfitters or guides. We are one of the only shops who still operate like this, as nearly all other outfitters or shops will keep your deposit no matter what. In the end, we just want to protect the guides and outfitters who have a limited amount of time to make their seasonal wages.
We do ask that you contact us immediately if you need to either change your dates or to have your booking canceled. This will give us more lead time to re-book the guide, (or possibly the private water), which will help us get you your deposit back.
If you cancel within 30 days, (and we cannot rebook your guide), we will keep your 50% deposit. If you cancel within 7 days of your trip, (and we cannot rebook the guide), we will require full payment for your guide fees as well as any private water rod fees. Anytime we can rebook your guide or your private water rod fees we always give you your money back.
Gratuities
Please remember to bring some cash to tip your guides. We are often asked how much anglers should tip their guides: $100 to $150 a day is what most of the guides average, which is 15-20 percent. In the case of amazing service and an unforgettable day we have seen tips over $200.