Fall: September 15 - November 15
For many anglers, there is no experience more treasured than floating the Yellowstone or Madison River in solitude on a bright, crisp autumn day. Bugling elk and the whistle of wings from migrating waterfowl fill the morning air. Dry fly fishing starts to slow down, but steady risers can still be found on cloudy days during the Blue-Winged Olive emergence. Shorter days and cooler nights mean that the brown trout will soon be getting into pre-spawn mode and aggressively chasing streamers and big nymphs.
Late September is a time of transition for fishing across Southwest Montana as the hectic pace of summer is replaced with a much more leisurely pace of covering the water. The steady rise of trout in shallows is now the exception rather than the rule. Nymphing and streamer fishing becomes the most effective way to cover the water and we spend more time wading likely spots. Swinging streamers through deep runs on sinking lines can bring both quality numbers and size of wild trout on some days.
The weather in late fall tends to be unpredictable but comfortable until sometime after Halloween. We turn our attention to the Paradise Valley spring creeks once the really cold weather starts to show up as their water temperatures keep the fish feeding actively on the coldest of days. The creeks are easy to wade and have warming huts along the banks for shelter from the wind and cold. Rising fish and reduced rates make the spring creeks and ideal choice all through the late fall and winter.
A fall trip to southwest Montana is a great time of year to really take in all that the area has to offer. The rivers are typically void of other anglers and in ideal condition for both wade and float fishing. We can usually find some rising fish, but the real draw is covering large amounts of water in search of a true trophy-sized Brown. It truly is a remarkable time of year to spend a day on the waters around Bozeman.