Our Guide Trips

Fins & Feathers is a full service fly fishing outfitter and fly shop, centrally located just west of downtown Bozeman, Montana. We offer guided trips that range in duration from a simple half day outing to all-inclusive lodging packages. Montana fly fishing is a unique experience - one that draws fly fishers from around the world - that truly does offer something for everyone.

Bozeman is the perfect base of operation as there is simply no place like it in terms of diversity of accessible wild trout waters. We have everything from technical spring creeks to the longest free-flowing river in the lower 48 (Yellowstone River) - all just a short drive from our fly shop. Whether you are new to fly fishing or a well seasoned expert, our guides work tirelessly to provide an exceptional guided experience that has had clients returning year after year for over 10 years. 

Full Day Trips

Full day trips ($425)  typically last 8-10 hours from when we meet in the morning until we return to the fly shop at the end of the day. We include complimentary use of equipment such as rods, reels, waders, and boots on all of our guide trips. If you are fishing on your own a few days this same equipment is available for rent. All of our full day trips also include lunch, beverages, miscellaneous tackle, and all the flies you need for the day. Either bring your own gear or just use ours – all you have to do is show up with some appropriate clothing - we’ll take care of the rest.

We have access to hundreds of miles of river and streams around SW Montana – it seems like everyday starts with discussing the various options. “Hmmm….should we look for risers on a spring creek today or float the Upper Madison?” There is a never ending list of world class fly fishing possibilities around Bozeman. The guide typically tries to narrow the choices down for our guests and pick the best destination based on a variety of factors including weather, angler skill levels, expectations, and any time constraints.

We generally recommend float trips on the larger rivers and wade fishing on smaller streams. Either is usually an option, so be sure to let us know if you have a preference one way or another. Floating really opens up a ton of possibilities for the fly fisher and is the best way to experience our large western rivers, regardless of skill level.

The only “non-inclusions” in the trip price are your fishing licenses and any “rod fees” associated with private water. The licenses are available here at the fly shop or online at Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks. Rod fees vary by landowner and are always discussed with our guests prior to booking - so there are never any surprises when your trip is finished.  

Half Day Trips

Half day trips($375) are generally scheduled for either mornings or afternoons – so they either begin or end around 12:30. Since we are usually on a restricted timeframe of 4-5 hours, our guides try to stick close to the area and focus half day operations on wading either the Gallatin or Lower Madison. We can sometimes provide half day floats on the lower Madison when conditions are right – there is an additional charge of $50 for half day floats.
As with our full day trips, we provide complimentary use of equipment, flies, and non-alcoholic beverages. You’ll still have to get a fishing license, even for just a half day trip.

Multiple Day Trips

Fully experiencing the diversity of fishing around our region would simple take a lifetime. A single day is a great way to get familiar with a specific river, but it really takes a few days to fully appreciate everything we have to offer. We’ve been guiding people year after year for several days at a time and we’ve never had any complaints about running out of options! If you want to fish a lot of different water and see all the area has to offer take a look at booking 3-5 days with one of our guides. Book 5 or more days of consecutive fishing with one of our guides and the rate is $400 a day (normally $425).

After putting in 1000’s of days of guiding anglers in Southwest Montana over the last 10 years, we’ve found some things that work and some that don’t. In terms of trying to sort out or generalize what the ideal length of a trip should be, we’ve really found that 3-5 days is about perfect for everyone. We’re happy to book a guest for a single day, half day, or 10 days in a row with the same guide – it is our intention to provide a terrific experience that will make each client come back for more every year.

Our general policy is to try to match the same guide for everyday of a trip . There are times when scheduling conflicts arise and we need to make substitutions with another one of our core guides. When these issues arise, your scheduled guide will let you know about any changes on your first day. 

Lodging & Fishing Packages

Packages make for convenience - it’s that simple. We’ve partnered with a few lodging operations over the years that have consistently provided excellent service and value to our clients. Whether you choose to book your lodging on your own or opt for the convenience of one of our options, we strongly recommend each of these operations.

Fins & Feathers of Bozeman acts as a booking agent for the various lodging vendors in our packages. Therefore, we take care of the reservations and the only payment made directly to the lodging providers is for incidentals. Our standard package rates are for double occupancy in the rooms and with the guide. We can easily customize any of our itineraries to better fit your schedule so just ask if you don’t see exactly your ideal package.