Every day, each pair of fishermen will have the opportunity to experience a different fishery, or return to their favorite spot. Anglers will be targeting browns, rainbows, cutthroats and cut-bows. There are literally dozens of places to experience with Boulder River Outpost, and the guides have their finger on the pulse of the best opportunities, taking into account hatches, weather, angler ability and fishing taste. In most cases you will formulate a plan in the evening after dinner for the next morning, but weather and other conditions could affect that plan.
Boulder River:
Montana’s Boulder River is a hidden, fly fishing gem of the upper Yellowstone drainage. Small, fast, and aptly named, the Boulder is hard to beat. The river’s out of the way location, combined with its proximity to other major, better-known rivers, tend to keep fishing pressure in the moderate range. As with the Stillwater, movies such as The Horse Whisper and A River Runs Through It chose areas on this river to film.
Our floats on the Boulder, depending on water levels, start below the Natural Bridge State Monument, a stretch excellent for dry fly fisherman and streamer fisherman alike. Using large streamers in the many deep holes and along the undercut banks is a wonderful way to catch the river’s large brown trout. For the dry fly angler, the Boulder River has excellent caddisfly hatches throughout the summer. Just use a large hopper, floating it right along the banks, picking up brown trout and rainbow trout as you go. A person on a Montana fly fishing trip in July should always have lots and lots of hoppers.
During the summer, due to the relatively low fishing pressure, standard dry flies like the Parachute Adams and Elk Hair Caddis work very well. Of course, as the Boulder River flows through ranch country with lots of hay fields, it is also prime hopper fishing water come late July through August.
Early July can boast some excellent dry fly and nymphing for good size trout. July has excellent numbers of PMDs. July and early August have the annual summer caddis hatches. Elk Hair Caddis and small Pheasant Tail droppers are most effective. Hoppers and beetles are excellent options as the August heat sets in.
Other rivers in the are that you may fish while at Boulder River Outpost include:
West Boulder, East Boulder, The Stillwater, Yellowstone, Musselshell, Sweet Grass, DePuy's, Armstrong, Nelson's.
The options here are seemingly endless. If you would like to know more give as a call!
