We often joke that if you looked up “trout stream” in the dictionary, you’d find a picture of Rock Creek. For over 50 miles, our beloved Rock Creek meanders through some of the most gorgeous country in western Montana. A teaming population of multiple trout species readily take flies here, making it a serious contender for the best fly fishing river in Montana. Every summer, anglers from all over the globe travel to experience the vast, picturesque trout fishing that...

Searching for the right holiday gifts can be drag, and searching for the right gift for the fly angler in your life can be more than confusing. To make gift shopping easier for you, we created our 2024 fly fishing gift guide that highlights our favorite new fly fishing gear. Stop stressing about getting it right and shop from our list of stocking stuffers and under the tree fly fishing gift ideas. Contents: Stocking Stuffers: Small Fly Fishing Gifts Under...

Streamer fly fishing is not for the faint-hearted, but for those seeking the thrill of hunting down trophy trout, it’s the ultimate challenge. In Missoula, where the Montana fly fishing season attracts anglers from all over, many focus on dry flies and nymphs. But for a select few, the true magic happens in the shoulder seasons of spring and fall, when it’s time to break out the streamers. Streamer fly fishing, which involves stripping, jigging, or swinging large forage patterns...

In Montana, we love to use streamers for fall fly fishing. It’s one of our favorite ways to target big fish! In this season, the fish are aggressive and looking to gain calories before the winter sets in. On cloudy days, trout will chase down streamers with reckless abandon and crush them. This is also a surefire way to get into some of the biggest fish of the year. All you need is a 6-7 wt fly rod, sink tip…

Written by Aidan Morton To most, the dry, pale shade of yellow that overcomes our lawns, fields, and hillsides is a sign that the dog days of summer are upon us. To fly fishermen, however, late summer in Montana is synonymous with low water and big hopper fly patterns.   While our beloved summer stonefly and mayfly hatches hold a special place in our hearts and minds, I long for those warm afternoons throwing hopper fly patterns to the bank: ...

As summer has reached its peak, trout fishing on local streams can become more challenging with hoot owl restrictions across Montana's legendary fly fishing rivers. These restrictions, which prohibit fishing from 2pm to midnight, are designed to protect our beloved trout during the warmest part of the day. But fear not! There are still plenty of ways to enjoy fishing this summer if you adjust your approach. Keep reading to learn about a few alternative options and solutions to making...

Mid-summer is here and there are plenty of fly fishing opportunities available to angler across the west and more. While the most notable hatches like salmonflies, drakes, and skwalas have passed, it doesn't mean that the fish stop eating. In fact, mid-to-late summer can be one of our favorite times to fish! One of our favorite things about peak summer is the huge variety of different places to go fly fishing in Montana. From the local go-to's like the Bitterroot...

Montana Fly Fishing Trip Packing List Looking for advice on packing for a Montana fly fishing trip? Or maybe you’re wanting to prepare for a Missoula guided fly fishing trip? Make sure you’re packing the proper gear so you can make the most of your experience. As one of Montana’s best fly shops and fly fishing outfitters, we’ve learned a lot over the years and know exactly what will keep you comfortable while you’re here. Our Montana fly fishing trip…

Find The Perfect Fly Fishing Gift This Father's Day With Father's Day just around the corner on June 16th, it might feel overwhelming to choose the perfect gift for the fly fishing enthusiast in your life. Finding a unique and thoughtful present for the dad who seems to have it all can be challenging. That's why we've curated a selection of top-notch gift ideas that are sure to delight any fly fisherman. Each item is handpicked to ensure quality and...

Looking for the perfect Mother's Day fly fishing gift? As Mother's Day approaches, it's time to celebrate the special women in our lives who share a love for the fly fishing. Finding the perfect gift for Mom can sometimes feel like casting into unfamiliar waters, but fear not! At our Missoula fly shop, we understand what your mom needs to make the most of her time on the water this season. Whether she's a seasoned angler or just dipping her...

2024 has been the year of new products in our online fly shop from some of our favorite vendors like Simms, Winston, Scott, Orvis, and more. With all of the new trends in fly fishing and the latest and greatest technology hitting the market, we want to share our top new products for 2024 plus a look at new products that we brought into our Missoula fly shop that’s not necessarily new for this year, but recently became available in...

Upon touching down in Coyhaique, Chile, a scattered list of similarities between Patagonia and Montana fly fishing starts to write itself. Livestock and ranch homes dot the rolling hills. A familiar dry summer breeze gusts over a skinny gravel road, as comparisons between landscapes are drawn. At first glance, one might not be able to tell the difference between Patagonia and the American West. It’s not until you string up your rod and quite literally get your feet wet that…

Fly fishing in Montana tops many a fly fisher's bucket list. And we can’t blame them. We are lucky enough to live in a state that boasts the best trout fishing in the United States and one could argue the Planet. From the mighty Clark Fork River, Blackfoot River, Bitterroot River, and other Missoula area rivers to the Yellowstone and Gallatin, we’ve gathered our 18 places for fly fishing in Montana. These are by no means in order of importance,...

We pride ourselves on offering the ultimate Missoula guided fly fishing package featuring our experienced guide staff to luxurious Missoula vacation rentals in the heart of downtown. Our "Stay & Fish" packages are without a doubt the best way to experience fly fishing in Missoula. If there is one thing we have in common at our Missoula fly shop, it’s that we’re all proud of where we live. From the world-class fly fishing and access to the outdoors to our...

To many, a Montana fly fishing trip is the pinnacle of outdoor adventure. However, fly fishing trips in Montana are far from what you’d expect. It’s true, you’ll experience unforgettable scenery, wildlife, and fishing. Instead, most are left with many unwanted, and unfortunate, side effects.  Sure, your father’s, cousin’s, sister-in-law might have gone on a Montana fly fishing trip and raved about it. But did they mention the awe, jealousy, or unquantifiable fun that would haunt them for years following...

Becoming a better angler is probably the most satisfying aspect of fly fishing. There’s something about watching yourself improve at a complex skill that is constantly rewarding. It also has a tendency to teach us mindsets that can be applied to all facets of our lives. Like any skill, improving at fly fishing takes endless practice and repetition. There’s just no teacher like experience. That being said, it’s also common to repeat the skills we’ve become comfortable with and not...

Ask anyone to describe Montana’s natural beauty and you will certainly hear about fly fishing Yellowstone National Park. The oldest national park in the country and a cornerstone of our state, Yellowstone welcomes millions of visitors each year to experience once-in-a-lifetime scenery and wildlife. But YNP’s rivers and lakes beckon a particular group of outdoor recreationists to travel from states, and even countries, away. Anglers of all experience levels travel from afar to try their hand with fly fishing Yellowstone...

Looking for the perfect Father's Day gift? With Father’s Day rapidly approaching, it may seem like your list of potential fly fishing gift ideas is never ending. After all, what do you get for the dad who has everything? Fly fishermen know what they want, and that’s why we have narrowed down several surefire gift ideas that will please any dad on your list. All of which are available on our online fly shop. 1. R.L. Winston Air 2 Fly...

Looking for some salmonfly patterns that flat-out work for the Montana salmonfly hatch? Salmonfly season is upon us and if you are like us, you’re on the edge of your seat. There’s nothing quite like casting enormous foam dry flies at the bank and watching eager trout crush them. However, Montana’s salmonfly hatches are not a secret. It’s crucial to have the right flies on hand to stand out from the crowds. We’ve handpicked five of our favorite new salmonfly...

Simply said, the most unique thing about fly fishing near Missoula is the abundance of easily accessible water. From our Montana fly shop in the heart of downtown Missoula, you are a stone’s throw away from Clark Fork River fly fishing, the lifeblood of our town. Travel 30 minutes upstream and you will crossover the mighty Blackfoot River before arriving at the mouth of the ever-so-charming Rock Creek. Or head south out of Missoula for fly fishing the Bitterroot River...

On a warm, overcast afternoon in April, our local rivers are home to some of the most spectacular Montana fly fishing during the annual skwala stonefly hatch. As winter recedes, the skwala stonefly hatch signals the start of an electrifying new Missoula fly fishing season. The sight of trout voraciously leaping out of the water to snatch a skwala fly pattern off the surface is a heart-pumping moment that will leave any angler trembling with excitement. As the days get...

For many anglers, the appeal of a saltwater fly fishing trip is too much to ignore. Your daydreams of rising trout are replaced with sight fly fishing for permit and rolling tarpon. You long for cool beverages and smoldering sun. And, before you know it, your next saltwater fly fishing trip is a matter of “when” not “if.” Our Missoula fly shop owner and saltwater fly fishing fanatic, Brendan Bannigan, is one of these people. Brendan draws on years of...

If you’re beginning fly fishing but just don’t know where to start, trust us– you’re not the only one. Like any sport, starting out in fly fishing requires a dash of patience and a heaping dollop of practice. However, the right setup and the right gear to accompany it is crucial for saving money, time, and the hair on your head. From rods and reels to flies and tippets, this is our guide to beginning fly fishing for trout and...

There’s nothing quite like a Montana float fishing trip from the bow of a drift boat or raft. While wade fishing provides the opportunity to stalk trout on small water, fly fishing from either a drift boat or raft dramatically increases the amount of water, and trout, an angler will see. An addiction to rushing water and an obsession with Montana scenery and wildlife are just a few of the side effects of embarking on a Montana float fishing trip....

To the adventurous angler, October fly fishing in Montana yields some of the best action of the year. Sparse fishing pressure, cooler temperatures, and a slew of fall hatches makes for happy fish and happier anglers. While Missoula’s rivers boast great fly fishing all year round, the fall season, and October in particular, can produce some of the most epic fly fishing in Montana. Cooling Off and Heating Up If there’s one good thing about summer winding down in Montana,...

Gear up and get ready for a Montana fly fishing vacation! Have you been itching to fly fish in Montana this summer, but just don’t know where to start? Don’t worry, you’re not the only one. Planning a Montana fly fishing trip is exciting yet intimidating. That's why the expert guides at our Montana fly shop have prepared a list of the top Montana fly fishing vacation tips for you and your group! 1. Research the weather This may seem...

Welcome to the new Missouri River Fish Camp (MRFC). The Grizzly Hackle Fly Shop is excited to offer a Guided Fly Fishing Trip option in the constant pursuit of wild, Montana trout at our new Missouri River Fish Camp. Nestled between the small towns of Craig and Cascade, adjacent to the famous Missouri River, sits a newly built log cabin and bunkhouse owned and operated by guide Andy Roy. Andy has been guiding part-time for the Grizzly Hackle for nearly…

Set your sights on the open road during an exciting fly fishing road trip in Montana! Our experienced staff and guides have cut their teeth on rivers and streams across Montana and are here to help you take in the best of Montana fly fishing. As you make your way through the Big Sky State, keep your fly rod and access maps handy. We have a lot of water and it’s teeming with various trout species. Anglers flock to the...

A good friend told me once that, as anglers, we are constantly chasing the “one fish” that makes us look back on the year and smile. For many of us that enjoy fly fishing in Montana, it’s landing that elusive, two-foot brown trout. Brown trout are one of the top predators in our river systems that can be fooled on a number of tactics, but honing in on several characteristics will increase your chances of landing that record-breaking fish. An…

Bitterroot Fly Fishing An Angler's Guide Planning a Bitterroot fly fishing adventure this year? The Bitterroot River is a freestone river nestled beneath towering cottonwoods and ponderosa pine in western Montana. On top of breathtaking scenery, the Bitterroot invites anglers to try their hand at astounding numbers of rainbow, brown and native westslope cutthroat trout. The Bitterroot rewards anglers using various techniques from its headwaters to its confluence with the Clark Fork River in Missoula. Still, it can be a...

The Best Time to Fly Fish Montana We’ve been in the fly fishing game for a long time and every year we get one question asked almost more than any other.  “When is the best time to fly fish in Montana?” It’s a great question, but it’s one of those questions that if you’ve lived and have been fly fishing Montana for very long, it’s really hard to answer.  It’s a question that doesn’t have an exact answer to the…

Montana fishing is a bucket-list trip for many anglers, but as we all know, fishing trips can start to add up if you’re not careful. If you want the fishing trip of a lifetime at a price that won’t cost a lifetime of work to pay for, we’ve put together the best trip itinerary for fishing Montana on a budget below! Where To Go Montana is full of amazing rivers and streams that house world-class trout. You’ll have an amazing…

Our 3 Alternatives for Spring Runoff in Montana It’s that time of year when the weather warms up and starts to melt mountain snow, causing spring runoff. The rivers swell up with snowmelt and get big and muddy. It’s when anglers in the Missoula, Montana area, and all over the mountain west have to forego fishing their favorite freestone rivers and find something to do during spring runoff. The Missoula area has hit the start of runoff and we have…

Looking for the best trout fishing in Montana? Missoula, MT sits at the convergence of 3 of Montana’s famous trout rivers and that’s why we call it the Trout Mecca! The Clark Fork River flows right through town and heads west to Idaho. It drains Montana, west of the divide, and is home to some of the best trout fishing in Montana — featuring hard fighting, dry fly eating rainbows, cut bows, and Westslope Cutthroat. Just east of town the…

  Spring fly fishing in Missoula, Montana is one of our favorites! I’m sure you’ve heard us say that before, but we can’t say it enough. It’s the time of year that we all look forward to after a long winter and cabin fever has set it. There’s no better cure than fly fishing Missoula on our local rivers.  Spring is also the time of year when we catch some of our biggest fish on dry flies. Yes, you heard…

Why Choose A Montana Fly Fishing Trip? Interested in planning a Montana fly fishing trip? Well, you have come to the right blog. Montana is famous for being the “Last Best Place”, and for good reason. It has a small population, a plethora of public land, and great stream access laws. No wonder this state is so widely celebrated! To anglers, this slice of paradise is the perfect place for your next fly fishing trip. The rivers, streams, and lakes…

Fall fly fishing in Missoula, Montana provides anglers spectacular opportunities. If you ask any Missoula fly fishing guide or local when their favorite time to fish is, 10 out of 10 are going to say spring or fall. In the spring, we have our first dry fly fishing of the year and big fish are starting to look up. Fall fly fishing in Missoula is dry fly nirvana. Multiple mayfly species are hatching and the fish are looking up to chow…

Picking ice out of your guides all day, hiking through snow to get to the river, tying flies on with cold hands all for a few fish… Well, that’s winter fly fishing in Missoula, Montana. Don’t let that deter you from getting out for those fish that heat your cold hands and feet up when you hook into them. There is something about catching a fish in the winter. It’s like you cheated mother nature and found a way to…