STILLWATER RIVER
Stillwater River Fishing Trips are a wild ride…
Don’t let the name fool you, our Stillwater River fishing trips take place on a wild and fast flowing river. Just like the river, the trout in this stream are healthy and strong fighters. The Stillwater River is one of Montana’s most beautiful fisheries and one of our favorites to guide.
Typically fishing this stream starts by mid July and August via rafts, but good wade fishing can also be had in the early spring with very good mayfly hatches starting around early March. This is definitely a dry fly fishing river and fishing this pocket water stream with a big hopper or stonefly pattern can be awesome. Stillwater River fishing averages rainbows and browns range from 10-16″, though fish up to 20″ are possible.
GUIDE RATE $700
Includes rods, reels, flies and catered riverside lunches
*Suitable for most ages 12 & over
Best Fishing Times
The Stillwater River fishes particularly well in April and May, then again after the annual spring run-off from July through August. If the flow remain above 700 cfs rafting the Stillwater River is the best option. However, wade fishing can be effective in the riffle corners and long pools.
The Fishing Experience
The Stillwater River is a spectacular free flowing stream with fast rapids and chutes, leading into long, deep pools. This is a wild ride on a raft with fast action pocket water fishing to long drifts in the slower pools. We often get out at riffle corners and spend time fishing with attractors and nymph droppers to maximize our fishing.
Stillwater River Hatches
March Brown’s and baetis are the highlights of the Spring season and wade fishing is often the best option. As flows are higher and we start using rafts to effectively fish we see hatches of PMDs, Golden Stones, Yellowsallies, and Caddis. As the summer heat kicks in major hatches subside and various attractors, grasshoppers, beetles and ants are the norm.
