Float or Walk & Wade Trip?
Float Trip
The most popular and signature guided Fly-Fishing Trip in Montana is done from a raft or drift boat on a river. These western river style fly-fishing boats are small enough where two oars are used to maneuver the boat, two anglers can be accommodated, and a motor is not needed. Although, a small outboard can be attached to the back of the boat if there is a special situation that calls for it and the guide doesn’t need his captain’s license if the motor is less than 10HP. Drift Boats and rafts are the preferred method for targeting trout in Western Montana because they are extremely mobile, allow for shallow water applications, and one can have them in certain river sections where motorboats are not allowed. Click here for some helpful tips on how to fish from a drift boat or raft before booking your next fishing trip, note they are preferred by most guides and are friendly to all anglers. Many anglers that are debating wading or floating prefer the boat option because one can always pull the boat shoreside and get out of it to wade as well.
one can cover a lot of new water through-out the day
long drifts, less tangles with the bank, and no constant re-casting
Handicap friendly
Walk and Wade
Walk and Wade fishing in Montana is more of a traditional method of a guided fly-fishing trip. They are conducted less often now days than float trips but some outfitters and operations still solely focus on them for their niche demand. Bozeman, MT has the most walk and wade fishing trips that are booked year-round than other fishing towns in MT because of its exclusive wade fishing only sections. These include the wade fishing only sections on the Madison River, Yellowstone National Park, and plentiful private water spring creeks that one cannot get a boat down. Walk and Wade fishing trips still have many advantages!
3 anglers compatible
Wade only sections with less people
Less pressured trout
