We've wrapped up a great month of spring road trips across southwest Montana. Our hunt for fishable waters and rising trout took us to the Madison, Missouri, Gallatin, Ruby, Yellowstone, Boulder, and   Stillwater Rivers. Weather proved to be the biggest variable this spring. Weekly storms passed through the area keeping the conditions prime for Baetis and March Brown emergences, and the guides on their toes.

     We started our trips in the Yellowstone River drainage fishing the Yellowstone, Boulder, and Stillwater rivers. These lower areas tend to warm sooner in the spring and offer dry fly fishing as early as late-march. Fishing was good with a combination of nymphing and daily hatches of baetis and march browns. Water conditions held through the second week in April when warm temps brought the first snowmelt down from the mountains.

     The following week it was over to the Madison, Ruby, and Gallatin Rivers where cooler temps held back run-off leaving perfect water conditions. Baetis hatches were strong on the Ruby and Gallatin, while the Madison offered up consistent nymphing for big healthy rainbows.

     Next, it was off to the Missouri to catch the first baetis hatches of the season. Cool weather prolonged the start of the hatch until well into the afternoon. Nymphing was productive in the meantime, and once the bugs began, good numbers of big Missouri river bruisers came to the surface.

     Finally, we spent a week dodging muddy water and chasing mother's day caddis. We never did hit the caddis all that well, but we found plenty of baetis and march browns along the way. From the lower Madison to the Gallatin, Ruby and Yellowstone we managed to tap dance around run-off and find some great fishing.

     With a great spring season in the bag we're gearing up for some saltwater fishing before the summer season kicks off. Stay Tuned.