Perhaps nowhere on earth offers so many flyfishing opportunities and variations as the state of Montana. Here in Montana we are blessed with seemingly limitless miles of river, a multitude of insect hatches, and enough wild trout to make long summer days seem all too short. Anglers visiting Montana have a sometimes overwhelming number of options before them. The decision of which river to fish, which particular stretch to work, and which method to use, can unnerve even the most accomplished angler. Whether you prefer subtle spring creeks and long leaders, or heavy tippet and large streamers in the big water; Western Montana has it all. From the fabled Missouri tail waters, to the picturesque dry fly waters of the Clark Fork, Montana has undoubtedly become the epicenter of Western trout angling. Perhaps no part of ‘Big Sky Country’ offers so many different angling options –in such close proximity to each other- as the Five Valleys area around Missoula. It is here that Rock Creek, the Blackfoot, and the Bitterroot all join the mighty Clark Fork on its race for the Pacific Ocean. Rock Creek (just 20 miles East of Missoula) has gained worldwide notoriety for its prolific June Salmon Fly hatch. The Blackfoot has been forever preserved through the words of Norman McClain in “A River Runs Through It.” The Clark Fork has emerged from a shadowed past to become one of the West’s premier dry fly fisheries. However, none of these rivers offers the angler so many options as the meandering Bitterroot. From the confluence of its boulder strewn East and West Forks, the Bitterroot runs 70 miles to the North before joining the Clark Fork in Missoula. The Bitterroot’s spring-fed backwaters challenge even the most accomplished anglers, and its long-flowing riffles and runs provide cover for thousands upon thousands of wild trout. Aside from the numerous types of water available to anglers in Montana, these waters host a multitude of insect hatches that occur all season long. Anglers can expect steady dry fly action from March through October. Not only are the hatches here numerous, but the waters of Western Montana are home to some of the largest aquatic insects found anywhere. From blanket hatches of graceful Drakes on the Bitterroot and Clark Fork, to the colossal Salmon Fly and Golden Stone hatches of June and July, an angler rarely has to search the water’s surface for their imitation. Dry flies up to size 6 will catch fish all season long on the waters of the Five Valleys area. Here in Montana, an angler has free-reign of the water. The high-water mark defines public domain. You can freely float or wade limitless miles of Navigable Waterway in search of the perfect pool or riffle. We have many organizations statewide whose sole objective is maintaining these waterways and the trout therein. The “Treasure State” name could just as easily refer to Montana’s waterways as the precious metals and gemstones found here. So find the time and make the commitment to discover firsthand what it is about Montana’s rivers that has inspired so many great artists, writers, and anglers. Come to Montana to challenge yourself; come to enjoy yourself; or come just to relax under the big sky. Come visit a place we call home, and are more than happy to share.