Fly Fishing the Boulder River

The Boulder flows wild and rocky from its headwaters in the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness down through a scenic canyon to the Yellowstone Valley near Big Timber, carrying wild rainbows, cutthroats, and browns through miles of lichen-crusted pocket water. It sees a fraction of the pressure of its famous neighbors, rewarding the angler who makes the effort with big fish and even bigger solitude.

9 shops nearby

See fly shops ↓

When to fish

Mid-July–October

Best months: July–October

Best
Off-peak

Blue-winged Olive / Baetis: April, Sept–Oct. Golden Stonefly: July.

Today's conditions

Where to fish

Along the Boulder River

Emigrant1 shopLivingston4 shops

Bozeman1 shopBig Timber1 shop

A forest service road follows the river from McLeod toward the Natural Bridge. Two public fishing access sites (Boulder Forks FAS and Big Rock FAS) provide entry below the canyon. Nearly all of the lower river flows through private ranchland; guided float trips are the primary way to access most of the best water.

The water

Freestone

Key hatches