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River guide · Montana

Fly Fishing the Stillwater River

Draining the remote Beartooth Range into the Yellowstone near Columbus, the Stillwater is a classic Montana freestone (fast, bouldery, and wildly scenic) with a stacked menu of hatches that keeps dry-fly fishing productive from stoneflies in early July through hoppers and Baetis well into fall. Despite flowing through one of Montana's most dramatic river corridors, it remains far less pressured than the Madison or Yellowstone.

  • 8 shops nearby
  • freestone
  • Mid-July–October (main float July–September)
  • Montana
  • 6 key hatches
See fly shops ↓

The best time to fly fish the Stillwater River is Mid-July–October (main float July–September). Key hatches include Blue, Salmonfly, Golden Stonefly / Yellow Sally, Pale Morning Dun. 8 fly shops near the Stillwater River can outfit your trip.

Fly shops near the Stillwater River

Shops and guides that fish the Stillwater River. See all 93 Montana shops →

Fly Fishing Only AdventuresSweetcast AnglerGreater Yellowstone Flyfishing OutfittersYellowstone Country Fly FishingWet Net Outfitters LLCAngler’s West Fly Fishing OutfittersMontana Angling CompanyBuglife Flyfishing
8 fly shops shown

Species on this water

BonefishPikeTarponTrout

Nearby towns

Red LodgeBig TimberLivingston

Rivers nearby

Rock CreekBoulder RiverYellowstone RiverBighorn River
Hatches & seasons

When & what to fish on the Stillwater River

River typefreestone
Best seasonMid-July–October (main float July–September)
AccessMontana FWP fishing access sites provide public entry from Columbus upstream toward Nye. The lower valley is driftable by raft or kayak from mid-July through September; the upper wilderness section above Nye requires hiking or horseback to reach the water.
Key hatches
  • Blue-winged Olive / Baetis (April–May, Sept–Oct)
  • Salmonfly (late June–early July)
  • Golden Stonefly / Yellow Sally (July)
  • Pale Morning Dun (late June–July)
  • Caddis (June–August)
  • Terrestrials / Hoppers (mid-July–September)
From The Fly Bench

Tie the flies that work on the Stillwater River

Step-by-step tying recipes & videos for these patterns.

Browse all 880+ patterns at The Fly Bench
Gear up

Gear up on the Stillwater River

Everything you need before the next trip — rods, lines, leaders, and fly-tying materials.

Shop the gear Flies that work

The flies that work on the Stillwater River

Find the most effective patterns for where you're fishing — and learn to tie them yourself, step by step.

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Updated June 2026