Guided Fly Fishing & Wooden Boat Days in Southwest Montana
Swan’s Fly Fishing is a year round, owner operated program based in Livingston, fishing the Yellowstone and a wider system of rivers, spring creeks, and stillwaters across Southwest Montana.
This is not a single river program. Days are matched to the water that is fishing best for the season, conditions, and the experience level of the group. The reservation is for a guided day. The river and approach are dialed in from there.
Early contact gives the best chance to line up the right water on the right day for the group.
Choose The Kind of Day You Want
Most groups fit one of three paths. If the right option is not obvious at first glance, the closest match is enough to start the conversation.
Guided Fly Fishing
Full day and half day walk wade and float trips on the Yellowstone, Paradise Valley spring creeks, Madison, private lakes, and other regional options when they are at their best.
Built for anglers who want a focused fishing day with local guidance, simple logistics, and water matched to experience level and timing.
Scenic Wooden Boat Tours
Private wooden dory floats on the Yellowstone through Paradise Valley for couples, families, and mixed groups where not everyone wants a full fishing day.
Slow pace, room for photos, and a natural fit for hybrid days with one fishing boat and one scenic boat.
Instruction
Focused casting and fishing instruction built for anglers who want cleaner mechanics, better line control, and better decisions on the water.
Ideal for beginners, families, and anglers who want to improve faster with practical guidance on real Montana water.
The Waters Around Livingston
There is no need to pick a river in advance. Dates and goals are matched with the right mix of freestones, spring creeks, private lakes, and stillwaters based on current conditions and the kind of day the group wants.
Yellowstone River
The main river in the program from Gardiner to Columbus, with long freestone runs, classic seams, and a full season of hatches.
DePuy’s & Armstrong’s
True spring creeks with clear water, steady flows, and technical sight fishing. One of the best places in the region to improve fast.
Madison & Bighorn
Strong early season anchors when flows, clarity, and temperatures line up better than nearby freestones.
Stillwater, Boulder & Shields
Fast pocket water, shorter seasonal windows, and smaller river options that feel very different from a big river float day.
Private Lakes
Quiet stillwater options with room to work on casting, retrieve, and presentation. A strong fit for families, newer anglers, and calmer days.
Winter & Spring Rate + Yellowstone Rowing Classes
Winter and early spring are a good time to fish the right water and a smart time to build skills before summer crowds. Spring creeks often offer the most consistent fishing, and Yellowstone rowing classes are ideal for anglers who want more confidence behind the oars before peak season.
Winter & Spring Rate
One all in seasonal rate built around the best water for the date. Spring creeks, the Yellowstone, or the Lower Madison are recommended based on conditions.
Winter & spring rate: $550 for one or two anglers. Rods, flies, and seasonal setup included.
Yellowstone Rowing Classes
Private one on one or two person rowing instruction on the Yellowstone built around experience level, goals, and the kind of water that makes the most sense for the day. Drift boats, rafts, wooden dories, and other practical rowing platforms all fit the program.
Best window: March through June, before summer traffic and afternoon wind become a bigger factor on the Yellowstone.
Instruction & Montana Trout Camp
Practical instruction built around real water, repeatable skills, and better decisions on the river.
Instruction
Casting fundamentals, line control, reading water, fly selection, and on river decision making for beginners, families, and anglers who want cleaner mechanics.
Montana Trout Camp
Multi day small group instruction focused on rigging, presentation, reading water, technical trout fishing, and making better decisions across changing conditions.
Channel 7 Montana featured these wooden boat tours on the Yellowstone through Paradise Valley. For anyone wanting a quick look at the boats, the river, and the pace of the experience, this is the best place to start.
What Guests Say About Fishing Here
“Matt guided us for several days recently while on a trip to Montana. I am relatively new to fly fishing and he was very patient with me, helped a ton on my casting and kept us smiling the entire time. We will be back.”
Morgan H.
“Best winter fishing experience we have ever had. Quiet water, clear sight shots and Matt put us on fish all day.”
Doug, returning winter angler
Planning & Instruction Reading
Winter on the Paradise Valley Creeks
Why winter sight fishing on DePuy’s and Armstrong’s is worth the time, how days are picked, and what to expect from a cold weather spring creek trip.
Montana Trout Camp
A closer look at the instruction format, the water covered, and why the camp is built around making more complete anglers rather than rushing through a checklist.
FROM AROUND SOUTHWEST MONTANA
Stories From the Water AROUND LiVIngston and Bozeman
