The Boulder and Stillwater are both worth watching, but they do not fish their best at the same times or for the same travel plans. This is a straightforward look at which river makes more sense based on timing, where you are staying, and the kind of day you want.
Spring Baetis are showing on the Yellowstone River near Livingston, Paradise Valley, Emigrant, and Big Timber. Here is a simple dry dropper program, a brown trout story with guide Matt Kelly, and spring trip timing for the Yellowstone.
A lot of Montana trips end up with one person wanting to fish and another wanting a scenic float. This explains how Swan’s Fly Fishing and Montana Classic Boat Tours run both at the same time on the Yellowstone so the group stays together.
Private rowing lessons on the Yellowstone River near Livingston and Bozeman, Montana. Learn drift boat, raft, and river rowing skills with one-on-one instruction.
Some of Montana’s best fishing happens before most people think the season even starts. This piece looks at early spring conditions on the Yellowstone, Lower Madison, and Bighorn, and how to choose the right water from March through early June. It’s about timing, clarity, and knowing where the fish actually are.
Jim Harrison’s poem Rivers carries the same truth I see every day on the Yellowstone River, life moves whether you want it to or not. As a Livingston fishing guide, I watch clients discover that rhythm for themselves. The fishing matters, but the bigger experience is the river, the valley, and those quiet “wow” moments that stay with them long after the day ends.
Matthew Swan · Owner-Operator · MT Outfitter #26324
P.O. Box 1642 · Livingston, MT 59047
Based in Livingston and guiding the Yellowstone River, DePuy’s and Armstrong’s Spring Creeks in Paradise Valley, the Madison River, and surrounding southwest Montana waters.
Where We Fish
Yellowstone River Fly Fishing
DePuy’s & Armstrong’s Spring Creek Trips
Madison River Fly Fishing
Rates & Policies
Where to Stay & Eat in Livingston
Trip Planning Hub
Fishing Journal & Reports
These pages cover typical seasons, water types, and what to expect on guided days, from Yellowstone River floats to technical instruction on DePuy’s and Armstrong’s spring creeks.
