Winter fishing on the Lower Madison River offers some of the most consistent cold-season opportunities near Bozeman, Big Sky, and Livingston. Here’s how we fish this stretch in winter, what the trout are doing, and how to plan a day when conditions line up.
Rivers don’t follow calendars, and neither do the best days on the water. A January wooden boat tour on the Yellowstone revealed just how special winter can be when conditions line up.
Spring creeks slow anglers down and expose every detail. Clean drifts, thoughtful adjustments, and patience are required. The lessons learned here carry into every other trout fishery.
A reflection on The River Why, steelhead fishing, and what time on the water teaches us about control, patience, and showing up. From Northern California rivers to guiding on the Yellowstone, this essay explores why the river doesn’t give answers…. it removes noise.
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 · Montana Outfitter #26324
P.O. Box 1642 · Livingston, MT 59042
Phone: (406) 224-8972 · Email: swanmatt@yahoo.com
Where We Fish
Yellowstone River
Spring Creeks
Where to Stay & Eat
Behind the Oars: The Blog
Quick help picking dates, seasonal timing, or which water fits best? Text works best.
