By Matt Swan · Swan’s Fly Fishing · Livingston, Montana
You’re in Livingston or Bozeman, you have a day free, and the mountains are making it hard to stay indoors. Maybe you thought about fishing before your trip but never made arrangements. Maybe tomorrow’s plans just opened up.
It is worth checking. A guided fly fishing trip does not always require months of planning. When guides, access, and conditions line up, we can put a day together on short notice.
Fall and spring can offer some of the best fishing of the year on the Yellowstone River. DePuy’s and Armstrong’s spring creeks provide another option through fall, winter, and spring, with steady spring-fed water that keeps feeding trout in the picture long after many visitors assume fishing is over.
Have a day available? Call or text Matt at 406-224-8972. Send your preferred date, number of anglers, and where you’re staying.
Can I Book a Guided Fishing Trip for Tomorrow?
Sometimes, yes. Short-notice trips depend on guide availability, suitable conditions, and access to the water we want to fish. The sooner you contact us, the more options we have.
You do not need to know which river to choose. Tell us when you are free, how much fishing experience you have, and what you would enjoy. We can help you decide whether a Yellowstone River float or a Paradise Valley spring creek day makes the most sense.
A spring creek trip requires an available ranch reservation as well as a guide. We check both before confirming your day. If your first choice is unavailable, we can discuss other suitable options.
Being nearby gives you an advantage. You can take advantage of a favorable weather window without planning an entire vacation around it.
Is Fall or Spring Really a Good Time to Fish the Yellowstone?
Absolutely. Fall and spring can produce some of our most rewarding days on the Yellowstone, often with fewer boats than the summer season.
In fall, trout take advantage of available food as the river moves toward winter. Blue-winged olive hatches can bring fish to the surface, while nymphs and streamers give us ways to fish between those opportunities. Lower flows and less boat traffic can give us room to slow down and work through promising water.
Spring brings warming water and increasing insect activity. Before runoff, the Yellowstone can offer excellent fishing while many people are still waiting for summer to pick up a rod.
Neither season follows a fixed schedule. Wind, water clarity, temperature trends, and changing flows help determine where and when we fish. A flexible plan lets us make the most of the day rather than commit to a particular stretch regardless of conditions.
For a closer look at the fishing itself, read our fall fishing guide to the Yellowstone River and Paradise Valley spring creeks.
What If the Yellowstone Is Too Cold?
This is where understanding the difference between the Yellowstone and the spring creeks becomes useful.
The Yellowstone is a freestone river. Its water temperatures change with the weather and the season. As the river cools into the 30s, trout metabolism slows, and feeding opportunities can become more concentrated. Fish still eat, but the timing and presentation become especially important.
DePuy’s and Armstrong’s are fed by groundwater, which helps keep their water temperatures much more consistent throughout the year. Their spring influence buffers the winter cooling that changes the Yellowstone.
A cold day in the valley does not necessarily mean the spring creek trout are sitting in near-freezing water.
That makes the creeks a worthwhile winter fishing experience that many visitors overlook. Trout can remain actively feeding while cold and ice limit options on the big river. Midges and small subsurface foods provide opportunities through winter, with rising fish on suitable days.
Steady water temperatures do not guarantee easy fishing or a hatch every afternoon. Weather, daylight, and insect activity still influence the day. But watching a trout feed with snow along the banks and the Absaroka Mountains behind you is a part of Montana fishing worth experiencing.
Explore guided fishing on DePuy’s and Armstrong’s spring creeks.
Do I Need Experience or My Own Fishing Gear?
No. Let us know what you need when you contact us so we can arrange equipment and instruction before the trip.
For beginners, we can work on manageable casts, line control, recognizing a take, and understanding where trout hold. You do not need to learn everything before getting on the water.
If you have fished for years, tell us what interests you. You might want to improve your dry-fly presentation, work on streamer fishing, or spend time watching individual trout on a spring creek.
Two anglers with different experience levels can still enjoy a guided day together. Knowing that ahead of time helps us choose the right approach.
How Will a Fishing Day Fit Into My Visit?
Tell us where you are staying and whether you have a firm return deadline. A flight, dinner reservation, or drive to your next destination is something we should know about before choosing the day’s plan.
Seasonal fishing does not always require a predawn start. In colder weather, late morning and afternoon can offer a better combination of comfort and feeding activity. We arrange the meeting time around the fishery, conditions, and the trip you book.
If you are staying in Bozeman, allow time to travel to the agreed meeting location. We will confirm those arrangements with you rather than assume a particular pickup or meeting point.
Bring warm layers, wind and rain protection, a hat, and polarized glasses. For colder days, gloves and appropriate footwear make a difference. Let us know ahead of time if you need rods, waders, or boots.
Also mention any mobility concerns or preferences about walking, wading, or fishing from a boat. That helps us recommend a day you will be comfortable enjoying.
What Does a Seasonal Guided Trip Cost?
Our fall, winter, and spring full-day offering is $700 for one or two anglers.
- Licensed professional guide and instruction suited to your experience.
- Lunch, flies, leaders, and tackle.
- Boat and shuttle on Yellowstone River floats.
- Rods and other fishing equipment arranged when requested.
- Qualifying spring creek rod fees included when participating ranch fees are $50 per angler.
Fishing licenses are separate. Spring creek reservations are subject to availability, and we confirm the details and inclusions for your trip before booking.
If a full day does not fit your schedule, tell us how much time you have. We can discuss whether a shorter trip is practical and available, with pricing confirmed separately.
What Happens If Conditions Change?
We choose the water and timing around the conditions. If the Yellowstone is a good fit, we can plan a float. If a spring creek offers a better option, we can check ranch availability.
Changing fisheries is not automatic, especially when private-water reservations are involved. We discuss alternatives with you and confirm any changes rather than promise that every option will be available at the last minute.
Our goal is to give you an honest recommendation and a well-planned day. Sometimes that means adjusting the start time or choosing different water. Sometimes it means telling you that another day would be better.
Already in Livingston or Bozeman? Let’s Check Your Dates.
You do not need a perfectly planned fishing vacation to enjoy a day on the water.
An open day, suitable conditions, and a little flexibility can be enough. Fall and spring on the Yellowstone can be exceptional, and the consistent water of DePuy’s and Armstrong’s keeps worthwhile fishing opportunities available through winter.
Tell us when you are free. We will help you figure out the rest.
Call or text Matt at 406-224-8972 with your date, number of anglers, and where you’re staying.
Prefer to inquire online? Check guided fishing availability with Swan’s Fly Fishing.
Owner Operated · Livingston Based · Montana Outfitter #26324
We don’t guide a river. We guide a system of rivers.
