10th Annual Montana Trout Camp
Montana Trout Camp is a small fly fishing school built around classroom learning and real water scenarios.
Come join us in the heart of Montana trout country, based around Livingston and Paradise Valley.
Each day is spent on the water, rotating between Paradise Valley’s famous spring creeks, floating the Yellowstone or Madison River, and fishing a private 83 acre high elevation lake full of large rainbow trout. You will build skill across different environments. The goal of this school is simple: learn, apply, improve.
Matt’s guiding foundation was built on the Colorado River at Lees Ferry, where precision matters: reading seams, controlling drifts, and understanding how subtle flow changes affect trout behavior.
He later guided with The Fly Shop in Redding, California, splitting seasons between Northern California trout and steelhead and Montana summers. That schedule built range across freestones, spring creeks, tailwaters, stillwaters, and big Western rivers.
Matt now lives full time in Southwest Montana and focuses on putting the right week together for each guest. He is an FFI Casting Instructor and a graduate of FOAM’s Guiding for the Future program, with a calm teaching style built around clear instruction and real takeaways.
Chris is a highly technical, well rounded guide with decades on the water across the West. His strength is diagnosing what’s happening quickly, making small adjustments that produce big results, and explaining the why in a way that makes sense immediately.
As the owner of Boise River Guides, Chris has built a program centered on instruction, river education, and approachable coaching. He is also an FFI Casting Instructor and brings a calm, structured teaching style that works especially well for anglers who want to improve efficiently.
Chris is the Lead Instructor for the Montana Trout Camp, helping set the standard for instruction, decision making, and on water clarity throughout the week.
A week focused on learning
Each day is spent on the water. We rotate through spring creek, river, and stillwater so you build skill across different environments. The order can flex with weather and conditions, but the goal stays the same: learn, apply, improve.
Spring creek days
At least two days on Depuy’s Spring Creek. Clear water and selective trout sharpen approach, drift, and detail.
River days
Yellowstone or Madison, conditions dependent. Reading current, building rigs, and applying technique in moving water.
Private lake days
Two stillwater days focused on depth control, wind, retrieve discipline, and positioning.
Relaxed pace, real progress
This is a school. The goal is to help you become more proficient and more self sufficient. We start mornings with clear instruction, then spend the rest of the day applying it on the water.
With only six anglers, we can tailor the week to what you want and what you need. That might be building fundamentals, tightening presentation, improving consistency, or learning how to adjust faster when conditions change.
FFI casting instruction
Both instructors are FFI Certified Casting Instructors. Casting is integrated all week in real fishing situations: accuracy, loop control, wind management, and efficiency.
Evening fly tying
Optional fly tying in the evenings at your own pace. Bring your vise and tools if you want. We will have materials available and can help you build patterns that match what we are seeing.
Core classes
Selective trout
Spring creek approach, drift refinement, leader and tippet decisions, and clean presentation for picky fish.
Entomology
Seasonal hatches, what trout are keyed on, and how to make better decisions without guessing.
Nymph fishing
Depth control, strike detection, and building reliable systems in slower and faster water.
Streamer fishing
Angles, structure, movement, and when streamers are the right tool.
Advanced technique
Mending, positioning, efficiency, and adapting quickly when conditions shift.
Casting technique
FFI based instruction focused on accuracy, loop control, wind efficiency, and fixing habits that hold you back.
We cover a lot, but we do not force a script. The small group size lets us spend time where it actually helps.
Comfortable Montana basecamp
Comfortable lodging and great food are part of the week. This is a full experience designed for long days on the water and good recovery at night.
Lodging
Spring Creek Lodge, Queen Lane, Livingston, Montana. Private rooms with queen beds in a quiet setting.
Note: We send exact arrival details and the address in the pre camp email so everyone has clean directions.
Meals
Private chef Jeff Ritchey prepares Montana inspired meals throughout the week. Big breakfasts, solid lunches, and dinners that feel like the right end to a long day.
If you have dietary needs, we coordinate ahead of time.
Clear and simple
Included
- All instruction
- Private water rod fees
- Food and lodging
- Airport pickup coordination if needed
Not included
- Montana fishing license
- Personal beverages
Investment: $3,850 per angler · Group size: up to 6
Learning, patience, progress
“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.
“Matt Swan is a great guide and a wonderful human being. My son and I caught plenty of trout and ate like kings.”
Donny D.
That’s the tone of the week: solid instruction, calm coaching, and meaningful improvement without making it feel intense.
What to bring
Waders and boots
When we float, non studded boots are important. Studded boots can slip on fiberglass and can damage the boat.
Rods and reels
- 4 weight or 5 weight with a softer tip for spring creeks
- 5 weight or 6 weight with a faster tip for river and lake days
Sunglasses
Good polarized glasses are a must for spring creek sight fishing. A spare pair helps.
Leaders and tippet
We often start with 7.5 foot and 9 foot 3X mono leaders, then add fluorocarbon tippet down to 6X depending on conditions.
- Fluorocarbon from 3X through 6X
- Trout Hunter 5.5X is a good one to have
Clothing
A good raincoat and layers. Gloves, a buff, and warm socks are worth it this time of year.
Flies
We fish what is happening, but the core imitations usually cover baetis, midges, caddis, scuds, sow bugs, worms, leeches, ants, and beetles.
Depuy’s has a fly shop with current spring creek patterns. We also stop at Sweetwater Fly Shop to stock up for river and lake days.
Fly tying, optional evenings
Bring your vise and tools if you want. If you are building a kit, plan for hooks from size 8 down to size 24. Bring favorite materials. We share what you do not have.
Other essentials
- Montana fishing license
- Headlamp
- Sunscreen
- Adult beverages if you want them
Need an airport pickup? Send your itinerary and we coordinate.
10th Annual Montana Trout Camp
Montana Trout Camp is a small fly fishing school built around classroom learning and real water scenarios.
Come join us in the heart of Montana trout country, based around Livingston and Paradise Valley.
Each day is spent on the water, rotating between Paradise Valley’s famous spring creeks, floating the Yellowstone or Madison River, and fishing a private 83 acre high elevation lake full of large rainbow trout. You will build skill across different environments. The goal of this school is simple: learn, apply, improve.
Matt’s guiding foundation was built on the Colorado River at Lees Ferry, where precision matters: reading seams, controlling drifts, and understanding how subtle changes in flow affect trout behavior. That tailwater education shaped the way he approaches every fishery he guides today.
He later guided with The Fly Shop in Redding, California, splitting seasons between Northern California trout and steelhead and Montana summers. That schedule built range across freestones, spring creeks, tailwaters, stillwaters, and big Western rivers, the mix that makes Southwest Montana so special.
Matt now lives full time in Southwest Montana and focuses on putting the right week together for each guest. He is an FFI Casting Instructor and a graduate of FOAM’s Guiding for the Future program, with a calm teaching style built around clear instruction and real takeaways.
Chris is a highly technical, well rounded guide with decades on the water across the West. His strength is diagnosing what’s happening quickly, making small adjustments that produce big results, and explaining the why in a way that makes sense immediately.
As the owner of Boise River Guides, Chris has built a program centered on instruction, river education, and approachable coaching. He is also an FFI Casting Instructor and brings a calm, structured teaching style that works especially well for anglers who want to improve efficiently.
Chris is the Lead Instructor for the Montana Trout Camp, helping set the standard for instruction, decision making, and on water clarity throughout the week.
A week focused on learning
Each day is spent on the water. We rotate through spring creek, river, and stillwater so you build skill across different environments. The order can flex with weather and conditions, but the goal stays the same: learn, apply, improve.
Spring creek days
At least two days on Depuy’s Spring Creek. Clear water and selective trout sharpen approach, drift, and detail.
River days
Yellowstone or Madison, conditions dependent. Reading current, building rigs, and applying technique in moving water.
Private lake days
Two stillwater days focused on depth control, wind, retrieve discipline, and positioning.
Relaxed pace, real progress
This is a school. The goal is to help you become more proficient and more self sufficient. We start mornings with clear instruction, then spend the rest of the day applying it on the water.
With only six anglers, we can tailor the week to what you want and what you need. That might be building fundamentals, tightening presentation, improving consistency, or learning how to adjust faster when conditions change.
FFI casting instruction
Both instructors are FFI Certified Casting Instructors. Casting is integrated all week in real fishing situations: accuracy, loop control, wind management, and efficiency.
Evening fly tying
Optional fly tying in the evenings at your own pace. Bring your vise and tools if you want. We will have materials available and can help you build patterns that match what we are seeing.
Core classes
Selective trout
Spring creek approach, drift refinement, leader and tippet decisions, and clean presentation for picky fish.
Entomology
Seasonal hatches, what trout are keyed on, and how to make better decisions without guessing.
Nymph fishing
Depth control, strike detection, and building reliable systems in slower and faster water.
Streamer fishing
Angles, structure, movement, and when streamers are the right tool.
Advanced technique
Mending, positioning, efficiency, and adapting quickly when conditions shift.
Casting technique
FFI based instruction focused on accuracy, loop control, wind efficiency, and fixing habits that hold you back.
We cover a lot, but we do not force a script. The small group size lets us spend time where it actually helps.
Comfortable Montana basecamp
Comfortable lodging and great food are part of the week. This is a full experience designed for long days on the water and good recovery at night.
Lodging
Spring Creek Lodge, Queen Lane, Livingston, Montana. Private rooms with queen beds in a quiet setting.
Note: We send exact arrival details and the address in the pre camp email so everyone has clean directions.
Meals
Private chef Jeff Ritchey prepares Montana inspired meals throughout the week. Big breakfasts, solid lunches, and dinners that feel like the right end to a long day.
If you have dietary needs, we coordinate ahead of time.
Clear and simple
Included
- All instruction
- Private water rod fees
- Food and lodging
- Airport pickup coordination if needed
Not included
- Montana fishing license
- Personal beverages
Investment: $3,850 per angler · Group size: up to 6
Learning, patience, progress
“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.
“Matt Swan is a great guide and a wonderful human being. My son and I caught plenty of trout and ate like kings.”
Donny D.
That’s the tone of the week: solid instruction, calm coaching, and meaningful improvement without making it feel intense.
What to bring
Waders and boots
When we float, non studded boots are important. Studded boots can slip on fiberglass and can damage the boat.
Rods and reels
- 4 weight or 5 weight with a softer tip for spring creeks
- 5 weight or 6 weight with a faster tip for river and lake days
Sunglasses
Good polarized glasses are a must for spring creek sight fishing. A spare pair helps.
Leaders and tippet
We often start with 7.5 foot and 9 foot 3X mono leaders, then add fluorocarbon tippet down to 6X depending on conditions.
- Fluorocarbon from 3X through 6X
- Trout Hunter 5.5X is a good one to have
Clothing
A good raincoat and layers. Gloves, a buff, and warm socks are worth it this time of year.
Flies
We fish what is happening, but the core imitations usually cover baetis, midges, caddis, scuds, sow bugs, worms, leeches, ants, and beetles.
Depuy’s has a fly shop with current spring creek patterns. We also stop at Sweetwater Fly Shop to stock up for river and lake days.
Fly tying, optional evenings
Bring your vise and tools if you want. If you are building a kit, plan for hooks from size 8 down to size 24. Bring favorite materials. We share what you do not have.
Other essentials
- Montana fishing license
- Headlamp
- Sunscreen
- Adult beverages if you want them
Need an airport pickup? Send your itinerary and we coordinate.