Stillwater River Guided Trips

We guide the Stillwater out of rafts set up for fast water; we do not use drift boats here. Sections are chosen around flows, your comfort level, and where we expect the best fishing that week. Several of our guides live in the Big Timber area and keep a daily eye on the river when it is floatable.

Most Stillwater days are full- or half-day floats. Expect steady casting, clear instruction, and a strong focus on boat positioning and reading the next piece of water. From the rower’s seat we open up the best shots and leave plenty of time for coaching on line control and mending in fast current.

Rates

• Full Day: $700 for one or two anglers
• Half Day: $600 for one or two anglers

What’s Included

• Professional guide and raft rigged for fast freestone water
• Rods, reels, terminal tackle, and flies if needed
• Shuttle on the reach we choose for the day
• Water and soft drinks; full-day trips include streamside lunch

What to Bring

• Montana fishing license
• Layered clothing for mountain weather, plus a rain jacket, hat, polarized sunglasses, and sunscreen
• Wading sandals or closed-toe shoes you can wet-wade in

How & When the Stillwater Fishes

The Stillwater is primarily a late spring and summer fishery. Most years it comes into shape in early to mid June and fishes well through the end of July, with an occasional bonus window in the fall when conditions line up.

Late Spring & Early Summer

As runoff drops and clarity returns in early to mid June, the Stillwater is one of the first freestones in the region to come into shape. Flows are strong but manageable, and fish are looking for food. Stoneflies, caddis, and attractor nymphs do a lot of the work. On the right days you can fish dries, nymphs, and streamers in the same float.

Summer

Through June and into July, flows settle into a comfortable range and water temperatures hold well thanks to the gradient and cool nighttime lows. Terrestrials and attractor dries shine in the broken water, and dry-dropper rigs are a natural fit for fast pockets and seams. By late July the prime window is usually starting to taper and we shift more of our focus back to the Yellowstone and other options.

Fall & Winter

Some seasons bring a second, shorter Stillwater window in early fall with cooler days and lower flows. We take advantage of it when ramps, flows, and access cooperate. Once true winter sets in, we move to spring creeks and Harrison Reservoir rather than pushing this river in the coldest months.

Upper River

The upper Stillwater feels like a rolling series of boulder gardens. Short drops, standing waves, and tight rock clusters create classic pocket water and fast seams. This is the steepest, most energetic stretch and a good fit for anglers who like quick shots and close-range fishing.

Middle River

In the middle reaches, the gradient eases just enough to mix in more defined runs and riffles, but the river still keeps its busy, broken character. It is a nice blend of classic pocket water and slightly longer drifts where you can really work a bank or seam.

Lower River

Down lower, closer to the Yellowstone, the channel opens slightly with a blend of riffles, deeper slots, and smoother glides. On the right flows this can be a good choice for anglers who want the Stillwater experience but prefer a slightly softer ride than the steepest water upstream.

Across all sections, the Stillwater feels like a small whitewater run with trout layered into every corner. Boat handling and line control matter as much as fly pattern, which makes it a great learning river.

Anglers & Day Style

Beginners

Brand new anglers usually start on the Yellowstone or on slower water. Strong beginners who are comfortable in a boat and ready for a little adventure can do well here with coaching, especially when flows are in that sweet moderate range.

Intermediate Anglers

This is the sweet spot. Constant pocket water means constant chances to practice: short accurate casts, fast mends, reading steep freestone currents, and reacting to what the boat is doing. It is a great place to speed up your decision making while still getting plenty of coaching.

Advanced Anglers

Advanced anglers will find plenty to chew on. There is room to work on tight dry fly placement along cutbanks, focused nymph drifts through narrow slots, and opportunistic streamer fishing when the light and flows line up.

Short Window, Lasting Memories

The Stillwater is not an everyday river. It is a short-window fishery that shines when conditions line up. That is what makes it memorable. Many guests who catch it right end up talking about their Stillwater day long after other parts of the trip blur together.

It fits naturally into a multi-river itinerary based out of Livingston. Pair a Stillwater float with days on the Yellowstone, Boulder, Shields, or the Paradise Valley spring creeks for a wider view of what this corner of Montana fishes like.

Or call or text (406) 224-0456 to talk about timing, flows, and how the Stillwater might fit into your trip.