Montana Wilderness Horseback Trophy Fishing!

Numerous trout laden streams, rivers and high mountain lakes await you in the vast Bob Marshall and Scapegoat Wilderness areas of the Rocky Mountains. Our primary trout species include the Westslope Cutthroat and Rainbow Trout, with the opportunities varying depending on which summer back country pack trip that you take. We have a fixed camp at Meadow Creek where there is an abundance of Rainbow trout. A day outing from Meadow Creek to Parker Lake or Twin Lakes gets you trophy Cutthroat trout. Enjoy the varying fishing opportunities on our traveling wilderness back country pack trips, enjoying the high mountain vistas as we travel from fishing hole to fishing hole. We always camp at a stream, river or lake (most of which are tributaries to the famed Blackfoot River) to enhance your camping experience and to maximize your time on the water catching trout that range from 6 – 24 inches and weigh in the 2 – 4 pound range.

The fishing is good from the end of June to the end of August. You can sign up for one of our scheduled summer backcountry pack trips or we will organize a trip tailored to your parties needs in terms of fishing species, number of days, horseback riding time, etc. We do practice catch and release but we do keep enough fish to augment our otherwise exquisite cuisine. Come join us with your family and friends or organize your intense trout fishing gang, for a unique trophy fishing and camping experience in the western Rocky Mountains!

You can purchase a fishing license online before your trip by visiting https://app.mt.gov/Als/Index or you can purchase one in Lincoln the day before your trip.

Fishing Equipment – General

We have compiled the following list of equipment to help you have a successful trophy fishing experience, however the novice fisherman need not be intimidated. Sometimes the novice and the kids with 3 ft poles out do the professionals.

This is a fully guided horseback pack trip where all you need to bring is fishing gear, clothing, and personal items. We must pack all equipment on our mules. For this reason, we must limit each person to one or two duffle bags not to exceed 45 lbs total. It is important to pack compact (short brake-down rods instead of one piece rods), pack for protection (tubes for all rods) and light. Following is a check list of general equipment, fly fishing equipment and spin fishing equipment to help your planning.

Wear long sleeve flats style shirt and flats pants to fish with, because they dry very fast and are light to pack.
Fly vest or chest packs are good for gear and nicer if they have room for a water bottle and lunch.
Brimmed hat for sun shade.
Good brown polarized sun glasses!
Stocking foot waders, Orvis Clearwater or breathable type are best, because you can use the boots with your waders or to wet wade on hot days.
Boots with felt and studs Orvis Ultra lights.
Bring long forceps for easy hook extraction, (I do not use a net) bending down barbs on hooks helps for quick release.
For general camping gear, refer to the equipment list on the Summer Trips page (click on the Fish at the top of the page and click the <Equipment link.

Fly Fishing

Fishing will be from shore, or close to the shore depending upon water depth, along the various streams and lakes. Thus shorter rods work well in the brush along the creeks, lakes and rivers. The longer rods can be good for roll casting to avoid brush and trees but harder to handle through trees along the river.

Gear sources for fly-fishing gear www.dan-bailey.com , www.orvis.com and at Bob Ward’s Sporting Goods on arrival in Helena.

Rods/Reels/Line

7′ – 7 1/2′ rods are recommended.
All rods should be 4-6 piece.
All rods must be in tubes for protection when packing. A tube like Orvis Safe Passage, where the reel can stay on the rod is ok, but the reel should be taken loose from the rod to reduce the chances of being damaged.
Use 5X tippet, (4-6lb breaking strength) Fluorocarbon for sub-surface, 9″ leaders can be shortened if needed.
Large arbor reels to get line picked up quickly on fast waters.
Gink on your favorite fly floatant.
Use floating fly line or short sink tips for sub surface.

Flies – Surface
You never can have too many flies or sizes of flies; they all go away sooner or hopefully later. I like two fly boxes, one for the river and one for restocking that stays in camp.

Bring several flies in each size.
Larger size parachutes 12 & 14 are easier to see in fast water and floats better.
Adams, size 16 & 18, olive or yellow body.
Elk Hair Caddis, size 12 & 14, olive or yellow body.
Black Elk Hair Caddis, size 12.
Pale Morning Dun size 14 & 16, yellow.
Renegade, size 12, black, imitates horse fly.
Chernobyl Ant, size 6 or 8, foam body fly.
Hoppers - parachute style, size 8 or 10, olive body w/black legs.
Joe’s Hopper, (has wings) size 8 & 10.
Humpies patterns size 14 to 18.
Salmon fly, orange belly size 4 or 6.
Stimulators (royal wulff or others in several sizes 12 & 20).

Flies-underwater

Cone head Streamers – black, brown/yellow or purple size 4
Wooly Buggers, size 4 & 6, brown & yellow best.
Hare’s Ear Bead head.
Prince Bead head with rubber legs, size 14 & 16.
Copper John (red) 16 & 18.

Spin fishing

Light or ultra light weight spinning gear works well for those who are not familiar with fly fishing. You should bring your own rods, reel and lures, but we do have a limited supply of rods/reels and lures. Check with us before you come to insure availability.

Rods/Reels/Line

Shorter Med/Lt rods 4.5′ to 6′ – 2 piece are best.
Open face reels like Mitchell 308 or 300s.
Under spins are also good like Pflueger 1810U and Daiwa US80XC.
6 to 8 lb. test line.

Lures

Rapala minnows 1″ to 2″ in trout (09) colors or silver (01).
Mepps spinners size 0 & 2 gold, silver, red/white, gold/red.
Rooster tails, brown & black, gold & silver spinners, 1/16, 1/8 oz.
Barrel swivels size 14 or 12, silver, gold, & black.

Take a look at our summer wilderness horseback pack trips. There are more wonders of nature to be seen!
Chinese Wall Trip – an 8 day roving camp trip up to the Chinese Wall.
Continental DivideTrip – a 7 day roving camp trip along and over the Divide.
Scapegoat Mountain Trip – a 9 day roving camp trip into the high country of Scapegoat mountain.
Meadow Creek Camp – A flexible multi day pack trip into our Meadow Creek base camp.

For a photo gallery of all our summer wilderness trips from last year, see our Photo Gallery page. For summer wilderness horseback pack trip schedules and pricing, please visit our Wilderness Horseback Trip Rates/Deposit/Schedule page.

Thank you for sharing our love for this mountain wilderness backcountry and allowing us to count you as friends. We hope you join us again on another wilderness travel adventure!