Timing your visit

Current Information

Follow these links for the most up to date Weather and Streamflows in and around Big Timber, Montana.

Every season in Montana offers its own delights and Chan suggests sampling different months from year to year for a well-rounded fishing experience. While weather may vary, here's what you generally can expect:

Mid April - early May: Provides some of the best fishing of the year. The Boulder and Yellowstone are generally clear. Spawning rainbows are moving up the river. Because of the low clear water, lengthening days and a bright morning sun; water temperatures rise rapidly, bugs hatch and trout eat - it's been a long winter. Blue Wing Olives and March Browns are the main events. The dry fly activity, hungry trout, dipper bird warbles and greening grass make this Chan's favorite time to fish.

Mid May-June: Spring runoff muddies the rivers, but float-tubing for rainbow trout on private ranch lakes is sensational during Damsel and Callibaetis hatches.

Late June- early July: Runoff clears first on the small streams, then on the Boulder; trout begin feeding greedily on mayflies, caddis and yellow sallies. Yellowstone River flyfishing conditions can still be iffy, contact Chan for an update.

Mid July - early August: Prime Time (but bring your mosquito repellent!) Nymphs and wet flies begin producing nice brown and rainbows as the Yellowstone clears. On the Boulder, mayfly and caddis imitations yield terrific action for the wader.
To wade the Lower Boulder the angler must have good agility to amble along the rocky bars and to be at peace with the greasy bouldery streambed. To laugh at the bouldery stream bed, to see a lot of water, hundreds of fishing spots and uncluttered ranch coutry, do a Yellowstone River float.

August - September: Golden stonefly emegerence prevails on the Yellowstone. On both rivers hungry trout slam hoppers. Intermittently, Mayfly and caddis hatches feed the rainbows and browns. Into September, Chan likes beetles and ant imitations

September - mid October: Occasional storms mix wind and rain/snow squalls with warm days and spectacular fall colors. Sculpins and larger wet flies seduce migrating browns; and Montana's reliable blue-winged olive hatch offers compensations for the variable weather.

October: You can usually have the river all to yourself - IF you don't mind gambling on weather. Do not expect to fish every day - the approaching winter makes some days better suited for holing up by the fire with a hot coffee.