My wife and I are going to a music festival in Whitefish this summer and want to do some fly fishing beforehand. We are flying into Bozeman, and driving over to whitefish but had planned to spend some time visiting National parks and fishing.

Would y'all suggest a day or two float or just get a lesson while wading? My thought is a walking and wading.

We are new to the sport and looking for any recommendations that are beginner friendly. Thanks in advance y'all!

ETA: sorry if this has already been discussed

Do a float with a guide. You'll have way more fun.

I would recommend either the Beaverhead with Frontier Anglers in Dillon or the Missouri with Headhunters Fly Shop in Craig. And both are in the general direction of Whitefish.

I'd recommend floating. Cover more water.

And for those who fish with their wives, the front seat in a drift boat is better. We used to gently argue who would sit there but we worked out a system. One sits up front until noon and then we swap. The following day we reverse the order and continue alternating on different days. Peace in the Johnson household.

Check out RJ's Fly Trips, we went to the same festival two years ago and fished with Ryan one day. Looks like he's based out of Somers, MT now. We fished the Flathead with him.

Solid dude, patient and experienced

My wife and I "based" in Bozeman three summers ago. It was great. I paid for two, "guided float trips" on the Madison and Gallatin Rivers. I haven't done anything like that before. It was a blast. I had the same guide for both trips. I had a day between the two excursions, and my guide asked me if I would like to fish with him ( as a guest- no charge) on the off day. We hiked up some mountain trails and landed a slew of cutthroats. He told me that he doesn't get to fish much on his own during the prime time. He complimented me on being a "good hand" with a fly rod and said I was a low maintenance fisherman. I used Montana Anglers. Great way to spend a day!

Float will probably be more action, but you'd learn more with a guide wading.

Over in Livingston is Nelson's Guides and Flies. Guide Jacquie Nelson is the best guide I've had, I learned so much from her. They have private water access on Nelsons creek that you can wade, but they do all types of trips.

We fished out of Emigrant last summer. They have a fly shop that set it up. We enjoyed

Second rec for the Missouri out of Craig …. Several shops there that service the river. Going back for our annual trip and will include the "Land of the Giants" one day. Easy river to float, lots of quality fish, beauty scenery, and as laid back area that you can find. Somebody get the net!

Eric Shores
Trout Stalkers
Ennis, Montana w

About three years ago we used Lakestream Fly Shop out of Kalispell. Our guide took us to Rogers Lake. Not the big Rogers Lake, but a small one a little southwest of Kalispell. We drift fly-fished and were the only folks on the lake.

According to our guide it is the fish and game hatchery for cutthroats and is the only place in Montana that has pure cutthroats. Also lots of graylings. It was a fantastic day of fishing on a lake that is very remote and has almost no development on it.

Are all of these places friendly towards people who are new to the sport? Not saying they aren't, but I also don't want to waste everyone's time

Just be honest with them up front Don't act like you're an old hand at it and flash your ass. Good guides like to teach. I've fished with a guide who wasn't happy to be paid and get a tip at the end of the day.

These guys took amazing care of us

https://www.yellowstoneangler.com/about/

Equipped us. Put us in a stream with a guide.

Then put us on a private lake with a guide. Every single cast was a trout.

It's a beautiful area. Enjoy!

Sounds like they took you to a trout farm.

Yellowstone Angler in Livingston is a great shop that is well known. They'll take good care of you.

I've had good experiences with Grizzly Hackle in Missoula. Good folks in that shop.

We've become good friends with the owners at Lary's in Columbia Falls. Hilary and Ebon are top notch folks. Hilary will be booked up already for the summer but they run other guides out of their shop if your up around the Glacier area.

Looks like we will be spending some more time in Bozeman the first few days, thanks again for y'alls suggestions. I will look into them, if anyone else has any ideas or contacts please send them our way.

It's not exactly close to Whitefish but Linehan Outfitting in Yaak are great people and will take care of you. I haven't fished with them but I have hunted with the three times and you couldn't ask for a better experience than what Tim and JoAnn provide.

Montana Angler in downtown Bozeman is a decent shop. Give them a shout.

Tim and Joanne Linehan are friends of ours and they do everything first class at their lodge.