Jefferson River Fly Fishing in Montana

For eighty miles, the Jefferson flows through canyons and valleys of southwest Montana before it empties into the mighty Missouri River in Three Forks, Montana. Owing its source to such fabled rivers as the Big Hole and Beaverhead - which come off the Continental Divide - the Jefferson is primarily a brown trout river.

Its slow current and steep hillsides favor driftboat fishing versus wading. The best fly fishing is found in the upper section, between Twin Bridges and Cardwell. As in most brown trout fisheries, large streamers or nymphs attract large fish. Spring months find the river low and cold, with sparse hatches of mayfly and caddis to greet the angler. After about a 4-6 week spring meltoff (usually mid May - mid June), the biggest flies of the year come out, the infamous "salmonflies". Anglers who pursue this hatch say it is both exasperating, and exhilarating, at the same time, often hooking (and sometimes landing) large browns and rainbows over 20" in size.

As summer progresses, and before waters warm up too quickly, popular choices include Muddler Minnows, Prince Nymphs and Matukas. Once the dog days of summer heat dissipate in early September, the river is back in prime form providing excellent fishing for large pre-spawn brown trout and feisty rainbows. The same Matuka and Muddler patterns work this time of year, as will sculpins, wooly bugger-style streamers and rubber-leg stonefly nymphs.