If I told you that you could fish our area with no crowds, low water, and great fishing you might think I was nuts. Seriously, I am not kidding. The months of October through April provide anglers with some of the best fishing opportunity we have to offer!

The off-season dry fly fishing, at times, can rival even some of the best hatches of the summer. At times there are literally pods of fish taking baetis and midges with virtually no one on the river. The rivers in our area have large sections of water that are open year round. The off-season stream flows are greatly reduced. The South Fork has an average flow during the off-season of between 1,000 and 2,000 c.f.s. Compare that with average mid-summer flows that average ~12,000 c.f.s, and you can see the excellent opportunity for the wade fisherman in the off-season.

We also have some of the best Trophy Brown Trout Fishing in the Country during the off-season months. The Madison River, South Fork, and Main Snake have incredible runs of spawning brown trout. As their spawning season approached they move into shallow water and become very aggressive. It is by far on one of the best times to catch a fish of a lifetime. The Idaho state record brown trout was caught on the South Fork in 1981. It was 36 ½ inches long and weighed 26 pounds!! The run on the Madison River, both within Yellowstone Park and below Quake Lake starts in early-October and lasts well into November. The browns on the South Fork and the Main Snake start to move into their spawning areas about a month later. They get started in late-October and go right up until Christmas.

Although it is not uncommon to have very comfortable days with highs in the 60’s & 70’s, don’t be surprised to see a snowstorm or two. When fishing during the off-season months you should always be prepared for the worst. As long as you have the proper clothing (including long underwear, fleece, a rain jacket, hat and gloves), a cool day or two won’t spoil your trip. Dressing properly is the key to comfort during the off-season. If you are interested in big fish, uncrowded water, and a little cool weather doesn’t bother you, join us and experience some of the best off-season fishing in the west!

For more guide trip information please read through our Guided Services pages, refer to the various stretches of water that we provide day and 1/2 day trips, or call us at:

1 800.788.4479.