Fly Fishing at Riverside Ranch
Miles of private Montana small stream fly fishing for wild trout
There are three private fisheries on the Riverside Ranch, and you will have exclusive access to these secret spots.
Part of your stay includes a day of fishing guide service from our Professional guides. They can help you with casting basics and reading the water, and will also show you around the ranch boundaries, discuss the gates and ranch roads, and help familiarize you with the ranch in general. The variety of waters at Riverside Ranch, the beauty, privacy, and wild trout make up a combination that's sure to please any angler.
Sheep Creek.
When you picture a trout stream, this is it
Out the front door of the Sheep Creek Cabin, over 2 miles of Sheep Creek wind through the meadow below and endless miles downstream into the canyon.
The creek is just what a small trout stream should look like - pocket water with deeper pools, fast runs, and more rocks and cliff pools as you head upstream/ downstream.
Wet-wading is easy here, although the water can be chilly until well into October, and felt soles are a good idea. The best fishing is from sometime in July through the end of September, and a light rod balanced for 3 to 4 weight line, and 8.5-9 feet is recommended. Leaders 7 to 9 feet, tapered to a 4x or 5x are a good choice.
Behind just about every rock in the stream you'll find a feisty trout looking for a quick meal. All the fish are stream-bred and vividly colored. Most are rainbows, and the average size is about 11". However, there are good numbers of fish in the 14-15" range, and rainbows up to 19" have been caught. There are a handful of browns up to an astonishing 20", although fish that big are rare.
Finally, there are some cutthroat, Montana's only native trout, up to about 16".
Look for a bright red slash mark under their jaw, and please make sure to release them carefully. Sheep Creek is a good option for beginners due to the aggressive nature of these trout, but can challenge more advanced anglers as well.
The Smith River.
Oxbows, cows, and brown trout
Over on the main Riverside Ranch is the smith River, which is actually just slightly bigger than Sheep Creek. If you've heard about the famous Smith River Canyon float trips, this stretch is far upstream, and too small to float. That means you'll have private fishing on this incredible 3 mile stretch. It winds through pasture, and is fed by several small springs, which results in spring creek-like conditions. Deep cut-banks, smooth pools, shallow gravel riffles, and oxbows are the main features. Deer and the occasional moose hang out with the cows that browse along its banks.
Wet wading here is easy throughout most of the season, although the grass and brush can be a little tough on bare legs. There can be some weeds and mud to avoid in mid and late summer, but in general the Smith is a little more open than Sheep Creek. A 3 to 5 weight rod, 8 feet or longer, is probably best. Nine foot leaders tapering to 4x will work in most cases, but you should bring 5x-6x just in case
Like Sheep Creek the Smith boasts three species of trout, but there are few if any cutthroat. Instead, you'll find beautiful brook trout, thanks to the cold flows from the spring creeks. Brookies up to 16" have been caught, which is a notable size for that species in the West. Brown trout are the most populous, with a good number of rainbows as well. This stretch has produced some very big fish for small water - browns up to 26" live here, and there are good numbers in the 18-22" class as well. This river tends to require more technical skill than Sheep Creek, so plan to stalk your fish quietly, try to move through the pools with a minimum of disturbance, and use light leaders. And be ready - you never know when that cut bank holds a hungry brown just waiting for your fly.
North Fork of Smith River
Very similar to the Main Smith, but has more fast water like Sheep Creek, but flows down from out of the mountains as a spring creek. Mainly a Brook Trout stream, but boasts some large Rainbows due to the Reservoir it feeds into at the edge of the property. Water temperature is always cool. Average fish 10-14” but the rainbows are exceeding 20". Always see lots of Elk and deer and the famous Albino Moose. Best rod to use 3-4 weight 7-8.5 foot due to tight spots and challenging casts due to occasional brush covering the best fishing holes. There is about 3 miles of stream. Exciting place to fish and very active fishing.
Float trips on the Yellowstone, Madison, and Missouri Rivers
A classic day of fishing on two of the West’s top blue-ribbon fisheries
To really experience classic Western fly fishing, you have to spend a day drifting a river in a McKenzie drift boat. We offer full-day float trips off the ranch on the Yellowstone (1.5 hours south) or the Missouri (2 hours west) for yet another terrific fishing option. Our hand-made boat can accommodate 1 or 2 anglers, and Dave Hanson or One of our Professional guides will be manning the oars. Wildlife and great scenery are side benefits to this very effective and entertaining fishing method. Mid-day, you'll enjoy a streamside lunch, and cold drinks are served all day long. The best floating is summer and fall, and a 9 foot rod for 5 or 6 weight line is recommended. Try a day out on the big water during your stay at Riverside Ranch! OR your stay in Bozeman.
