Best Fishing lodge in southern montana

[JoeJoeMan]

jimj, I don't get up that way to fish, but I have the feeling it's not nearly as trampled over as all the big name rivers in sw montana.
The poster mentioned a lodge, if he could find an out of the way lodge and then float a quite section of the river up there - I'd imagine that'd be pretty nice.
Like I previously said - fishing the major rivers, particularly those in sw montana, I wouldn't really consider a good montana experience, the scenery would be nice and you'd catch some fish, but I would think that a person dropping his hard earned cash to come out here to experience montana would have a much better time of it in a pristine and secluded area of the state fishing for fish that don't see boats floating past them every 20 minutes.
Speaking of which, I'm sure you've notice the explosion of boats/rafts floating the rivers over the last so many years. To me so much of fishing, especially fly fishing is the solitude and beauty of the environment. You know that image of "A River Runs Through It"....you probably have it in your mind and people do to when they come here to fish. Personally when I'm standing on the river and a bunch of boats, commercial and recreational alike come by, it blows the whole thing for me......that solitude and experience of being on a lonesome river is in large part what montana 'was' really all about. It is something that is pretty much gone in sw montana - which is I think a shame - and is one source of my attitude about the growth taking place here - once it's gone it doesn't come back. It is now just a time gone by. Replaced by the "growth economy". Was the trade really worth it ? I'll put that question to the pro-growth proponents out there.

[ladyflyfsh]

I'm going to put my 2 cents worth into the pot. I live in the Jefferson Valley and we have 5 great trout streams within close proximity to fish that all fish well. Ruby, Beaverhead, Jefferson, Big Hole, Madison etc. There are a handful of nice little fishing lodges located between Twin Bridges and Alder ranging in prices. One has nice little log cabins for guests and sits right on the Ruby River on private land in Twin Bridges with a nice pond full of fat trout, one is not on the river but south of Twin and the other although rather pricey is on private land on the Ruby River out of Alder.

The gudes will take clients to different areas each day and don't mind driving over the hill to the Madison when the fishing is really great. The Ruby is primarily a wade fishing river and the Beaverhead and Jefferson floating for the most part. They Big Hole is a great wading stream and good for folating as well. Although the Jeff has it's problems in the middle of the summer with low flows due to the high need for irrigation in the valley for all the hay growers who raise cattle, it fishes quite well both early and late season. This last summer was unseasonably hot and with the amount of water being drained from the river it was shut down due to high temps and low flows.

The Beaverhead although super popular still has one of the best populations of trout on any Montana stream. With the average trout 16" and 3,800 fish per mile, it's still an awesome fishery with many very large trout caught each day. There are hogs in the Jefferson also...Ive caught many over 23-24" browns and rainbows. Not a great number per mile but good quality fish.

So, I would not sell southern or southwest Montana rivers short. We have a great fishery and nice places to stay with worldclass guides and private spring creeks and property at the disposal of clients. Also lots of public access points on the Ruby and all the others I've mentioned.

[ladyflyfsh]

Originally Posted by JoeJoeMan

jimj, I don't get up that way to fish, but I have the feeling it's not nearly as trampled over as all the big name rivers in sw montana.
The poster mentioned a lodge, if he could find an out of the way lodge and then float a quite section of the river up there - I'd imagine that'd be pretty nice.
Like I previously said - fishing the major rivers, particularly those in sw montana, I wouldn't really consider a good montana experience, the scenery would be nice and you'd catch some fish, but I would think that a person dropping his hard earned cash to come out here to experience montana would have a much better time of it in a pristine and secluded area of the state fishing for fish that don't see boats floating past them every 20 minutes.
Speaking of which, I'm sure you've notice the explosion of boats/rafts floating the rivers over the last so many years. To me so much of fishing, especially fly fishing is the solitude and beauty of the environment. You know that image of "A River Runs Through It"....you probably have it in your mind and people do to when they come here to fish. Personally when I'm standing on the river and a bunch of boats, commercial and recreational alike come by, it blows the whole thing for me......that solitude and experience of being on a lonesome river is in large part what montana 'was' really all about. It is something that is pretty much gone in sw montana - which is I think a shame - and is one source of my attitude about the growth taking place here - once it's gone it doesn't come back. It is now just a time gone by. Replaced by the "growth economy". Was the trade really worth it ? I'll put that question to the pro-growth proponents out there.

JoeJoeMan, I can float the Jefferson River and never even see another boat! Sorry it's such a mess where you live but it's still very rural and beatiful over here. You just have to know where to go and there are plenty of places to go and not tangle with another angler all day. I might see a mink or a few otters on the river, the occassional moose or whitetail deer but they don't carry fly rods.

[JoeJoeMan]

ladyfish wrote:

JoeJoeMan, I can float the Jefferson River and never even see another boat! Sorry it's such a mess where you live but it's still very rural and beatiful over here. You just have to know where to go and there are plenty of places to go and not tangle with another angler all day. I might see a mink or a few otters on the river, the occassional moose or whitetail deer but they don't carry fly rods.

Ladyfish, true, I shouldn't really turn the poster off from the sw montana area, but just caution him. Like you say, if done right he could find a really nice time there - depending. So I would say if he chooses that area then to be carefully to find the right place or might find himself float down the Madision with hoard of boats infront and in back of him, rather to find some of the beaten path places as you suggest.
ALSO you brought up a very good point about the river closures that seem to be coming a reqular event in the summers around here. Personally, I definetely choose the fall, September can be gorgous and Mid-October while a little more if'y with the weather can be the best fishing of the entire season.
So I'd warn the poster to take into account the river closures that can occur during the summer on major rivers and let's not forget forest fires that can really smoke things up and ruin you're whole vacation. For instance the Bitterroot fires some years would really be bad, let alone they might evacuate the area you are staying in due to approaching wildfire. Just to make another case for a fall trip.