Montana Fly Fishing Trip 2014

                       September 19-25, 2014

We will be visiting the southwestern part of Montana.  This part of Big Sky country is blessed with large agricultural valleys ringed by snow-capped mountains and some of Montana’s best trout fishing.  This is the real West.  The local towns are filled with ranchers, miners and trout bums.

ITINERARY

Arrive Montana: travel to Montana; drive to Upper Canyon Outfitters; get settled in, discuss conditions and what type of fishing you would like to do the next day; refreshments and dinner; get a good night sleep
Fishing Days: breakfast, 5 days of guided fly fishing, lunch on the stream; dinner
Leave Montana: breakfast; travel home relaxed and reenergized

                                                               Click here to see photos

FISHING

Browns slamming olive Zuddlers.  Trout hitting dries and terrestrials.  Working the seams with Bead Head Copper Johns.  Beautiful scenery everywhere you look…I mean everywhere.  Montana trout fishing is awesome and needs to be experienced.

   As guest of the ranch, we have the exclusive use of over two miles of the Ruby River and a private spring fed pond on the ranch.  The Ruby River is known for its jumping brown trout. For some reason, the Ruby’s browns tend to act more like rainbows when hooked.  The thing that makes fishing on the private stretch of the Ruby so good is the lack of fishing pressure.  The fishing on the Ruby is all walk/wade and the wading is very easy due to the gravel bottom and rather low gradient.  There are drift boats at the ranch and you will have the opportunity to float the famous Madison River.  If you enjoy technical small streams, there are plenty of opportunities on the Ruby’s headwaters and other small streams in the National Forest.  We determine where to fish day to day by where the fish are hitting and by what type of fishing you would like to do.

   You can expect to catch primarily brown trout on the lower stretches of the water.  At the ranch itself, we see a mixture of browns and rainbows.  Above the ranch, we catch mostly rainbows and grayling with the occasional brook trout.  As we move up the smaller tributaries, you will find the native cutthroats where Meriwether Lewis first described those 200 years ago.  You may also fish some higher elevation alpine lakes from a float tube.  The larger rivers that we float on provide us with the chance to fish for both browns and rainbows.

Catch and Release: D&H strongly encourages catch and release of all trout.

Note To Novices:  We are happy to accommodate the beginner fly angler.  The guides are extremely patient and willing to share their knowledge.  It is best, however, to arrive with a bit of knowledge about the sport.  We recommend that you enroll in one of D&H’s fly fishing schools with Brian or at the very least take a private casting lesson with Luke.  Practice casting in your yard or at a local park.  A very good and easy to read book is Flyfishing: First Cast to First Fish.  Scientific Anglers has produced some very good DVDs.

LODGING

Upper Canyon Outfitters is nestled between three major Rocky Mountain Ranges, the Snowcrest Range on the south, the Greenhorns on the north and the Gravellys just to the east.  The three mountain ranges come together to form a canyon right at the ranch and that is how the ranch became known as the Upper Canyon Ranch.  The Ruby River flows between the mountains through the property for over two miles. 

Upper Canyon Outfitters is a family operated ranch and is dedicated to providing a first-class, successful trip for each of their guests. The family has been exploring the beautiful and wildlife-rich mountains since their grandfather homesteaded the site in 1910.

The trip is based on double-occupancy accommodations; if you would like a quote for single occupancy, please ask Mark.

DINING

Good food to set you up for a big day in the outdoors.  Lots of homemade bread, deserts, steak, potatoes…you get the picture.  You won’t go to bed hungry.

Please let us know of any diet restrictions, etc., so that we will be prepared to accommodate them.

WEATHER

The average temperature for the time we will be in Montana has been 72 degrees for the high and the low has been 35 degrees. 

GEAR LIST

Please see the Gear List for our specific recommendations to make sure you are prepared for your adventure in Big Sky Country.

PRICING

The price is $2,760.  The price includes five days fully guided fly fishing, meals and lodging at Upper Canyon Outfitters.  There is free wireless at the lodge.

The pricing excludes air transportation, fishing licenses, telephone calls, alcohol, personal items and gratuities for guides and lodging staff.

Fishing license for non-resident: $25 for 2-day, $53.50 for 10-day, $70 for season

PAYMENT

Please make checks payable to D&H Travel.  No credit cards.  Please send payment to:  D&H Travel, 2708 Erie Avenue, Cincinnati, OH  45208.

CANCELLATION POLICY

The trip is non-refundable after August 15, 2014.  No exceptions.

If you cancel in writing before August 15, 2014, your payment, less $100 per person processing fee, will be refunded to you.  No refund is made for any unused land arrangements.  We strongly recommend trip cancellation insurance.  Receipt of deposit by D&H Travel is acknowledgement that registrant has read and accepts cancellation/refund and responsibility clauses.

Note To Group Leaders:  It is important that as group leader you share this pre-trip information with all members of your party so that everyone is adequately prepared, understands the cancellation/refund policy pertaining to the trip and has the opportunity to purchase the travel protection.  D&H Travel cannot assume any financial responsibility for consequences incurred if this information is not provided by you to all members of your group.

TRANSPORTATION

You are responsible for your own air transportation to Montana.  Transportation is included to and from the ranch if you are flying in and out of Bozeman with the group.  If not, a shuttle can be arranged or you may rent a vehicle.  The following is the flight that is looking good for 2014. 
September 19, 2014  Delta flight 1741 departs Cincinnati 8:40am, stops in Salt Lake, flight 7377 from SLC to Butte, MT, arrives in BTM at 12:37pm.
September 25, 2014  Delta flight 7377 departs BTM 1:10pm, stops in SLC, flight 1208 from SLC  to CVG, arrives in Cincinnati at 10:25pm.

QUESTIONS?

Please contact Mark Walters 513-871-3474 or mark@BestGear.com.