Beginning in May, the world renowned Southfork begins stretching and waking up, eventually swelling into extreme levels. This tells the fish that it is time to feed.
In June, our guide boats head out, and we scout out where the Bull Trouts like to stage before they make the trip to their spawning grounds. Spotted Bear Ranch is one of the only places in the lower 48 that you can legally fish the Bulls.
Hooking one of these monsters is unlike anything you have experienced. Once hooked, the Bulls take deep dives and challenge the oarsmen to keep up as they scream upriver. When you catch them, everything else fades away and time seems to stand still. This fish, guide, and angler have shared a blink in time together, providing a kind of connectedness that binds and returns us to this natural world once again.
As the season progresses, the rivers clear up and water levels drop significantly. At this time, the Native Westslope Cutthroat Trout begin to bubble. These wild trout are plentiful, hungry and hard fighting. Unlike the Bull Trout, they prefer top water bugs, which require anglers to have an observant eye and quick hand to wrangle this classically Montanan fish. This is Montana fly-fishing; and it doesn’t get any better than here at Spotted Bear Ranch.
Spotted Bear is offering two different fishing experiences this season: lodge-based fishing & wilderness fishing.
Lodge based packages are typically 3- and 5-day trips, blending gorgeous float fishing and fantastic walk or wade opportunities. The lodge trips are fully inclusive of your lodging, chef prepared meals, beer and wine, daily maid service and all your guided activities. If you aren’t tired after 8-9 hours of guided fly-fishing, the lodge and cabins are conveniently situated within a 100 yards of the river, so you can always go catch more fish at any time.
If you’re looking for a more rugged and out of the ordinary vacation, our wilderness fishing trips are perfect for you! Camp out in the renowned Montana wilderness. This pack and float expedition takes you into some of the wildest country on earth!
- Guided Hunts
- Guided Fly-Fishing
- Chef-Prepared Meals
- Orvis Endorsed Ranch
- Tackles and Flies Provided
- Horseback Riding
- Experience Wildlife
- Friendly Staff
I wanted to fish the Bob Marshall Wilderness and this was certainly the way to do it! My husband and I enjoyed a week of beautiful scenery and fishing for lots of hungry cutthroat. It was definitely a trip to remember and one I highly recommend.
Alexis - Nashville, TN