Montana is a sportsman’s paradise. The ‘wild west’ offers wide open spaces, towering mountain ranges, rugged wilderness, and clean, cold rivers. The western aesthetic has long drawn anglers from around the world to try their hand at catching the trout of a lifetime in the western US. Montana, in particular, is home to many high-class fishing lodges that provide a unique experience to the avid angler and a fishy getaway unlike any other. If you’re looking to stay domestic and target freshwater cold water species, Montana is arguably the best place to do so. Luckily, we’ve spent years visiting Montana and have curated a selection of the lodges we think are the very best in the region. These lodges offer world-class accommodations, state-of-the-art facilities, and incredible fishing guides. Plus, unlike traveling internationally to fly fish, these lodges are a short flight away. 

One such lodge is the Madison Valley Ranch. Located near the town of Ennis, Montana, on the banks of the blue ribbon waters of the Madison River, this Orvis-Endorsed Lodge runs at peak efficiency and offers a truly unique experience to the avid trout angler. During your stay, you’ll have the opportunity to fish the Madison River, Yellowstone River, and many other rivers in the area for a chance to catch a 20+ inch wild trout. In the evenings, retreat to a lodge that’s incredibly comfortable with food that is award-winning, local, and delicious. Plenty of wine and beer flows every night and fish stories are always shared around the dinner table. This fly fishing lodge is also a phenomenal place for corporate groups or large groups as they have multiple buildings and a variety of room styles. 

Down the road from Madison Valley Ranch sits a brand new lodge called the Madison Double R. The Madison Double R sits on 1200 acres in the heart of big trout country and is a lodge that caters to all vacationers, fly anglers or not. With massage options, a golf course, horseback riding, eco-tours, and a workout facility, it’s a place where corporate groups, couples, and non-anglers can seek out a one-of-a-kind experience that won’t soon be forgotten. Of course, if you’re an avid angler, the Madison Double R has a pretty great fishing program, too. Like other lodges in the area, this lodge also fishes multiple rivers and utilizes a team of expert outfitters and guides to provide the best experience to the angler. 

If you’re looking for a hunting lodge and a fishing lodge in one, the Silver Bow Club in Divide, MT, also provides a home base for an incredible western vacation. A family-owned and operated lodge, the Silver Bow Club offers upland bird hunting in the fall and incredible fishing on the Big Hole River during the summer months. This lodge has over 3 miles of river access right outside the front door for anglers who want to spend time prospecting waters around the lodge. They also offer float trips on multiple different fisheries around the state. Stories have it that 30+ inch brown trout are caught here every year. And, yes, they have been known to eat birds. 

Regardless of your preferred western fly fishing experience, we have a lodge that will fit your needs and provide an excellent experience that will keep you coming back year after year. These lodges fill up fast, so book now.