So little advice needed. Anyone here in or around Bozeman? I have a flyfishing trip planned out of there in mid July. Staying in town. Wife and I both planned on being there for a week. We'll be coming from the east coast. So I am sure right now lots of business shut down. Anyway to predict couple months ahead? Thx

where are you fishing at...…...bob

You are not interested in his honey hole are you Bob.

No.

There’s no way to know what’s going to happen in July.

But around here, things are opening up. Stores and restaurants are opened or opening.

is it that obvious…….let me rephrase
what river or rivers are you fishing on...….bob

Gallitan, Missouri. Supposedly going to wade fish Yellowstone too. First time out there so little in sure

As things stand right now, things are definitely opening up more. As to predictions? I speculate fishing access will be open with minor regulations regarding social distancing, etc.,in place. If I were you, I would not cancel my trip plans. Are you planning to fish with a guide or is this a do-it-yourself venture? The Yellowstone is one of the more difficult rivers to wade fish; so, I'm assuming you are using a guide who has specific places located for you. How long are you going to be here? Either way, enjoy your stay.

You should be fine. People are fishing all up and down the Gallatin this week before it blows out from snowmelt. They are catching fish. A bud has been over to the Missouri and caught some nice big fish. Phase one opening started Monday in MT, with businesses allowed to open while observing social distancing. Next Monday the bars and restaurants will be allowed to begin opening, again with guidelines. Things should be relatively normal by July. If you are staying in Bozeman, I can’t believe your guide isn’t fishing the Madison. It is the blue ribbon trout stream in the area. Also like Big Sky mentioned, the Yellowstone is a big deep river that has limited wading opportunities. I would plan on wading the Gallatin (no fishing from boats allowed in the Gallatin Canyon) and floating the Y-stone and Madison. I have never fished the Missouri so no advice there. Good luck and have fun!

I agree with TBS, I think by July there won't be any restrictions for travelers. Bring a mask if you want to visit any stores.

Lawnman: Not sure if this has been posted but as of NOW (April 29th) if YOU travel to Montana from out of state YOU must remain quarantined in one room or one house for 14 (fourteen!) days! Then you can go out and recreate/travel.
That is by state governmental order!
AND... Bozeman is THE epicenter for the Wuhan Red Death in all of Montana - so far 448 cases of the Wuhan Red Death have been confirmed in Montana amongst our population of barely one million people.
Sadly the 3 significant fly shops and outfitters here in Dillon, Montana are all right next to shut down - no clients want to "quarantine" for 14 days and then go fishing!
I am hoping that by the time of your trip, there would be a lifting of the quarantine, but thanks to the idiot libertarians we have a dipschit demonrat governor and NO telling what he will/may do?
Wish I could be more help but the only real "bright spot" on your horizon that I can see is there has been right next to NO one fishing on the major fishing rivers I travel along, so far this year (Bighole, Beaverhead, Jefferson, Red Rock and the upper Bitterroot sytems).
Best of luck to you and if you would like to see what appears to be a near 20 pound Rainbow Trout that was caught and released by a friend up on the "res" here in Montana about ten days ago I will send it to your phone.
It was caught on a streamer fly on a lake there on the "res".
P/M me your phone number (or anyone else for that matter) and I will forward it to you.
Come on Big Sky Country - open up.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

Even if everything was closed and the fish weren’t biting, come July, you’ll be better off there than in Florida!

Likely to stay closed for a couple years. Folks ought to look to California, Washington, and Oregon for their recreating/vacations.

I had a motorcycle trip planned to WY/MT/ID for this June. The plan was to explore it on the bike first, then come back with my truck full of fly gear and hit the rivers. So much for my plans...

I hear Hwy 101 along the coast is nice. Besides, that's a long way to pedal.

I better include the smiley face before I feel the hate.

I was stationed in Commiefornia back in the 80’s with the army. I lived about a minutes drive from 101. No thanks. Want nothing to do with Nancy’s nest site.

Not a flyfisherman, but I too was wondering about the reference to wade fishing the Yellowstone. Wonder if that would be referring to wade fishing in the park?

Is it even legal for a guide to take clients into ynp?

Guess I am assuming there is a guide in the mix.

Nothing ruins a Flyfishing trip for me quicker than fishing with a guide. Basically all I need to know is where the river is. If there are fish in the water I’ll figure it out.

Good for you. Not everyone is as skilled as you.

And for a guy traveling across the continent to fish, combined with the response about "supposedly going to fish..." I assumed there was a 3rd party involved setting things up.

Why are you so angry? I was just making an off the cuff comment pertaining to myself. Wasn’t demeaning anything you or anyone else said.

This is true...and posted on the highways.

But as for it being enforced...not so much....or at all....

Just throwing that out there....


Varmintgay never disappoints.

I don't read any anger into Tarkio's post. He's just making a point. And, the Yellowstone River IS one of the most dangerous wade fishing rivers in the country. If one wants to wade fish the Yellowstone, one would need to be either a) very, very familiar with it; or, b) have a guide who knows the safe wading spots.

Yesterday I was talking with one of my friends who lives in Bozeman, and is in the prime covid group: retired, a little over weight, 70+ years old, history of heart and artery problems, and at least weekly talks with his doctors. He said, as of yesterday, Gallatin County (your epicenter) has had 136 confirmed cases of CV-19, with 1 death and 123 recoveries.

Guys thx for replying. So to clarify as I might have mislead, don't believe we will be wade fishing the Yellowstone. I think maybe wadeable areas inside the park. Make sense? I do believe we will be fishing the Madison. Like I mentioned never been out there. Yes fishing with a guide btw. I originally planned the trip for myself as a 50th bday present. Then wife and I got to talking and it looked like she would be able to take time off work and come with me. Me fish 2 or 3 days and her sight see and shop local. That's why concern about our plans. But every one right, who knows

Lawnman: Bring your camera and a wading stick. I drive all the way over to the Madison River (80 miles!) to take the VarmintGrandChildren "rafting/inner tubing" in the Madison - the very long stretch of the Madison we float it is virtually impossible to drown in - even though the river is 200' - 250' across it is only 2' to 3' deep - if you fall out of the tube/raft you just stand up!
In Ennis, Montana (on the Madison River) be sure to eat dinner at the Gravel Bar Restaurant good food and lots of guides hang there in the evenings and you will get some interesting company and maybe some fresh fish "intel".
Again best of luck in your plans.
Enjoy.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

Buffybr: So, then you are completely agreeing with me that the "epicenter" of the Wuhan Red Death in Montana IS Bozeman and Gallatin County - as they have 31% of ALL Montana cases of Wuhan Red Death and only 10% of the states population!!!
So there.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

I just read in our local newspaper in the weekly Dispatchers Section that somebody had called in that there was a couple visiting from out of state and they were ignoring the state quarantine laws. I would hope that the local cops didn't act on it!

Nothing got into me.

Your comment came across as condescending. If not meant to be, my bad.

I can see your point. However, if I only have a few days to fish, I don't want to spend much time figuring it out. Frequently, I hire a guide for the first day and go back on my own after that.

Guiding in the Park is legal assuming the outfitter has the correct permits. You might consider making the short trip down to the Henrys Fork if you want a challenge. It might take you a day or two to figure it out.

This is true not being enforced at all. I drove to missoula from Kalispell last saturday RV's and vehicles from outa state on the road I seriously doudt they quarantined there 14 days when they got here.

Thankfully 70 miles....

The quarantine and other shutdowns in MT are a strong suggestion, and not the law. So no enforcement has taken place. Probably not the state to get strong handed about things.

Might be a good time to stay home and see what happens. Bozeman would be the last place I would visit during this mess.

I live in Bozeman. It will be fine in July. Heck, CV19 is no more than a tempest in a tea cup here right now. Bring a mask and you'll be fine anywhere. However, I fear we're losing some of our best restaurants. We lost one of the very best this week.

As to eating, Livingston is the best spot in the entire area. Hopefully 2nd Street Bistro will be up and running soon.

As to the Madison, it will be overrun in July. MT allows Idaho guides to guide here, but Idaho doesn't reciprocate, and the Madison is overrun with ID guides. Regardless, it's a "must fish" for any out-of-stater. But it's crowded.

I applaud your use of a guide. Nothing beats the expertise of a local.

Safe travels.