Who is best suited to this destination? This lodge is well suited to all anglers and is excellent for private parties. Mixed groups of anglers and non-anglers will work very well at this lodge with the quick fishing access and large variety of additional activities.
Where is the lodge? The lodge is a historic home in the heart of Bozeman, MT.
How do I get there? Guests will fly into Bozeman and can either rent a car or will be picked up by a lodge representative.
When should I go? Late June through August will offer the best dry fly fishing. There is good spring and fall fishing with cooler temperatures and less crowds in the area during those times. Due to runoff, late May through late June are best avoided.
How will I fish? 75% of the fishing is done by boat. Anglers will fish two per guide and will have a variety of drift fishing and walk and wade options. An additional day is fishing the “Land of the Giants” on the Missouri River, on this day guests will access the fishing spot by jetboat.
Is there wade fishing? There are many walk and wade opportunities. Sweetgrass creek by Big Timber, Otter Creek, Gardner River and Shields Creek. Yellowstone, Boulder and Gallatin Rivers offer side channel and island fishing. Most of the Gallatin is not floatable and the upper Madison is a walk wade section only.
Where will I fish? There are nearly 500 miles of fishable rivers. The main options will be the Yellowstone, Boulder, Madison and Beaverhead Rivers, and a myriad of walk and wade creeks that are fishable throughout different parts of the summer season.
How long does it take to reach the fishing grounds? Anywhere from 15 minutes to an hour and a half.
What type(s) of fish will I catch? Brown, rainbow, cutthroat and cuttbow trout are the main fish, and anglers will also be able to catch whitefish, carp, walleye, brook trout, and grayling.
How many fish will I catch? This will change with condition and time of year, but anglers will average ten fish a day each.
Will I see other anglers?Y es you will, although this varies depending on the location.
What are the guides like? All of the guides are professional and full time fishing guides with over 100 days on the water each year. The guides are adaptable with different personalities and dynamics.
What are the physical demands? It depends on what the guest wants, there are options for everyone but most of the fishing is easily accessible.
Are there any special skills required? There are no special skills required and the guides are great at teaching if that is what the angler would like.
Does the lodge provide equipment? The lodge will provide everything including waders, boots, rods and reels, flies and terminal tackle.
What is your favorite setup for the trip? A 9-foot 5-weight rod with floating line will get the job done for most situations. Guests may opt to bring a 10-foot 6-weight rod for streamer fishing.
What are the top flies? The lodge will have the selection of flies that works best for each trip, but a standard selection includes stonefly nymphs, pink and yellow hoppers, purple and gold chubby Chernobyl, purple haze and zonkers.
What are the options if water conditions become challenging? There are a number of different fishing locations, meaning guides have options if one particular river is experiencing poor fishing conditions. Guests should be prepared to fish in sun, rain, wind or snow.
What is a typical day like? On the day of arrival, lodge owner, Laura Grzyb, will meet everyone at the lodge for check in, have a beer or wine to get acquainted, fit waders and boots and answer questions and discuss time for breakfast, then guests have the evening to themselves.
Breakfast is anywhere from 6:00 – 8:00 AM, coffee is set to turn on early. Laura will arrive at the scheduled time to fix breakfast and guides will arrive 15 minutes before departure to talk about what to expect for the day.
Anglers are off the river by 4:00 or 5:00 PM and if guests want a cold beer they may have the option to stop by a local watering hole on the way home. Upon arrival guests will have a light snack tray with beer and wine at the lodge, Laura will be there to touch base with clients about the next day and can help make dinner reservations for the night. Each trip is customized to what the group wants. If folks prefer to stay in for dinner, a private chef can be arranged for wine tastings and food pairings.
What is the general vibe, atmosphere and style of the lodge? The only guests at the lodge will be your party and the atmosphere will be whatever you like. The house is cozy, spacious and modern.
Is there an on-site owner, manager or other point-person at the lodge? Laura will be at the lodge in the mornings and upon arrival from the day of fishing, but other than that will be not be there. Guests will have the cell phone of both Laura and Jake if they need anything during their stay.
Where do we eat, and what are the meals like? Breakfasts are made warm each morning in the lodge and lunches are ordered each night for the next day of fishing. Breakfast is usually an eggs and bacon type fair with fresh fruit and pastries. Guests can choose from a large lunch menu of sandwiches and salads, and are on their own for dinner. The lodge is located in walking distance from many dining options, and guests may also request shuttles or use ride share apps for their transportation if they have not rented a car.
What is the alcohol policy? Alcohol is allowed at the lodge and guests can bring their own or request certain liquor be purchased in advance to be billed for their stay. Laura and Jake will include a small selection of wine and local beer for guests during their stay.
Where do we stay, and what are the accommodations like? The lodge is a historic home in downtown Bozeman that is spacious and homey. There are three bedrooms, each with two queen beds. The master bedroom as an ensuite bathroom, with a separate full bathroom for the other two bedrooms upstairs, as well as a powder room on the main level. The main level has a kitchen, dining room, sitting room and tv room with a large deck in the backyard. The house works well for couples and groups of up to 6 guests or larger families.
Is there internet and/or cell service? There is good cell service in Bozeman and the house has Wifi for guests to use.
Are there other activities? There are many activities in the area including hiking, farmers markets and craft fairs with food trucks, live music on Main Street, art walks on the first Friday of every month, site seeing and float tours for wildlife viewing, Yellowstone National Park tours, hot springs, white water rafting, mountain biking and shopping.
Are there any other expenses? Guests of the lodge should plan on rod fees for the Paradise Valley spring creeks, gratuities, meals and extra alcohol, and transportation to restaurants.
Do I need a visa? A visa is not needed for this trip.
Are there any health concerns, dangers or annoyances? Weather in the Rockies can be unpredictable and guests are encouraged to bring layers for cool mornings and evenings with an option for lighter clothes during the heat of the day. Rain and snow are a possibility in most months of the year. Wind can be an issue around fall, and in early summer there may be some mosquitos at boat ramps.
