Sun River Montana Fishing Report & Options for Selecting Flies: Email us at (sales@perfectflystore.com) with the dates you will be fishing and we will send you a list of our fly recommendations. We can get flies and gear to you within two to three business days from the time you place your order via Priority Mail. If you provide a budget for flies, we will select them to match the budget and get them to you on time for your trip. Your can also call us at 800-594-4726 and we will help you decide what flies and gear to use. All orders are shipped free in the U.S. If under a $100 order requiring Priority mail is a charge of only $8.10. Orders over a $100 are shipped free via Priority Mail.
We have custom Perfect Fly selections in 3 different price ranges for this stream that come with or without fly boxes that make excellent gifts. Click Here To Order or Call us at 800 594 4726 or email us at sales@perfectflystore.com.
Type of Stream
Freestone and 2 Tailwaters
Species
Rainbow Trout
Cutthroat Trout
Brown Trout
Brook Trout
Size
Small to Medium
Location
Central Montana
Nearest Towns
Vaughn
Season
3rd Sat. May – Nov 30th
Access:
Access is good
Non-Resident License
State of Montana
Weather
National Weather Service Link
Seasons:
Fly fishing the Sun River falls under the Montana general trout season regulations.
Spring:
Springtime is a good time after the runoff has little effect on it. Hatches are very plentiful.
Summer:
Summertime is a good time to fish the river.
Fall:
Early Fall can also provide some good fly fishing opportunities, especially for the brown trout.
Recommended Tackle & Gear
Fly Line:
4, 5 or 6 weight
Leaders:
Dry fly: 9 to 12 ft., 5 or 6X Nymphing:
71/2 ft., 3 or 4X, Streamers 0-2X
Tippets:
Dry fly: 5 or 6X, Nymphing: 3 or 4X,
Streamer 0-2X
Best Fly Rods:
Perfect Fly Supreme Four, Superb Five
or Ultimate Six
Fly Reels:
For 4/5/6 fly line
Fly Floatants and Misc Items:
Floatants, KISS Strike Indicators
Tools & Accessories:
Nippers, forceps, retractors, etc.
Copyright 2013 James Marsh
Fly Fishing The Sun River in Montana
The Sun River is one of the many Montana trout streams that goes almost unnoticed by visitors, simply because the state has so many trout streams. It isn’t a little stream. It is over a hundred miles long, and about 70 miles of it has a population of trout. The Sun River is a tributary of the Missouri River. Fly fishing the Sun River at the right times of the year can provide some excellent opportunities.
The biggest advantage of fishing the Sun River is the lack of competition. Its usually only fished by a few locals. The biggest disadvantage is the fact the water is used for irrigation and as a result, the flows can vary greatly depending on the time of the year.
The Sun River headwaters begin in the Bob Marshall Wilderness from the confluence of the North Fork Sun River and the South Fork Sun River. Each of these forks have good fishing but both do require hiking into. There are plenty of wild rainbows, brook and cutthroat trout available that are rarely fished for.
About five miles below the confluence of the two headwater streams, the main stream enters the Gibson Reservoir. Fishing is great above the reservoir but hiking is required to reach its seldom fished waters.
Below the Gibson Reservoir, the water flows through the Sun River Canyon that is also very difficult to access. Hiking is required to reach its waters and fishing it from a boat can be dangerous. Those that go to the effort to fish it are usually well rewarded. It contains a good population of rainbows, brown and cutthroat trout. Its water can be quite deep and difficult to wade (if not impossible) in many places.
Below the Sun River Canyon, access becomes easier and so does the fishing. The river slows down some and consist of more riffles, long pools and runs with water than is wadable in most areas. Fishing can be good in this area and the fish, although probably not as plentiful, are on the average larger. There is about 25 miles of water below Gibson Reservoir that can be fished before the river enters Willow Creek Reservoir near the town of Vaughn.
Below Willow Creek Reservoir, the trout fishing becomes more limited and consist mostly of brown trout. Although Angie and I have done well the couple of times we have fished this section, it doesn’t compare to the fishing below Gibson Reservoir. It is much easier to access.