Swan 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
Species
Rainbow Trout
Cutthroat Trout
Bull Trout
Whitefish
Size
Small to Medium
Location
North Western Montana
Nearest Towns
Bigfork
Season
3rd Sat. May – Nov 30th
Access:
Poor, bush wacking required in the
uppermost sections, only a few
bridges and campgrounds
Non-Resident License
State of Montana
Weather
National Weather Service Link
USGS Stream Flow Data:
Near Bigfork
Seasons:
Fly fishing the Swan River can be good any day of the season depending on the weather and water levels.
Spring:
Late Springtime is a good time for fly fishing the Swan River due to its plentiful hatches.
Summer:
Summertime is usually the best time to fish the Swan.
Fall:
Early Autumn fly fishing opportunities can be very good.
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 2016 James Marsh
Fly Fishing The Swan River Montana
The Swan River starts from the outflow of Gray Wolf Lake. From there the river flows for about thirty-five miles to Swan Lake. Although Fly fishing the Swan River is tough in most places, it still is capable of producing good catches of cutthroat, rainbow and bull trout. The river also has plenty of Mountain Whitefish.
The single biggest problem is access to the river – not the normal lack of access, but trail or road access. Jut navigating up and down the river can be a problem. It winds its way through heavily wooded, remote country between the Swan Mountain Range and the Mission Mountain Range. Assuming the water levels are acceptable, the river can be waded or fished from a small boat but there are problems with both methods. Lack of a trail along the banks and some deep water areas can make wading tough in most areas. Lots of log jams, swift water and other problems make floating the river tricky in most areas.
The Swan River slows down considerably as it flows through the Swan River National Wildlife Refuge and on into Swan Lake. Below the Lake, it flows through Bigfork Dam into Flathead Lake. For all practical purposes, except for still water fly fishing for trout, the fishing opportunities end well above the refuge.
Fly fishing the Swan River is best for those that explore the upper sections of the river. The only fishing pressure it receives is near the few bridges that cross the river. There are plenty of decent size trout most anywhere else you go to the trouble to fish.
Unlike most of the rivers in this region of Montana, the Swan River has a very good population of aquatic insects and plenty of other trout foods. Some of the most important are Blue-winged Olive and Pale Morning Dun mayflies, Spotted sedges and Green sedge caddisflies and Little Yellow stoneflies. There are many others.
Rainbows can reach up to eighteen inches along with an occasional larger size Westslope cutthroat. Fly fishing the Swan River can be very rewarding.