Teton 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
Location
Southwestern Montana
Size:
Small to medium
Nearest Towns
Choteau
Season
3rd Sat of May through Nov 30th.
Access:
Good but lots of hiking required
Non-Resident License
State of Montana
Weather
National Weather Service Link
Seasons:
Seasons follow the general Montana fishing season.
Spring:
Spring would be okay, before and after the runoff.
Summer:
The Summer would be best for fly fishing the Teton River’s headwaters.
Fall:
Early Fall would present good opportunities.
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 Teton River Montana
There are two Teton Rivers – one in Montana and another in Idaho. The Teton River in Central Montana is formed in the Bob Marshall Wilderness. Although this isn’t a named, blue-ribbon trout stream, fly fishing the Teton River in Montana, is a very rewarding experience.
The Teton River is formed by the confluence of headwater several branches. Eventually they flow together into what’s called the North Fork Teton River and the South Fork Teton River. Both flow out of the eastern side of the Rocky Mountains into the high prairie country of central Montana. The river is almost 200 miles long. It flows into the Marias River just before it enters the Missouri River.
The best area for fly fishing the Teton River is in the upper area of it and its branches – North, South, Middle and West. Most of the river outside of the mountains flows through private property. This is another river in Montana that’s located in a very isolated area of the state. It’s rarely fished by anyone other than local anglers. Like many of the other rivers in the huge section of the state, its popularity is reduced because of all of the other great trout fishing that’s available in more populated areas of the state as well as Yellowstone National Park.
LIke most headwaters, the headwaters of the Teton River does not have many large fish. It has a lot of trout that are very willing to take a fly. Most of the fish in the uppermost areas are brook trout and small cutthroats. Rainbows are present in the main Forks of the river.
Most all of the headwater streams that make up the two main Forks of the river are not accessible by road. You must hike or backpack into the mountains to fish them.
The North and South Forks are accessible in some areas by road. That is the only area of the stream Angie and I have fished.
The main river, outside of the mountains, flows through some small canyons and across the high prairie. For the most part, this main part of the river does not provide good fishing although trout exist. There are areas that can be floated but the main river has several agricultural/cattle diversion areas and some beaver dams in its upper areas. Fly fishing the Teton River in this area from a boat can be tricky.
If you ever decide to fish this river, you better be prepared to camp. If not, you will be driving a very long way before you find a motel. I can personally vouch for that. There are many campsites in the area and that would be the way to fish the area. Our one trip there of two days of fishing was greatly shortened by the amount of driving we had to do each of the two mornings we fished the river along canyon road. Once you are there, you should have no problem catching trout. Competition from other anglers certainly wouldn’t be a problem. We were able to catch a large number of small rainbows and cutthroat trout for the short amount of time we had to fish. I can only imagine what it would be like to backpack in and fish the upper branches of the river. You would
probably be by yourself.