Bozeman trip question

Do you have a boat?

I always send noobs to the Lower Madison. Great river to learn how to row. If you go in early August the fishing might be meh but the bikini hatch will be fantastic. Early Sept it should fish a little better but the bikini hatch will be dwindling.

Swimmy said:

Do you have a boat?

I always send noobs to the Lower Madison. Great river to learn how to row. If you go in early August the fishing might be meh but the bikini hatch will be fantastic. Early Sept it should fish a little better but the bikini hatch will be dwindling.

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I have a single man raft. I'm not 100% sure I'll bring it with me. But if i can make time to float the Yakima a few times before I get to Bozeman it will be coming with me for sure. I'll have to look into the lower madison.
The Madison is already one of the main places I'm looking into fishing while there
Thanks

The best and easiest float close to Bozeman at that time of the year, where you would still have relatively good fishing, IMO, would be the "bird float" on the Yellowstone River - that's floating from the Grey Owl to Mallard's Rest fish accesses.

The Grey Owl access is located about 20 miles south of Livingston, on Hwy 89. South, heading toward Yellowstone Park, about 45 miles from Bozeman. You'd probably cover about 8 river miles, which would be a comfortable full day of fishing at that time of the year.

There are many other places you could float on the Yellowstone, but I believe that would be the easiest one for a novice to navigate.

John

MT_Flyfisher said:

The best and easiest float close to Bozeman at that time of the year, where you would still have relatively good fishing, IMO, would be the "bird float" on the Yellowstone River - that's floating from the Grey Owl to Mallard's Rest fish accesses.

The Grey Owl access is located about 20 miles south of Livingston, on Hwy 89. South, heading toward Yellowstone Park, about 45 miles from Bozeman. You'd probably cover about 8 river miles, which would be a comfortable full day of fishing at that time of the year.

There are many other places you could float on the Yellowstone, but I believe that would be the easiest one for a novice to navigate.

John

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Thank you John. I'll check that out also

Swimmy said:

Do you have a boat?

I always send noobs to the Lower Madison. Great river to learn how to row. If you go in early August the fishing might be meh but the bikini hatch will be fantastic. Early Sept it should fish a little better but the bikini hatch will be dwindling.

Click to expand...

I gotta agree with that if you want to want to look at plenty of girls in Bikini's.

Jpfish said:

I have a single man raft. I'm not 100% sure I'll bring it with me. But if i can make time to float the Yakima a few times before I get to Bozeman it will be coming with me for sure. I'll have to look into the lower madison.
The Madison is already one of the main places I'm looking into fishing while there
Thanks

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The Upper Madison is not the best spot to learn how to row.

John made a good suggestion with the Bird Float. Very tame water with awesome views.

Oh and how long are you planning to stay?

Swimmy said:

Oh and how long are you planning to stay?

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I will be there from Saturday-Friday

I wish my bass spots had a good bikini hatch. If I see a bikini where I bass fish it's usually got a big belly attached....and missing a few teeth

b_illymac said:

I wish my bass spots had a good bikini hatch. If I see a bikini where I bass fish it's usually got a big belly attached....and missing a few teeth

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Funny. Bet you could get her.

And the thing about the bikini hatch on the Lower...kind of an inverse relationship. As the bikini hatch gets stronger, the fishing usually gets shittier. But as the bikini hatch winds down, the fishing starts to get a little better.

Not always the case but it is the general rule.

Swimmy said:

Funny. Bet you could get her.

And the thing about the bikini hatch on the Lower...kind of an inverse relationship. As the bikini hatch gets stronger, the fishing usually gets shittier. But as the bikini hatch winds down, the fishing starts to get a little better.

Not always the case but it is the general rule.

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I bet I could get her too. But since I got married I'm a better wingman. I'll send her your way swim. It's good you are gaining experiance with kids, cause Big Betty got 10 of them. Age 2 years to 24 years. All live at home.

Big boys toys in between Bozeman and four corners rents drift boats, bird float and the lower maddy are good suggestion.

Just to add one more voice to Shimmy's and MT's suggestions...Definitely Lower Madison for entry-level water and definitely Yellowstone float for better fishing in August.

Might add that the "Bikini hatch" also means more watercraft on the water...I tubed the LM with the family in early July last year, and you couldn't have slipped a line in between all the floaters if it was laser-guided. I imagine early August wouldn't be much different.

MT_Flyfisher said:

The best and easiest float close to Bozeman at that time of the year, where you would still have relatively good fishing, IMO, would be the "bird float" on the Yellowstone River - that's floating from the Grey Owl to Mallard's Rest fish accesses.

The Grey Owl access is located about 20 miles south of Livingston, on Hwy 89. South, heading toward Yellowstone Park, about 45 miles from Bozeman. You'd probably cover about 8 river miles, which would be a comfortable full day of fishing at that time of the year.

There are many other places you could float on the Yellowstone, but I believe that would be the easiest one for a novice to navigate.

John

Click to expand...

Swimmy said:

The Upper Madison is not the best spot to learn how to row.

John made a good suggestion with the Bird Float. Very tame water with awesome views.

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Thanks for these two options guys! I'll most likely be trying to float one or both of them on my trip

Shopkeeper said:

Might add that the "Bikini hatch" also means more watercraft on the water...I tubed the LM with the family in early July last year, and you couldn't have slipped a line in between all the floaters if it was laser-guided. I imagine early August wouldn't be much different.

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It can get super busy. Just get out there at sunrise though and you'll have it all to yourself. You'll need to be there early anyway for decent fishing that time of year.

I never hurry to get on the skinny water before noon. These Montana fish are late sleepers.

Old Man said:

I never hurry to get on the skinny water before noon. These Montana fish are late sleepers.

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Should I pick you up for a day of fishing with @Swimmy and myself?

No rush, you have a few months to decide!

Old Man said:

I never hurry to get on the skinny water before noon. These Montana fish are late sleepers.

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No wonder you never catch anything.

Jpfish said:

Should I pick you up for a day of fishing with @Swimmy and myself?

No rush, you have a few months to decide!

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Nah, that's alright. I'm old so I need my beauty sleep. I only go fishing because I enjoy getting out. I'm only good for a few hours in the sun. Then I need a nap. I used to fish all day long. but as you get older you slow down. That's me slowing down.