About Your Trip

Water Type

River

Skill Levels

Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced

Weather

You won’t lose your deposit if the trip is canceled due to weather.

About Your Trip

Float your way on the water with your guide and get ready for an action-packed day of Montana fishing from one of the best guides around! On this fly-fishing trip, you'll be floating down the Bighorn River to target some Brown Trout and Rainbow Trout.

Offering year-round fly fishing, the Bighorn is considered the cream of the crop, not only in Montana but in the fly fishing world! In the first 13 miles from the Afterbay to Bighorn fishing access, the fish average 14 inches, though it’s not uncommon to take Trout over 20 inches. With all this excellent fishing, it can be hard to find a time when you are the only boat on the river, especially during the summer months. To avoid the crowds, We recommend floating from November through April.

The Bighorn River is a fertile tailwater fishery with a high fish-per-mile population. Using a drift boat allows you and your guide to jump from spot to spot, not only fishing from the boat but also stopping to wade fish several runs holding numerous rainbows and browns. All guided trips on the Bighorn are two-day minimums from November 1st through April.

On this half or full-day excursion, Nate will row you where you need to be in a maneuverable drift boat as you take in the beautiful scenery. From here he'll give you some of his expert fly-fishing tips and let you try your luck. Drift boats allow anglers to cover a larger area and access places that may be unsafe for wading. Whether you're new to fly fishing or not, Nate is eager to teach and will get some fish on your line!

Regardless of where you are staying – Bozeman, Ennis, Cameron, Helena, Livingston, West Yellowstone, or Fort Smith, Montana – We have you covered. Your guide(s) will be able to pick you up at your vacation rental, lodge, hotel, campsite, or the airport. If your place of lodging is out of the way, just meet your guide at a convenient location for your day(s) on the water.

Your guide will provide all the rods, reels, flies, and tippet you need to get out on the water and catch some fish. They will even have a tasty lunch for all guests. Let them know when booking if you will need to rent waders and wading boots, which they will provide at an additional cost. All you need to bring is a valid Montana fishing license. A hat, sunscreen, polarized sunglasses, and a rain jacket are recommended. Enjoy your day out on the water with your guide!

**We have several listings for float trips at nearby locations in the Bozeman / Yellowstone National Park area. They want you to have the best experience possible, so if the fishing is better in another lake or river, they may recommend another location. Whether you want to stick with this spot or hear about other spots, feel free to book your float trip on this listing, and they will get in contact with you about the details!**

Amenities

Water Type

River

Skill Levels

Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced

Lodging

Lodging is included for an additional fee.

Tackle

All rods, reels, and tackle are included.

Beer

Feel free to enjoy responsibly, but please no glass.

Weather

You won’t lose your deposit if the trip is canceled due to weather.

Kid Friendly

This trip can cater to kids.

Disability Friendly

This trip can accommodate those with disabilities.

Flexible Cancelation

This trip can be canceled up to 60 days before the trip.

Lunch

Lunch / light snacks are included.

Fish Cleaning

No cleaning service provided.

Boat Restroom

No, this boat does not have a bathroom on board.

Live Bait

Live bait is not used on this trip.

Pricing Matrix

	8 Hours
1 Person	$700.00
2 People	$700.00
3 People (Second Boat)	$1,400.00
4 People (Second Boat)	$1,400.00

Pay 100% of the price as a deposit today, with the balance due on the day of the trip.

About Your Guide

Nate S.

Outfitter 30 years of exp.

About Your Guide

Nate S.

Outfitter 30 years of exp.

Captain Nate is your one-stop-shop for fly fishing Montana. Captain Nate and his crew go wherever you can find Rainbow Trout and Brown Trout. Their guides are located in Bozeman, West Yellowstone, Ennis, Helena, Cascade, Three Forks, and Cameron, Montana and fish the Madison, Missouri, Yellowstone, Gallatin, Jefferson, Ruby, Firehole, Gibbon, Lamar, and Bighorn Rivers while also offering guided fly fishing trips on Holter, Hebgen, and Ennis Lakes and Soda Butte and Slough Creek.

Captain Nate's Montana ties date back to the late 1800s when his great-great-grandfather decided to call Billings, Montana home after passing through as a cook on a cattle drive. While fishing was in Captain Nate's blood, he didn't pick up a fly rod until 13, which is the age Nate dates his addiction to the sport back to.

Captain Nate regularly explored the Bighorn, Yellowstone, Stillwater, and Boulder rivers and began guiding in 1999 while attending Montana State University.

Twenty-plus years later Captain Nate is still guiding anglers, and enjoys imparting his knowledge to younger, up-and-coming guides. Captain Nate couldn't image it any other way- he cherishes the opportunities he's had to work with anglers from age 8 to 90 of all skill levels, those with disabilities or terminal diseases, families, and large groups. As Captain Nate puts it, "I know how important it is to take time to teach people the skills they need to get the most out of their fly fishing experience, making memories that last a lifetime for the client and for me."

Captain Nate is a single father living in Bozeman, Montana with his two young daughters, Emily and Elizabeth. He makes a daily commute to the waters he guides and looks forward to exploring them with you and your friends.

Fill in date, party size, trip duration, and start time above to book and get out there with Captain Nate and Captain Experiences!

Start Location & Lodging Options

Saint Xavier, Montana

Areas Fished

Bighorn River

About Your Boat

Boat Type: Drift Boat
Boat Length: 16'
Boat Restroom: No

Trip Details & Amenities

Water Type

River

Skill Levels

Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced

Lodging

Lodging is included for an additional fee.

Tackle

All rods, reels, and tackle are included.

Beer

Feel free to enjoy responsibly, but please no glass.

Weather

You won’t lose your deposit if the trip is canceled due to weather.

Kid Friendly

This trip can cater to kids.

Disability Friendly

This trip can accommodate those with disabilities.

Flexible Cancelation

This trip can be canceled up to 60 days before the trip.

Lunch

Lunch / light snacks are included.

Fish Cleaning

No cleaning service provided.

Boat Restroom

No, this boat does not have a bathroom on board.

Live Bait

Live bait is not used on this trip.

Target Species

Color-coded seasonality below is based on the current month (March).

View Full Species Seasonality Chart »

Brown Trout
Rainbow Trout

Get it while it's HOT!
This species is in play.
You might get lucky (as long as things are in-season).
Couldn't tell ya! (no data)

Techniques

Drift Fishing
Fly Fishing

Everything Else to Know

Reviews

5.0

based on 7 reviews

Emmet

Verified Review

September 28

Great float trip!

Trip: Yellowstone River Float

Doug

Verified Review

August 22

Doug

Verified Review

August 22

One of the things I wanted to be dang sure I did while I was there was fish the Yellowstone in a drift boat, and was lucky enough to get it done. With lots of fishing travel under my belt you never know how it will go and in this case the plan came together and it was a good day to be alive.

The Boss and I met our guide Nathan at the ramp at 8:00 and it was not long before we were on the water. The Boss and I are really fly fishing neophytes with lots to learn and Nathan was a perfect guide and teacher for our day on the water. He has fished those rivers for 35 years, was patient, technically proficient, and just an overall good guy to spend the day with.

As I noticed in the park there were lots of grasshoppers and it turned out to be our plan for the day. In my case catching any particular fish on topwater is the bomb, and we spent most of the day fishing larger hoppers with a smaller floating “something or other” on a dropper around 8″ behind. And it was so interesting to see the fish react. A few smashed it, (At least for a trout.) most barely slurped it under, and others could not resist rolling on it, or just taking a look. It took me a bit to get the hang of setting the hook like you need to and after a while I managed to toss a couple of small rainbows completely over the boat. It really was a new way to fish for us and it took a while to get the hang of it but I intend to put those lessons to work in Colorado when I head there this fall. Since this was our 5 or 6th run at it the Boss commented that each place and method was different, it is all part of the learning process.

I probably went about 10 for 20 with one whitefish, the Boss struggled. So late in the day Nathan put us on a nymph rig with an indicator. (Or as we regular folks call it, a bobber.) He wanted to be sure the Boss caught a fish and she finally boated a rainbow and a native whitefish. But the Boss was happy just sitting in the back and enjoying the day and the view, but I give her credit, she kept casting like a trooper. He was so patient as we tangled, crossed, casted like the rookies we are, and he just continued to act like the professional he is. (Except we all laughed like crazy when at one point when we were thrashing multiple messes he said; “Stop casting!”) Of course I told him I would trash him here so let me do it now – One of the best guides to spend the day with I have had the pleasure to fish with. So take that homie. From the Great Barrier reef, Belize, Colorado we have fished with our share and today was one of the best all around experiences we have ever had.

The fishing was not fast by any means, but the bite was consistent. I was not surprised by the number of refusals with the traffic and it being late in the season. Nathan made several fly changes during the day until we finished the day with the nymph rig and put the last couple in the boat. He worked hard to put me on a little bigger fish and his efforts were appreciated. Probably if I would have bullshitted less and fished harder I might have boated one of the better fish I missed, but I could have cared less as numbers were not the reason for the day.

Being a Saturday there was quite a bit of traffic, but it is a big river, and when compared to Froggie’s on the weekend no big deal. Of course we had a few incidents where both guides and the public cut us off, or were just plain were clueless. (Sound familiar you coastal boys?) As you know one of my rules to live by on our busy waterways – Be nice, be the bigger man, and just because you have the right of way let them go. Nathan naturally lives and practices that making our day on the water pleasant and fun and he is a credit to the profession. I can be pretty hard on guides.

It really was comfortable fishing from the drift boat. The Boss loved the safe manner he operated and being able to stand up and cast from the leaning post, or whatever it is called. I learned a lot about the drift boat and how it preforms on the water. As we accelerate our search for our place in the mountains Montana has made the list. Of all the places I have fished Montana gets an A+ for the access available to the public. (So thanks Nathan for offering to be my new best friend and take me fishing all the time if we end up in the area. At least I thought I heard him say that!)

And a big thanks to Jonathan of Captain Experiences for booking and following up on our trip. The home of Damn Good Fishing Guides, this site has guides all over the country and they lived up to their name when they hooked us up with Nathan. Nathan guides out of Bozeman, Montana, fishing the Yellowstone, Madison, and a couple of other great Montana rivers. Nate, the owner, kept us informed with a full written itinerary, with constant follow up both before and after the trip. It was a professional job all the way around. So if you are looking for a guide anywhere, or wanting to fish the Yellowstone area, give Jonathan a call and he will put you with the best. Overall a first class trip.

So when it is all said and done it was a great way to spend a day along with our park expedition. And here is a taste of what is next, as soon as I organize all of the park stuff.

We saw almost everything we wanted to this trip and were so fortunate to see the wolves everyday along with enough wildlife to keep us happy. (For a while!) And to Nathan, I have added the Madison to my bucket list. Thanks for reading my stuff.

Trip: Yellowstone River Float

Robin

Verified Review

September 15

Matt was a terrific guide. Really enjoyed our conversations. I want to book with Matt again next June! Nate was great in that he communicated with me right away and provided information I needed for the trip. Overall a terrific experience. Would highly recommend to others

Trip: Hebgen Lake Full-Day Jet Boat

Brian

Verified Review

July 26

It was a great trip with Nate.

Trip: Madison River Float Trip

Trenay

Verified Review

August 7

We had an awesome trip with guide Matt!

Trip: Holter Lake Full-Day Jet Boat

Danny

Verified Review

July 19

The trip was great, from beginning to end. Ian was very helpful on the phone booking the trip, especially since we only booked it the night before. Nate and his team were helpful, and Matt was particularly generous with his time. His enthusiasm for his job and for our trip were contagious. We had a beautiful day on the water and had some success with the fishing, but the trip would...

Danny

Verified Review

July 19

Trip: Gallatin River Walk-n-Wade

Bob

Verified Review

June 30

Had a great trip on the Missouri River drift boat fishing with Shelly. Extreamly knowledgable & helpful for a couple of first time fly fishermen. Caught my first Rainbow off of a fly rod. Highly recommend for the beginner or veteran fisherman.