Bozeman Day Trips - Fins & Feathers

Lodging Details
Bozeman has just about every lodging option available, from boutique hotels to expansive ranch properties available for varying stays. If you have something specific in mind – or would just like a nudge in the right direction for your tastes – Fins & Feathers Guide Service will be happy to help you with recommendations so that you can take care of your lodging on your own. 

Lodging packages that include hotel lodging and guided fly-fishing trips with Fins & Feathers Guide Service are also available directly through this Bozeman fly-fishing outfitter. These are ideal for the traveling angler that is looking to simplify their planning process and intends on fishing for multiple days around Bozeman.

Food and Beverages
Non-alcoholic drinks are included on our guided fly-fishing trips at Fins & Feathers Guide Service. Guests are welcome to bring their own beverages (including alcohol). If you plan to bring some drinks along, it is usually helpful to bring a small cooler as the boats are small, and the guide’s cooler is typically full at the start of the day.

Typical Length of Fishing Day
Fins & Feathers Guide Service operates on a variety of waters in Southwest Montana, some of which are up to an hour’s drive each way, while others are only 15 minutes from town. A typical full day is 8-10 hours from pickup to drop-off, with 5-7 hours of time spent on the water. A ½ day trip is no longer than 5 hours from pickup to drop-off with 3-4 hours of time on the water. Trip lengths vary with the seasons, weather, and water conditions. 

Vacation plans can vary; we are happy to accommodate most requests for early/late starts and specific time constraints upon request.

Where to Meet Your Guide
We typically meet at the Yellow Dog Fly Shop, just a few miles west of downtown Bozeman in 4-Corners. Meeting time and place varies with the time of year and the fishing destination for the day, so we will confirm your meeting time and place a few days before your trip. If you don’t have transportation, our guides can also pick you up at area hotels.

How To Get There
The fly fishing around Bozeman, Montana is very easily accessible. Within an hour’s drive from the hotels around Bozeman or in downtown Bozeman, over thirty guided float fishing trips exist on the Madison, Yellowstone, and Gallatin Rivers.

Bozeman is serviced by Bozeman-Yellowstone International Airport via Alaska, Allegiant, American, Delta, and United. Located less than two hours from Yellowstone National Park and a day’s drive from Glacier National Park, Bozeman is a popular Montana vacation destination.

Travel Arrangements
Yellow Dog provides airline reservations ad ticketing assistance through etcTravel Group, and a full-service airline logistics agent that can help book airline tickets, hotels, rental cars, and more. You can click here to request a quote or contact Yellow Dog for more information at 406-585-8667. etcTravel Group offers dedicated support services for all Yellow Dog clients. Service fees may apply when booking or researching tickets, and etcTravel will discuss this with you before sending quotes.

Travel Tools
– Airline Ticketing
– Moon Phases
– Rent This Rod
– Trip Insurance and Emergency Evacuation
– Global Rescue Membership

General Information
The diversity and abundance of wild-trout waters that we have access to from our home base in Bozeman is unlike anywhere else in the lower 48. Each day, there are hundreds of miles on the most storied rivers in fly-fishing, including the Yellowstone, Madison, Jefferson, and Gallatin, to choose from for a day of fly-fishing. Floating these rivers provides the best experience in that this allows us to cover water that receives less angling pressure while also giving one the sense of truly being out in the great outdoors of Montana. Year-round options are available, but the best fly-fishing conditions are found between June and October in Bozeman. A fly-fishing trip to Bozeman with Fins & Feathers Guide Service offers various angling options for all skill levels on some of the best wild-trout waters in the lower 48.

Boats and Equipment
Our guides use drift boats and specialized rafts designed for fly-fishing and typically will accommodate a maximum of 2 anglers plus the guide. These boats are lightweight, easy to maneuver, and typically 12-16 feet long. The guides sit in the middle of the boat and row down the river while offering instruction, calling out the next piece of water to focus on, aid with netting fish, and safely navigating the varied waterways.

Package Rates
There are various day trip options with Fins & Feathers Guide Service that range in duration from a ½ day outing to multi-day bookings that also include lodging at a handful of Bozeman hotels. 

2024 full-day guided fly-fishing trip – $695 (for 1-2 anglers)

Hotel packages vary, please see our website for options

Off-season rates for full-day trips (Jan-Mar. ; Oct-Dec) – $595

Fins & Feather Guide Service requires a credit card to secure any reservation at the time of booking. We do not require a deposit, full payment is due 2 weeks before your trip, and this payment is non-refundable at that point. Guests are free to cancel or change their reservation without penalty two weeks prior to their scheduled trip date. 

What’s Included:

• We include complimentary use of all fly-fishing gear, terminal tackle, flies, and waders/boots when needed. Non-alcoholic drinks are included on all of our trips, and a simple deli-lunch is provided on full-day trips.

What’s Not Included:

• Fishing licenses, private water rod fees (when applicable), and gratuities for the guide staff are not included in the standard guide trip rates. 
• Recommended personal items such as sunglasses, rainwear, sandals, wet-wading socks, coats, snacks for the day, sunscreen, etc. are the guest’s responsibility.

Payment Terms for All Yellow Dog Trip Bookings  
Unless otherwise noted on your invoice, for all trips less than 90 days out, full payment is required after receipt of the confirmation email to secure guides and reservations. For trips outside of 90 days, a 50% deposit is required upon receipt of confirmation email to confirm your reservations.   

Yellow Dog accepts on-line payments via a secure payment portal – a quick and easy way to complete your trip reservation. Please reach out to accounting@yellowdogflyfishing.com to gain access. 

Yellow Dog Flyfishing Standard Forms of Payment 

• Debit card (fee-free) and credit card (3% convenience fee) - to pay via card please utilize the customer payment portal. If you need assistance, reach out to 406-585-8667 ext. #3 
• Wires - please include name and/or invoice number for reference on your wire. Please reach out to accounting@yellowdogflyfishing.com for wiring instructions. (client is responsible for wiring fees) 
• Physical check - please include your invoice number in the memo. Mail checks to 213 S. Willson Ave. Bozeman, MT, 59715

If you have any questions about alternate payment methods, please contact Yellow Dog at (406) 585-8667 ext. #3. We are available Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM MT. 

Outfitter Email: tobyswank@me.com 

Toby Swank is the outfitter for Fins & Feathers Guide Service and has been operating guided fly-fishing trips in Bozeman for over two decades. Yellow Dog Flyfishing purchased his retail store, Fins & Feathers of Bozeman, in late 2022 and he continues to operate his outfitting business as a standalone business in Bozeman. Toby and his team are among the most experienced, active fly-fishing guides in the Bozeman area