Private lake fly fishing trips, trophy lake fly fishing montana, Burns Lake montana, Story Lake montana, Merrell Lake Montana

Large rainbow trout from Merrell Lake

Large rainbow trout are our primary quarry in area private lakes.

Private Lake Trips

Parks' Fly Shop runs trips on three area private ranch lakes, on two properties. These trips are primarily float trips, with most fishing done from our drift boats, but there are also some opportunities for fishing from shore as well. The breakdown between walking and floating depends on weather and water conditions and the tactics the fish are demanding.

Lake trips offer our clients several advantages. First, they offer visitors extremely consistent fishing for large trout. Fish over eighteen inches are common on all lakes. With the exception of those from Lower Story Lake, most fish caught on our lake trips exceed 1.5 pounds, and many will crack three. Second, the lakes we guide on are usually at their best in the spring and fall, when the Yellowstone River is out of play due to spring runoff or can be inconsistent as water temperatures drop. There are also two downsides. First, the lakes where we run float trips are private, with access fees ranging from $80 to $120 per angler per day. Second, availability is quite limited. One of the lakes we fish has a capacity of only one boat, for example. Basically, it comes down to increased cost in return for increased fish size and decreased competition from other anglers.

Our rates for private lake trips do not include the access fees charged by the landowners (usually called rod fees). When we make reservations with the lakes on your behalf, these fees will be charged along with your deposit to the shop.

Lake trips will usually meet at between 7:00 and 8:00 in the morning.

Lake trips are ideal for any anglers who want to fish from a boat when the Yellowstone is in runoff, for anglers who don't want the fast-paced trip of a river float but nevertheless prefer to be in a boat, for anglers with limited mobility, for less-experienced anglers who don't want to take a walk trip, for those who want to ensure limited competition from other anglers, for anyone coming between mid-April and early July or after September 1, and for anyone who wants to target large fish.

They are not ideal trips beginning sometime between mid-June and mid-July and ending between Labor Day and late September, depending on the lake and the weather, for anglers who want to see a wide range of water and/or use a wide range of tactics, or (with a few exceptions noted below) for anglers who wish to stick with dry flies rather than nymphs and streamers.

Please note that availability for lake trips is quite limited, both because these waters are private and only allow a few anglers each day, including anglers booked with guide services besides our own, and because only two of our full time staff work on the lakes. Trips can usually be arranged on short notice prior to mid-June and in October, but for trips at other times, we suggest booking as soon as possible to ensure we can make a reservation on your behalf at the lake of your choice.

We occasionally run half-day trips that meet after lunch, but most start between 8:00 and 10:30.


Parks' Fly Shop

PO Box 196 or 202 Second Street South

Gardiner, MT 59030

Phone: (406) 848-7314

Current Hours: 9AM - 5PM Daily

E-Mail the Shop (General Inquiries)

E-Mail Richard

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