Search

Fishtales Outfitting – Madison River 

5.0
(6 reviews)
 U.S. 287 4939, Ennis, MT 59729, United States–
+75
+72

Fishtales Outfitting – Madison River 

Ennis, MT, United States
–
14 ft
2
5.0
(6 reviews)
Trips & prices
Targeted species
Boat info
What's biting
What's included
Contact captain
Trips & prices
What's included
Targeted species
Boat info
Reviews
Contact captain

PLEASE FEEL FREE TO INQUIRE FOR ANY DAYS AS THERES A GOOD CHANCE A GUIDE IS AVAILABLE FOR YOU!

Fishtales Outfitting is located between Bozeman and Missoula, Montana, an area known to fly fishermen worldwide as the 'Trout Mecca'.

Benefit from more than 70 years of combined experience that Michael Stack and his team bring to the company. Enjoy the Montana scenery as you should, with a fly rod in your hand and a smile on your face.

With ten Blue Ribbon Montana Trout streams plus their private water, all within easy reach, it has the ideal location to offer some of the best Trout fishing.

Capt. Michael aims to tailor every trip to your specific needs, so let him know what you're after! Depending on the trip and species, you'll be using techniques like fly fishing. You're looking at 8-hour trips, where you'll usually go after the likes of Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout, and Cutthroat Trout, depending on the weather and time of year.

All rods, reels, and terminal tackle are included in the price so you can focus on what matters, fishing! Please keep in mind you'll need to get a fishing license before the start of the trip, and the fishing is done without a boat.

Fishtales Outfitting offers only catch and release trips, so any fish you catch will be returned to the water. You'll find free drinks and lunch for your convenience, but you're always welcome to pack your drinks and snacks should you want to.

Under no circumstances will we put more than 2 people in a boat.

Please tip your guide directly. Cash is king! A 20% gratuity is considered proper.

Book your trip now and hit the water with Fishtales Outfitting.

PLEASE FEEL FREE TO INQUIRE FOR ANY DAYS AS THERES A GOOD CHANCE A GUIDE IS AVAILABLE FOR YOU!

PLEASE FEEL FREE TO INQUIRE FOR ANY DAYS AS THERES A GOOD CHANCE A GUIDE IS AVAILABLE FOR YOU!

Fishtales Outfitting is located between Bozeman and Missoula, Montana, an area known to fly fishermen worldwide as the 'Trout Mecca'.

Benefit from more than 70 years of combined experience that Michael Stack and his team bring to the company. Enjoy the Montana scenery as you should, with a fly rod in your hand and a smile on your face.

With ten Blue Ribbon Montana Trout streams plus their private water, all within easy reach, it has the ideal location to offer some of the best Trout fishing.

Capt. Michael aims to tailor every trip to your specific needs, so let him know what you're after! Depending on the trip and species, you'll be using techniques like fly fishing. You're looking at 8-hour trips, where you'll usually go after the likes of Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout, and Cutthroat Trout, depending on the weather and time of year.

All rods, reels, and terminal tackle are included in the price so you can focus on what matters, fishing! Please keep in mind you'll need to get a fishing license before the start of the trip, and the fishing is done without a boat.

Fishtales Outfitting offers only catch and release trips, so any fish you catch will be returned to the water. You'll find free drinks and lunch for your convenience, but you're always welcome to pack your drinks and snacks should you want to.

Under no circumstances will we put more than 2 people in a boat.

Please tip your guide directly. Cash is king! A 20% gratuity is considered proper.

Book your trip now and hit the water with Fishtales Outfitting.

PLEASE FEEL FREE TO INQUIRE FOR ANY DAYS AS THERES A GOOD CHANCE A GUIDE IS AVAILABLE FOR YOU!

Fishtales Outfitting
Charter Operator
Fishtales Outfitting
31 years of experience
ID & credentials verified
What this charter offers
Drinks
Ice box
Rods, reels & tackle
Food (Lunch)
What this charter offers
Drinks
Ice box
Rods, reels & tackle
Food (Lunch)

Select date to see availability

Trip date:
Group Size:
November 2026
SuMoTuWeThFrSa
Group Size
2 adults • 0 children
Change
Half day guided fly fishing
Non-refundable
4 hour trip starts at 8:00 AM
Seasonal trip
Mar 15 - Nov 15
Rainbow Trout (Steelhead)
Brown Trout
Brook Trout
Cutthroat Trout
+1
US $625
Entire boat: 2 people
Full day Madison River
Non-refundable
8 hour trip starts at 8:00 AM
Seasonal trip
Mar 15 - Nov 30
Rainbow Trout (Steelhead)
Brown Trout
Cutthroat Trout
US $750
Entire boat: 2 people

Customer reviews

Loading...

Rating

5.0
6 reviews
5.0
Boat & equipment
5.0
Captain & crew
5.0
Fishing Experience

Anglers' gallery (12)

Reviews (6)

  • Nick Cristinziano
    Nick Cristinziano
    Repeat angler
    us
    North Carolina, US
    Member since 2024
    5 trips
    5.0
    Verified

    Best trip, cannot recommend enough!

    Full day Madison River on August 2, 2026 • 2 adults

    Chris Phillips was our guide and he was the coolest dude. Not only was he sociable, he went out of hus way to help us with techinique as well as understanding everything from the knots he ties to the bugs lifecycle that we were mimicking. He put us on fish from the first hour on the water straight until the end. We landed 10 fish in the net, and caught several more that just got away from us before netting (it happens). I personally caught one 14 inch brown trout, 3 colorado white fish all roughly twelve inches, and two rainbows with one being about 17 inches! My brother in law caught three rainbows, one white fish, and had another monster rainbow on the hook that unfortunately came off before we could net. What an awesome day. Lunch was included and it was tasty. Id do this trip every day if I could! Thanks for coordinating, Mike, and thanks a million for a perfect day Chris P! I’ll be coming back one day, and I’ll be asking to go out with Chris again 1000%!

  • Dennis Kadzban
    Dennis Kadzban
    us
    Michigan, US
    Member since 2026
    5.0
    Verified

    Excellent fly fishing experience

    Full day Madison River on August 13, 2026 • 2 adults

    Jason was our guide , excellent knowledge of the Madison, and techniques, knows what flys to use ,how ,when ,where to put flys in the water put us on fish right away , will definitely recommend to others

  • Mike Eden
    Mike Eden
    us
    Illinois, US
    Member since 2026
    5.0
    Verified

    A great day on the Madison

    Full day Madison River on May 19, 2026 • 2 adults

    Dan was a great captain. He was very patient showing me how to fly fish. He went over and above for me. Nice guy and great day on the Madison!

  • Justin Adie
    Justin Adie
    Repeat angler
    us
    Nevada, US
    Member since 2026
    2 trips
    5.0
    Verified

    Amazing trip!

    Full day Madison River on September 13, 2026 • 2 adults

    we caught 3 different species on the day! Rainbows, Browns, and a giant Rocky Mountain Whitefish! My wife caught her first fish on the fly her first time flyfishing! Our guide Sam was knowledgeable, patient and great to talk to! highly recommend!

  • Lloyd Brown
    Lloyd Brown
    us
    Texas, US
    Member since 2025
    5.0
    Verified

    Beautiful experience

    Half day guided fly fishing on September 18, 2025 • 2 adults

    Capt. Dan made this trip memo

FAQs about Fishtales Outfitting – Madison River

Fishtales Outfitting – Madison River offers the following trips to customers:
  • US $625 per group - Half day guided fly fishing (4 hours)
  • US $750 per group - Full day Madison River (8 hours)
When you book a trip with Fishtales Outfitting – Madison River, you can expect the following amenity onboard:
  • Ice box
Trips booked with Fishtales Outfitting – Madison River include:
  • Rods, reels & tackle
  • Lures
  • Drinks (Your guide will have a cooler full of water and drinks.)
  • Lunch (Only on full day trips.)
  • Fly fishing equipment
Fishtales Outfitting – Madison River offers the following type of fishing:
  • River fishing (We offer guide services on Montana's most legendary trout rivers. The Madison, Yellowstone, Missouri, Jefferson, Ruby, Blackfoot, Bitterroot and Clark Fork rivers are all available in our listings.)
Fishtales Outfitting – Madison River offers the following fishing techniques:
  • Fly fishing
  • Drift fishing
Top targeted fish species with Fishtales Outfitting – Madison River include:
  • Brown Trout
  • Cutthroat Trout
  • Rainbow Trout (Steelhead)

Your operator

Fishtales Outfitting
Fishtales Outfitting
Ennis, Montana, United States
13 Fishing Reports
ID & license verified
41 Customer reviews
Typical response within 5 hours
Member since December 2015
Michael grew up in the woods, learning hunting and fly fishing in Connecticut. With his grandfather as his mentor, an avid outdoorsmen and Connecticut State Park constable, he honed his Trout fly fishing skills. Michael spent a season in Southwest Alaska, which opened possibilities to Southwest Montana and its endless wild Trout streams. He ultimately settled down in Sheridan, where his wife Theresa and himself raise their two children and 2 Lab's named Maggie and Tippet. Create your unforgettable experience with our 10+ guides available.
Our Team
Lamont C.
Lamont C.
Captain
Dan R.
Dan R.
Captain
Alex R.
Alex R.
Captain
Michael P.
Michael P.
Captain
Chris P.
Chris P.
Captain
Jason L.
Jason L.
Captain
Garet B.
Garet B.
Captain
Fishtales Outfitting
Fishtales Outfitting
Fully verified
13
reports
41
reviews
2015
member since
~5h
response
Michael grew up in the woods, learning hunting and fly fishing in Connecticut. With his grandfather as his mentor, an avid outdoorsmen and Connecticut State Park constable, he honed his Trout fly fishing skills. Michael spent a season in Southwest Alaska, which opened possibilities to Southwest Montana and its endless wild Trout streams. He ultimately settled down in Sheridan, where his wife Theresa and himself raise their two children and 2 Lab's named Maggie and Tippet. Create your unforgettable experience with our 10+ guides available.
The crew
Lamont C.
Lamont C.
Captain
Dan R.
Dan R.
Captain
Alex R.
Alex R.
Captain
Michael P.
Michael P.
Captain
Chris P.
Chris P.
Captain
Jason L.
Jason L.
Captain
Garet B.
Garet B.
Captain

The fish you can target

Brown Trout
Brown Trout
Cutthroat Trout
Cutthroat Trout
Rainbow Trout (Steelhead)
Rainbow Trout (Steelhead)
Brown Trout
Brown Trout
Cutthroat Trout
Cutthroat Trout
Rainbow Trout (Steelhead)
Rainbow Trout (Steelhead)

Real catches by this captain

  • A young angler proudly displaying a large Brown Trout while fishing in a scenic river environment.
    Fish 1
    Brown Trout
    Dennis K.
    Dennis K.
    Jason was our guide , excellent knowledge of the Madison, and techniques, knows what flys to use ,how ,when ,where to put flys in the water put us on fish right away , will definitely recommend to others
  • Two adult anglers showcase a trout while wading in a clear, shallow stream, with a landing net visible in the foreground.
    Fish 1
    Fish 2
    +1
    Rainbow Trout (Steelhead)
    Nick .
    Nick .
    Chris Phillips was our guide and he was the coolest dude. Not only was he sociable, he went out of hus way to help us with techinique as well as understanding everything from the knots he ties to the bugs lifecycle that we were mimicking. He put us on fish from the first hour on the water straight until the end. We landed 10 fish in the net, and caught several more that just got away from us before netting (it happens). I personally caught one 14 inch brown trout, 3 colorado white fish all roughly twelve inches, and two rainbows with one being about 17 inches! My brother in law caught three rainbows, one white fish, and had another monster rainbow on the hook that unfortunately came off before we could net. What an awesome day. Lunch was included and it was tasty. Id do this trip every day if I could! Thanks for coordinating, Mike, and thanks a million for a perfect day Chris P! I’ll be coming back one day, and I’ll be asking to go out with Chris again 1000%!
  • Young angler and guide proudly display a large spotted trout aboard a drift boat on a scenic river.
    Fish 1
    Fish 2
    Brown Trout
    The famed Salmonfly hatch has been fantastic and our guests have reaped the rewards! We’re starting early to beat the heat and the other boats. The big bugs have been around for a while so start out with the big dry. Add a dropper if they stop looking up. Large Chubbys Rogue Stone or Rollin Stone are great patterns. A smallish Pats can work well as a dropper but have Split case and Infrequens pmd nymphs as a smaller option if the fish are stuffed on stone flies. Dont just fish the banks on the Madison, especially upriver. Theres a lot of fish right in the middle.
  • An angler in a boat is reeling in a trout while fishing in a scenic river, surrounded by lush greenery and mountains.
    Fish 1
    Rainbow Trout (Steelhead)
    Mike E.
    Mike E.
    Dan was a great captain. He was very patient showing me how to fly fish. He went over and above for me. Nice guy and great day on the Madison!
  • Angler holding a large brown trout beside a scenic mountain river.
    Fish 1
    Fish 2
    +1
    Brown Trout
    Pre runoff conditions are keeping the water in great shape with perfect visibility. The rainbow spawn is about wrapped up but most of thise fish are still hanging around. Nymphing a two fly indicator rig is your best bet. A dark color Pats stone and a red #8-14 San Juan worm are tough to beat. Have some egg patterns and midges as well. We’re seeing BWOs early afternoon so have some patterns on hand. The streamer bite is picking up especially if you get a cloudy day. Go with muted or dark colors rather than bright ones in #4-8.
  • Solo angler holding a large brown trout while standing in a shallow freshwater stream surrounded by marsh vegetation.
    Fish 1
    Fish 2
    Brown Trout
    The evening temps have been on the chilly side in SW Montana, triggering the fall pre spawn streamer season. The Madison is giving up some really nice browns on streamers. Some on the strip and pause and some using an upstream cast and a little more dead drift with a good pump and a pause. Look for the usual targets. Hard banks, shelves and faster water. Fly color can make a difference as will size. If fish are following a stripped fly but wont commit will often smash a smaller fly. White is my go to color especially on brighter days but olive, copper, black and combos are must haves. Get in touch to book your fall streamer trip today!
  • Adult angler holding a large brown trout over a scenic mountain river.
    Fish 1
    Brown Trout
    Now that the ‘25 runoff has begun to wain, the Madison River is running a little lower than its historic flows for this time of year. Currently at 1280 cfs, historically more like 2-2500 cfs. Visibility is good with a very slight fuzz of color at about 2-3 feet. We’re right on the cusp of the famous Salmonfly hatch that will offer outstanding dryfly fishing! However many agree that the best fishing is just before the hatch. The fish have been feeding quite opportunistically subsurface on stonefly nymphs, caddis larva, San Juan worms and sculpins. We’re seeing the dry fly action pick up on Salmonflies, Goldens and Caddis. Target the spots with a color change which indicates a hole or bucket as we like to call it. Fish around the boulders front and back and dont be afraid to cast into really fast water. There are fish in spots that dont look like spots. You have to know what to look for so take time to observe and you’ll find yourself landing more and bigger fish! Contact us to book your dream fly fishing trip in Montana!
  • Angler displaying a freshly caught trout with a fly lure while fishing from a boat, showcasing the excitement of the catch.
    Fish 1
    Fish 2
    +1
    Brown Trout
    The pre runoff fishing on the Madison has been fantastic as expected. The flows are still low ataround 1000 cfs and the water is perfectly clear. Most of the shelf ice from the gorge has melted except for closer to Ennis and to the lake. The Ennis boat and Valley Garden FAS’s are closed until FWP can get the sites rebuilt from the ice damage. The most productive method to catch trout is nymphing under an indicator. However, the streamer bite has heated up and there are blue winged olives in the afternoon. Cloudy days are your friend for streamers and dries. The standard rubber legs coupled with a wire or San Juan worm have been the best patterns. Others include the bead head Prince, Purple Psycho Prince, Pheasant Tail,, WD40-50, Zebra midge. Some good streamer patterns include mini Dungeons, Zonkers, Mini loop sculpins but others will certainly work. The dry fly fishing is going to be in softer water wirh a nice foam line. Side channels and soft pockets can hold rising fish.
  • Angler proudly displaying a large Brown Trout while fishing from a boat in a scenic river setting.
    Fish 1
    Brown Trout
    The Madison River is still pre runoff and offers some great fly fishing opportunities. Flows are up a bit to around 1300 cfs and visibility at about 2.5 to 3’. There are some caddis showing up on the lower stretches and fish will start looking up now. Nymphing and streamers are still your best bet to land some numbers. Run a standard in line indicator nymph leader with your first fly anout 5’ from your indicator and tie the second off the bend of the hook 18” to your second fly. The tried and true Pats rubber legs and a bright San Juan or Wire Worm has been a solid combination. A green caddis larvae is a good second fly choice if you see caddis on the water. An elk hair caddis in olive, tan or brown in a #16-14 along with a caddis pupae if you see risers, will get the job done. Look for soft spots, inside edges, boulders and color changes that indicate good trout holding water.
  • Close-up of two large insects held in hand, likely used as bait, with a blurred river background.
    Fish 1
    Brown Trout
    The famed Pterinarcys Californicus or Giant Salmon Fly hatch has just started to show up on the stretches above Ennis on the Madison. These double bacon cheeseburger bugs are a favorite for trout when they show up. We’re having success nymphing and on the bug dry. A double rubber leg short leash nymphing rig is our most effective way to nymph. We are getting action on the surface using several different dry salmon fly patterns. The Rogue, Bank Robber and Chubby Chernobyl just to name a few. A little twitch is another trigger for the trout. The adult naturals are pretty active when they’re on the water. Also try a smaller Golden Stone if your getting refusals on the big bug.

What is the boat like?

Boat image
Boat category
Unpowered boats
Capacity
2 persons
Boat length
14 ft
Year built
2021
Boat manufacturer
Clackacraft
Boat type
Drift boat
Engine model
1
Powered by
1 x 1HP
Max cruising speed
3 knots

What kind of fishing will you do?

River Fishing

Which fishing techniques you can try

Fly Fishing
Drift Fishing

Which amenities are available onboard

Ice box
What's included in the trip price
Rods, reels & tackle
Lures
Drinks
Your guide will have a cooler full of water and drinks.
Lunch
Only on full day trips.
Fly fishing equipment

How cancellations work

Deposit non-refundable
If it is unsafe to travel, you may still cancel free of charge or change the date(s) of your booking.
More details

What the listing policies are

Pickup agreed upon reservation
Transfer to/from departure site may be available and included in price depending on your location and distance from the dock.
Catch and release mandatory
We practice catch and release exclusively

How you can pay

Pay online in full
Pay online in full through FishingBooker and save on credit card fees at the dock.
No additional fees.

Compare similar fishing charters

Current
Fishtales Outfitting – Madison River
Fishtales Outfitting – Madison River
5.0
(6)
14 ft
Group size 1 - 2
1 - 2
Fish 1
Fish 2
+1
4 hour trip • 2 persons
US $625