Charter Operator
Fishtales Outfitting

Member since December 2015 Hamilton, United States
Background
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.
Techniques
We pride ourselves in offering the best fly fishing guide services available. Fishtales Outfitting's reputation is that we make our trips more personable and customized to suit your needs and preferences. We like to drift fish but also enjoy walk/wade trips, and love to take our time and really submerse our clients in enjoying the day in every way.

Hey, it's Fishtales Outfitting

Hamilton, United States
Background
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.
Techniques
We pride ourselves in offering the best fly fishing guide services available. Fishtales Outfitting's reputation is that we make our trips more personable and customized to suit your needs and preferences. We like to drift fish but also enjoy walk/wade trips, and love to take our time and really submerse our clients in enjoying the day in every way.
31
Reviews
11
Fishing Reports
Verified
Our Team
Lamont C.
Captain
Dan R.
Captain
Alex R.
Captain
Michael P.
Captain
Chris P.
Captain
Jason L.
Captain
Garet B.
Captain

My Charter Listings

Fishtales Outfitting Bitterroot Riv

Excellent
4.9 / 5
(8 reviews)
Hamilton
Trips from US $625

Fishtales Outfitting โ€“ Jefferson River

Excellent
5.0 / 5
(1 review)
Silver Star
Trips from US $625

Fishtales Outfitting โ€“ Madison River

Excellent
5.0 / 5
(3 reviews)
Ennis
 Last booking: 2 days ago
Trips from US $625

Fishtales Outfitting โ€“ Blackfoot River

Greenough
Trips from US $625

Fishtales Outfitting โ€“ Missouri River

Excellent
5.0 / 5
(5 reviews)
Wolf Creek
Trips from US $625

Fishtales Outfitting โ€“ Yellowstone River

Excellent
5.0 / 5
(12 reviews)
Emigrant
 Last booking: 4 days ago
Trips from US $625

Fishtales Outfitting โ€“ Ruby River

Sheridan
Trips from US $625

Fishtales Outfitting โ€“ Clark Fork River

Excellent
5.0 / 5
(1 review)
Missoula
Trips from US $625

Clearwater River Full Day

Just added to our fleet
Greenough
Trips from US $750

Fishing Reports

Spring fishing on the Madison river!
Spring fishing on the Madison river!
Apr 22, 2026 Ennis
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. Weโ€™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.
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Spring dry fly fishing on the Clark Fork
Spring dry fly fishing on the Clark Fork
Apr 22, 2026 Missoula
The Clark Forkโ€™s spring fishing is heating up with Skwalas, March Browns and BWOs getting the fish looking up! Dry fly season is here! Nymphing is also producing well when the dry bite isnt up to par.
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Madison River Fall streamer season is he
Madison River Fall streamer season is he
Sep 21, 2025 Ennis
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!
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Yelllowstone River hoppertunity
Yelllowstone River hoppertunity
Sep 7, 2025 Emigrant
The Yellowstone River is all anout the grasshoppers now that most of the big summer hatches are over. Aftetnoon temps are still in the high 80โ€™s and thats keeping those hoppers happy and hoppering! Plop your hopper tight to the bank fishing fast seams , grassy banks and large downed cottonwoods. Make your hopper hot the water with a splashy plop as its one of the triggers for hopper hungry trout. Put some twitches in yoyr drift for the same reason. We like a mid to large hopper in tan , peach, purple so we can hang a dropper of the bend of the hook. Panty Dropper, CFO Ant, Skippy hopper, Streambank hopper im sizes # 6-10. Some productive droppers have been Psycho may in brown, Two Bit Hooker, Beadhead pheasant tail. So Get your fly tight to the banl and twitch it! Hang on!
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Yellowstone River Fishing Report
Yellowstone River Fishing Report
Jul 24, 2025 Emigrant
The Yellowstone is fishing great even with the high summer temperatures. Weโ€™re starting to see the first hopper grabs but its not quite there. The Stoneflies are done and the hopper fishing is just getting going but we expect that to change soon. Right now our best fishing has been drifting streamers under an indicator with a small nymph behind it. Using some downstream mends and twitches to keep the streamer swimming with some drag on it. Big browns fall victim to this tactic regularly being the carnivores they are. Rabbit sculpins in natural and olive with a #16-20 beadhead nymph running 15โ€ behind has been the hot ticket. Soft hackles are a great nymph patterns along with pheasant tails and caddis.
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Missouri River PMD Pandemonium
Missouri River PMD Pandemonium
Jun 22, 2025 Wolf Creek
The PMD hatch is in full swing on Missouri River right now and the trout looking up lying in wait for them to drift into their waiting mouths. The PMD or Pale Morning Dun is a mayfly species thats a pale yellowish olive color with a gray wing in a size # 14-18. Theyโ€™ll start hatching at about 9:30-10:30 am and continue for a few hours to most of the day. The Missouri Rivers slick, spring creek like currents lend themselves to dry fly fishing. Look for dimples on the surface. These trout will often pod up in prime spots to feed very efficiently. Using the current to bring the food to them. Back eddys are a good place to find rising trout as the bugs go round and round like a lazy Susan. We find the fish will prefer a cripple pattern early in the hatch then the dun, followed by the spent spinner. Best dry flies. Sparkle Dun #14-18 Extended body parachute #14-18 Pull Over cripple #14-18 Limestone cripple #14-18 Organza spinner #14-18 Rusty spinner #14-18 Hi Viz spinner #14-18 If the fish arenโ€™t rising, go with a short leashed leader with two flies. Tie your first fly on at about 3.5 to 4โ€™ under an indicator and the second fly of the bend of the hook or a short tag. Mend often and set the hook when the indicator moves or goes under. Best nymphs: Pheasant Tail nymph #14-18 Split back brown #14-18 Barr emerger #14-18 Hunchback Infrequens #14-18 Contact us to book your Missouri River Fly Fishing Adventure!
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Customer reviews

Rating summary
Excellent
5.0 / 5
out of 5 stars from 31 reviews
See details
Boat
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Experience
Excellent
4.9 / 5
Photos & videos by reviewers (40)
A great day on the Madison
A great day on the Madison
Puts you on em
+37
Angler rating
27
0
0
0
0
Anglers claimed
Good experience
100%
Friendly captain
100%
Recommend this charter
87%
Appropriate for children
81%
Satisfied with the boat
100%
Caught fish
100%
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5 of 31 reviews
Mat S.
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Experience:
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Boat
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Overall

Super awesome captain, Chris was great!

VERIFIED   Half day guided fly fishing on October 4, 2025
If you want to talk about grace, then letโ€™s talk about Chris our guide was amazing, he had every right to get mad at us....
Mat S. recommends Fishtales Outfitting โ€“ Missouri River
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Mat S. recommends Fishtales Outfitting โ€“ Missouri River
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You and 1 other person found this review helpful
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Mike E.
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Experience:
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Boat
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Overall

A great day on the Madison

VERIFIED   NEW  Full day Madison River on May 19, 2026
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...
Mike E. recommends Fishtales Outfitting โ€“ Madison River
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Jussi R.
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Experience:
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Boat
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Overall

Yellowstone river

VERIFIED   Half day guided fly fishing on July 21, 2025
Great trip with Dave. Even there were challenging conditions in the river, heavy wind and fish were not very active, we were...
Jussi R. recommends Fishtales Outfitting โ€“ Yellowstone River
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Jeff P.
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Experience:
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Boat
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Overall

Best Birthday gift ever

VERIFIED   Half day guided fly fishing on August 30, 2025
Met my guide. Got the basics and headed out for the day. Beautiful day and fantastic guide. Floated the Yellowstone river....
Jeff P. recommends Fishtales Outfitting โ€“ Yellowstone River
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Ben R.
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Experience:
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Boat
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Overall

Great day on the river with Dan

VERIFIED   Half day guided fly fishing on August 17, 2025
Dan was an incredible guide - Super friendly, knowledgeable and helped us land some fish even though we had limited experience...
Ben R. recommends Fishtales Outfitting โ€“ Yellowstone River
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