BestTimeToFishfishability by river

Best month to fish, by river

Planning a trip? Pick a river for its month-by-month guide. We rate each month on flow and the long-run pattern of hatches and water temperature — so you go when the odds are real, not when the river is blown out.

Arizona

Colorado River at Lees Ferry Best: Nov, Dec, Mar, Apr

Colorado

Fryingpan River Best: Sep, Oct, Nov, Jul Arkansas River Best: Sep, Oct, Aug, Apr South Platte River Best: Sep, Oct, Apr, May Roaring Fork River Best: Sep, Oct, Aug, Jul

Idaho

Henry's Fork Best: Jul, Jun, Sep, Aug South Fork of the Snake River Best: Sep, Aug, Jul, Oct

Montana

Madison River Best: Sep, Oct, Jul, Aug Bighorn River Best: Oct, Nov, Mar, Apr Missouri River Best: Sep, Oct, Apr, Jun Gallatin River Best: Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct Yellowstone River Best: Sep, Oct, Aug, Jul Big Hole River Best: Jul, Sep, Jun, Aug Beaverhead River Best: Sep, Oct, Aug, Jul Blackfoot River Best: Jul, Aug, Sep, Jun

New Mexico

San Juan River Best: Oct, Nov, Jan, Feb

Utah

Green River Best: Sep, Oct, Apr, May
These guides show when the odds are best, from typical flows and seasonal hatches — never a guarantee for a given day. How we build them.