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There is such a wide-ranging and tantalizing assortment of water to taste and experience on the flight of rivers throughout southwest Montana. This local freestone stream often gets passed by while we motor along, driftboat in tow, toward larger, more float-friendly locales. 120 miles of trout habitat from its emergence at Gallatin Lake to its confluence with the Missouri at Three Forks

Fed with snow from high atop the Continental Divide, Colorado’s rivers develop into some of the country’s best trout streams. The water flowing east, eventually to the Atlantic Ocean, crosses the more arid slopes and short grass prairies, while the water flowing west meanders through the greener terrain of the Western Slope, before it (hopefully) reaches the Pacific Ocean. Each winding path of Rocky Mountain water provides its own outstanding fly-fishing experience, so narrowing down these rivers to only ten is an impossible task. But the ten on our list are guaranteed to provide some of the best fly fishing of your life and most include Gold Medal Stream sections, as designated by the state of Colorado.

Wyoming is a trout angler’s dream come true. From pristine glacial creeks filled with native cutthroat, to big tailwaters which support thousands of trout per mile, it’s safe to say that a fly-fishing trip to Wyoming will be a life-changing experience. The Continental Divide splits the state, which means there are blue ribbon-worthy trouts streams in just about every corner of the state. Because of the sheer number of world-class trout streams, choosing the top 10 fly-fishing rivers in Wyoming would be impossible. But here are ten (plus) rivers that are sure to deliver an amazing fly-fishing experience.

Choosing a favorite river in Montana is like having to choose your favorite child. However, in this case, you have dozens of famous rivers, and maybe hundreds of smaller streams and creeks, which in many ways are as good as or better than their famous bigger siblings. To make a list of the top 10 rivers to fish in Montana, many wonderful waters will be left off the list. So for us to say these are the “top,” we’re simply saying that on any given day, you will be almost guaranteed the experience of a lifetime on one of these ten Montana waters.

First and foremost, it’s your responsibility as an angler to know and follow the fishing regulations put forth by the National Park Service. You’ll need a Yellowstone-specific fishing license, which—along with a copy of the most up-to-date regulations—is available at most fly shops in gateway communities like West Yellowstone, Gardner, Jackson and Cody. Pay close attention to opening dates, particularly in native cutthroat country—cutthroats spawn in the spring, and the National Park Service keeps many cutthroat fisheries closed, sometimes into July and August, to protect spawning cutthroats.

The South Platte River begins in Colorado high atop the frozen Continental Divide, home to a chain of rugged 13,000-foot, snowcapped peaks. This region comprises lush valleys, meandering meadow streams, and rose-colored, boulder-filled canyons. For generations it has been a recreation mecca and a fly fisher’s paradise in its purest form. The South Platte drainage has a rich history, intermingling mining, cattle grazing, commercial fishing, ranching, railroading, and tourism.