Do I need experience to book a guided fly fishing trip?

No experience is necessary. Zoo Town Anglers guides anglers of all skill levels, from complete beginners to seasoned fly fishers. Jason tailors each trip to the group's experience level.

What is the best time of year to fly fish near Missoula, Montana?

The season runs March through October. Spring (March–April) brings the Skwala stonefly hatch on the Bitterroot. Summer (June–September) is prime time on the Blackfoot for cutthroat. Fall (September–October) offers excellent dry fly fishing with October Caddis on the Clark Fork.

What gear do I need to bring on a fly fishing guide trip?

Nothing except appropriate clothing and sunscreen. Zoo Town Anglers provides all fly fishing equipment including premium Sage and Winston rods, reels, all flies and tackle. A Montana fishing license is required and costs $20–$40 depending on duration.

Do you practice catch and release?

Yes. Zoo Town Anglers is a catch-and-release operation, barbless hooks required. Every fish is returned to the river unharmed.

How much does a guided fly fishing trip in Missoula cost?

A full day float trip (8-10 hours) is $650 for 1-2 anglers. A half day trip (4-5 hours) is $475 for 1-2 anglers. Multi-day adventures are custom priced. All equipment, flies, and a streamside lunch (full day) are included.

Which rivers do you fish near Missoula?

Zoo Town Anglers guides float trips on four rivers: the Blackfoot River (cutthroat and bull trout, best June–September), Clark Fork River (large rainbows and browns, best July–October), Bitterroot River (first river of spring, best March–October), and Missouri River (trophy browns and rainbows, best April–June and September–November).

Is lunch included on a fly fishing guide trip?

Yes, a streamside lunch is included on full day float trips (8-10 hours). Half day trips do not include a meal.

How far in advance should I book a guided fly fishing trip?

Zoo Town Anglers guides a limited number of trips each season and books quickly, especially for prime season dates (June–September) and the Skwala hatch (late February through April). Booking 3–6 months in advance is recommended for peak dates.

International Fly Fishing Trips | Zoo Town Anglers

Beyond Montana

The World Is Full
of Rivers.

When Montana winters close in, the fish don’t stop. Neither do we.

International Expeditions

Jason Fishes Year-Round.
Now You Can Too.

The Blackfoot and Clark Fork will always be home. But some years call for something wilder — a different hemisphere, a different species, a different kind of challenge entirely. Zoo Town Anglers has partnered with world-class destination lodges to offer a small number of international expeditions each year for anglers who want to go further.

These aren’t resort trips. They’re real fishing expeditions — long days, big gear, and water that few fly anglers ever see. If that sounds like you, read on.

Featured Expedition

Colombia — Rio Vichada & Rio Orinoco

Deep jungle fishing with indigenous Sikuani guides on one of the world’s great river systems

Duration

8 Days / 7 Nights

Fishing Days

7 Full Days

Season

Jan – Mar (Peak)

Difficulty

Advanced

co

🏕️ The Camp

Tucunare Lodge is a fishing camp in the truest sense — no spa, no cocktail hour, no curated Instagram moments. What it offers instead is harder to put a price on: a location so remote it takes a regional flight from Bogotá to Inirida just to reach the starting point, followed by boat transport to camp on the banks of the Rio Vichada.

Accommodations are dual-occupancy cabanas with memory foam mattresses, mosquito netting, fans, and private semi-outdoor bathrooms with cold water showers. When you’ve been fishing in 85-degree jungle heat all day, cold water feels like a luxury. Meals and community time happen in a central dining space, and cold beer is always waiting when you come off the water.

The camp sits alongside the Sikuani indigenous community — the same people who will be your guides on the water. That proximity is not a tourist feature; it’s the real thing, and it shapes the character of every day there.

🎣 The Fishing

You will fish two distinct systems: the main channels of the Rio Vichada and Rio Orinoco — the third-longest river in South America — and the surrounding lake systems whose outlet streams feed both rivers. Each environment fishes differently and holds different species.

The peacock bass live primarily in the lakes. Everything else — payara, pacu, piranha, sardinata — is found on the rivers. These aren’t delicate presentations with 5x tippet. The standard setup is a 10-weight rod, intermediate sink tips or 400-grain sinking lines, and large, often articulated flies. It is physically demanding fishing. The days are long, the casts are long, and the jungle humidity makes all of it harder.

The payoff is proportional. Shots at 10–15 pound peacock bass are real. Trophy payara — the “vampire fish” of South American rivers — are a genuine possibility. If you’ve only ever chased trout, this will recalibrate your sense of what fly fishing can be.

Target Species

🎒

Gear Recommendation

Bring a 10-weight rod rated for tropical use. You’ll need intermediate sink tips and 400-grain sinking lines depending on conditions. Flies are large, heavy, and often articulated — think 4–6 inch streamers with dumbbell eyes. A sturdy stripping basket is worth its weight. Leave the delicate stuff at home. Jason can help you build out a full gear list once you’re booked.

What's Included

7 nights lodging at Tucunare Lodge (dual occupancy cabana)
7 full days of guided fishing with Sikuani indigenous guides
All meals on-site
Beer and white wine at camp
Boat transport to and from Inirida
Regional flights: Bogotá → Inirida → Bogotá
First night hotel in Bogotá

Not Included

Ready to Fish a Different World?

International expedition spots are extremely limited — Jason takes a small group each season to ensure the experience is what it should be. If you’re serious, reach out early. These fill up fast.

More Destinations Coming

Colombia is the first of what Jason plans to be an expanding roster of international expeditions — each one chosen for the quality of the fishing, the authenticity of the experience, and the caliber of the local guides. Stay tuned.