Besides clothing and wading gear, you will certainly want to bring some of the following items when you fly fish in the Montana, and you may want to bring some, most, or all of the rest depending on where and when you’ll be fishing.
Must-Have Accessories and So Forth
- Polarized sunglasses
- Medications, eye drops, spare contacts, spare eyeglasses, etc.
- Painkillers, allergy medicine, cough drops, etc.
- Sunscreen (SPF 30+ recommended)
- Lip balm
- Map/Road Atlas (GPS navigation, including phone navigation, often does not work)
Optional/Suggested Items
- Reusable water bottle(s) (our tap water is tastier than whatever Dasani is putting in their bottles)
- Water purifier or filter (if hiking)
- Flashlight or headlamp
- Basic first-aid kit
- Bear spray (if fishing on foot or hiking inside or within about 30 miles of Yellowstone Park)
- Trekking poles, wading staff, or walking stick if you are at all doubtful of your balance and will be fishing on foot.
- Insect repellant (DEET is your friend…)
- Headnet if fishing/traversing marshy areas in wet years
- Hiking gear. Even if you don’t plan to walk far, a day-pack is nice.
- Hiking maps (if hiking)
- Winter survival kit from late November through March (blanket, food, water, kitty litter or similar traction device, shovel, etc.)
- Good camera
- Dry storage for phone/camera/keys/wallet (Zip-locs work fine)