Healing Waters Lodge is an Orvis-endorsed lodge set on 20 acres in the Ruby Valley, just outside Twin Bridges in the heart of Southwest Montana’s trout country. From the moment you arrive, the pace slows and the days start to revolve around the water.
Whether you’re winding down after a long float or trading stories before dinner, the lodge is built for the part of the trip that happens off the river.
Step into a drift boat with one of Healing Waters’ seasoned guides and fish five of Montana’s most storied rivers — the Beaverhead, Big Hole, Madison, Ruby and Jefferson. Each one asks something different of you, and no two days on the schedule are alike.
Whether you’re a first-time fly angler or a seasoned river veteran, the guides build each day around your goals, your abilities and what you want out of the water.
Mornings start with made-to-order breakfasts. Evenings bring seasonal, locally sourced meals built to match the day you’ve had. Good food, good wine, and the stories that come back from the river with you — the table is as much a part of the trip as the water is.
Fly Rods:
Recommended Gear:
Fly into Bozeman, Montana. From there it’s about a 90-minute drive to the lodge, and we arrange a shuttle for the group in both directions. The shuttle is not included in the trip price.
Lodging, all meals, guided fishing, beer and wine, and the gear — rods, reels, waders, terminal tackle and flies. You’re welcome to bring your own equipment if you’d rather fish what you know.
Airfare, ground transportation to and from the lodge, your Montana fishing license, hard alcohol, and gratuities for the guides and lodge staff.
CANCELLATIONS MADE 120 DAYS prior to arrival will be refunded, minus a $200 per person cancellation fee.
CANCELLATIONS MADE WITHIN 120 DAYS of arrival are non-refundable unless we are able to rebook your reservation at the same rate.
CANCELLATIONS MADE WITHIN 60 DAYS of arrival forfeit the entire amount of the reservation.
WE STRONGLY RECOMMEND TRAVEL INSURANCE to protect against unexpected changes to your travel plans.
Have questions, want to book the Montana Trip, or need more information on what Smokehouse Fly Fishing has to offer? Get in touch with us today by calling now or filling out the form below.
Discover one of the West’s premier fly-fishing destinations.
At Kingfisher Lodge, your days begin where the pristine, cold flows of the Bighorn River come alive—brimming with wild browns and rainbows, world-famous hatches, and mile after mile of perfectly fishable water.
This is more than a fishing trip. It’s a full immersion into a river that sets the standard for trout fishing in America.
Step into a drift boat with one of Kingfisher Lodge’s seasoned guides and experience the Bighorn the way only locals can show it. From technical dry-fly challenges to action-packed nymphing runs, every stretch of river offers something remarkable.
Ultra-productive water with incredible trout density
Legendary hatches—midges, BWOs, PMDs, caddis, and more
Guides who know every seam, shelf, and secret pocket
Whether you’re a first-time fly angler or a seasoned river veteran, the Bighorn delivers consistent action and unforgettable moments.
Kingfisher Lodge is inspired by fresh quality ingredients and is flexible to accommodate any dietary restrictions or preferences, just let us know ahead of time. Your package includes breakfast, lunch out on the boat, appetizers, dinner, and non-alcoholic beverages. If you wish to drink alcoholic beverages, please keep in mind that Big Horn County is a dry county and the lodge is unable to sell liquor so purchase those supplies beforehand.
Fly Rods:
Recommended Gear:
Travel by Air: You can fly into Fort Smith which has a 3800 foot runway if you have your own plane. You can also fly into the Billings Airport which has car rental services available.
Travel by Driving from the West/Billings: Take I-90 south from Billings, travel 44 miles and take the first Hardin exit. Follow signs for Yellowtail Dam and Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area onto state highway 313. At St. Xavier (a post office and abandoned school) take a left at the post office – there is a sign for Bighorn National Recreation Area. Stay on Hwy 313 until mile-marker 38 on the right side of the road, take the first right onto the first paved road marked by a river access sign. Follow the road a half mile to a T junction and turn right. Kingfisher Lodge is on your left about 100 yards up the road.
Travel by Driving from the South: Head north on I-90, take exit 509 at Crow Agency. It winds through the Crow Reservation and connects with Hwy 313. Take a left onto Hwy 313 and continue as listed above through St. Xavier toward Bighorn Canyon and mile marker 38.
Travel from the East: Head west on I-94 exit at Custer and take Hwy 47 south to Hardin. At Hardin, Hwy 47 becomes 313, follow directions for “from the West/Billings.”
Transportation — Round trip shuttle service from the airport.
Accommodations — Private rooms (double occupancy) with queen beds, ensuite bathroom, heating/cooling, mini-fridge, hair dryer, etc.
Meals & non-alcoholic beverages — You get breakfast, boat lunch (on fishing days), appetizers, dinner, and drinks (non-alcoholic) included.
Guided fly fishing on the Bighorn River — The “angling package” includes 3 full days of guided fishing.
Fishing gear, tackle, and flies Rods, reels, flies, leaders, tippet and other terminal tackle are provided by the lodge if you don’t bring your own.
Drift-boat access and guide support — On guided days you float the river with experienced guides experienced with the Bighorn.
Lodge amenities — Wi-Fi, pro shop, walking paths, outdoor seating, beautiful views of the Bighorn mountains, relaxing common spaces.
Alcohol — The county is dry and alcohol is not sold at the lodge. You’re allowed to bring your own if you like.
Fishing license — You must obtain and bring your own Montana fishing license.
Guide and staff gratuities — Tips for guides/staff are not included.
(Optional) Lake fishing — If you want to fish at a nearby lake or try a lake-based fishing day rather than the river, that comes at an extra cost.
If your reservation is canceled less than 90 days prior to your arrival, the deposit is non-refundable. Reservations cancelled outside 90 days are refundable minus a $450 booking fee.
WE HIGHLY RECOMMEND TRIP INSURANCE.
This trip is currently full. Join the waitlist and we’ll contact you first if a spot opens up — and when dates for the next Kingfisher trip are announced.
Yes. Every angler needs their own Montana fishing license, and it is not included in the trip price. You can buy one online before you travel, or lodge staff will point you to the nearest fly shop.
Every guided day includes a professional guide, a fully outfitted drift boat, flies, leaders and terminal tackle, lunch and drinks on the river, and transportation to and from the water. Rod rentals are usually available if you would rather not travel with your own.
Your Montana fishing license, guide and staff gratuities, alcohol, flights, and optional add-ons like a lake day. Everything else — lodging, guided fishing, boats and meals — is covered.
Book as early as you can. Our Montana fly fishing trips fill months ahead for peak season, and a year or more is realistic for the best weeks. Our 2027 Kingfisher trip sold out well ahead of the season. If a trip is full, join the waitlist; seats do open up.
The Bighorn is one of the most productive trout fisheries in the West, offering:
No. Our Montana fly fishing trips take first-timers and lifelong anglers in the same group. The guides teach as they go and build each day around what you’re comfortable with. If you’ve never cast a fly rod, you’ll be fishing by the afternoon.
Yes. Breakfasts and dinners are prepared at the lodge, and lunch goes out on the river with you on guided days.
Montana fishes well from spring through fall. Spring brings strong midge and Blue-Winged Olive hatches, summer means consistent nymphing and evening dry-fly action, and late summer into fall brings terrestrials, Tricos, PMDs and hopper season. Our hosted Montana fly fishing trips run in September, at the front of that fall window.
On a hosted trip, everything is arranged for you — lodging, guides, boats, meals and the day-to-day logistics — and you travel with a small group led by a host who knows the water and the lodge. You book one trip and show up. Nobody is coordinating outfitters, chasing reservations or working out where to fish each morning.
Our 2027 Montana fly fishing trips run $2,420 to $5,900 per angler, depending on the trip, room occupancy, and the lodge. That covers lodging, guided fishing, boats, and meals. Fishing licenses, gratuities and flights are separate.
Smokehouse Fly Fishing offers a multitude of high quality and detail oriented hosted trips that take place in various locations such as Montana, the Bahamas, Texas, Belize, Mexico and more. The best part is all the grunt work and planning will be taken care of by us, so all you do is fish and make wonderful memories.
