Complete Fly Fisher

Name: Complete Fly Fisher
Address: 66771 MT-43, Wise River, MT, 59762, US
Telephone: +14065441495

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Ideally located on the finest section of the Big Hole River, the Complete Fly Fisher is a Montana legacy lodge.

Originally built in 1968, guests from all over the world have traveled here, to the beautiful banks of the Big Hole River. Originally built in 1968, guests from all over the world have traveled here, to the beautiful banks of the Big Hole River to experience the magic of Montana for more than 52 years. The Lodge is a world class destination that offers a level of rustic and relaxed luxury found in very few places on Earth. Set in the heart of the greatest collection of trout fishing waters found in North America, the Complete Fly Fisher is the ideal place to escape from the intensity and pace of life found outside of the Big Hole Valley.

10/28/2026

We held out as long as we could.
We’ve held our rates steady for four years, even as input prices climbed and our competitors raised their rates.
Now there’s no escaping reality—it’s time to increase our rates.
The new 2027 rates go into effect beginning November 1, 2026. But if you book before the end of October, you can secure your 2027 stay at 2026 rates!*

And hey - did you see that Complete Fly Fisher made the latest issue of Garden & Gun magazine as one of the top 15 trout lodges in the West? We’re proud of the work that has earned this kind of recognition, but we’re not resting on those laurels—we’ll continue our efforts to create the kind of guest experience you expect and deserve!

*must book by Oct 31 and send deposit by Nov 30, 2026

Booking inquiry link in comments.

10/17/2026

Todd spent eight days with us in June, when big dry flies and streamers are the name of the game. Then he came back for a week in October, when small dries, nymphs and streamers are all options. Todd is what you would call a well-rounded angler!

October pics
1: wade fishing the upper Big Hole
2-4: big fish in a small (private) pond
5-6: hunting browns on the mighty Jefferson River

📷: Kelly Kimzey, guide

10/08/2026

Q: How do you know when somebody REALLY loves their job?
A: When they take their family to work ... on their day off!

The dashing fellow in the first pic is Kelly Kimzey, who has spent the greater portion of his adult life guiding CFF clients on the Big Hole River. Kelly had a recent off-day and took his girlfriend, Wendy, and her daughter, Claire, to an alpine lake in southwestern Montana, where they stripped streamers in pursuit of slabby brook trout.

These chonks give a whole 'nother meaning to the phrase "fall colors." Wow!

09/30/2026

When Kim (first pic) visited us last fall, she was a fly fishing novice who held her own. Jump forward one year, and she's landing late-season tanks on small dry flies—talk about a quantum leap!

Her friend Lisa (second pic) had a handful of trips under her wading belt before visiting us a few years back, and has really found her groove while fishing with CFF guide Kelly. As Kelly notes, the fish in the pic wasn't her largest of the trip by any means, but she felt no need for further documentation. Now, we're no sociologists, but we can't think of many (any?) men who would pass up the opportunity to upgrade their grip-n-grins. 😉

So here's to Lisa & Kim, and all the humble & badass women anglers who come through our doors and flat-out get it done!

09/18/2026

It's Trico season!

Many fly anglers have a love/hate relationship with these tiny (size 20-24) mayflies that bewitch trout with morning hatches and subsequent spinner falls that blanket the water. It's challenging enough to even tie one on your tippet (shoutout to our sharp-eyed guides), let alone muster the cast accuracy and proper fly presentation necessary to get one of these bruisers to eat.

But when it all comes together and you stick and land a slabby trout on a tiny dry, well, it's a glorious feeling. Just ask Jerry, who was here last week with 16(!) of his closest fishing buddies. Nice work, Jerry!

NOTE: The trico subspecies prevalent in the West is slightly larger than the ones in the eastern U.S., so we don't have to go quite as small in terms of fly & tippet size.

📷: Kelly Kimzey, guide

09/09/2026

The young man fighting the fish is Nick. Having heard Big Hole River fishing stories from his dad, Nick talked his way into joining this year's trip. Now Nick has a whale of a Big Hole fishing tale of his own to share!

The video and picture were taken by his dad, Paul. You can hear the pride and joy in his voice as he coaches his son throughout the fight. Is there anything better than a father-son fishing adventure?

h/t to CFF guide Dan Kimzey for the mad skills!

09/05/2026

Ma Nature sure knows how to frame the end of a perfect fishing day.

📷: Bob, Lamar, Kim, Jeff. Week of July 5, 2026.

09/01/2026

There is nothing like a Big Hole Valley sunrise.

📷: Max Lewis

08/31/2026

There are more species of game fish—and more ways to catch them—than you can shake a long, bendy stick at. But if there's one thing common to anglers across the globe, it has to be the grip-n-grin photo. You know, the one where you hold up a fish for a quick snapshot by your fishing buddy before you release it safely back into the water (or into a cooler, if you're practicing catch & cook).

The practice of catch-and-release as a conservation tool has been a resounding success, in that it allows anglers to practice their craft while protecting the viability of game fish populations where necessary. Its effect on the grip-n-grin photo is decidedly less successful, unless you're counting the hilarity that ensues when the delicate hold necessitated by proper catch-and-release technique results in a premature escape of the subject in hand.

A long-running friend group had the run of the place last weekend, and they enjoyed some stellar fishing on the Big Hole and on one of the lakes we frequent when clients get a hankering for stillwater action. As it happens, the two gentlemen in these photos are both named Steve. However, based on our extensive history with this sort of thing, we can 100% declare that Steve-ness plays no material role in premature fish releases. We've all been there, Steve!

Big thanks to the group for bringing a high level of energy and fun to the lodge, and to the Steves for agreeing to share these photos!

Address

66771 MT-43
Wise River, MT
59762

Telephone

+14065441495

Website

http://completeflyfisher.com/

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