315 Canyon St, West Yellowstone, MT 59758
Blue Ribbon Flies is one of the most respected and iconic fly shops in the American West, occupying a prime corner on Canyon Street in West Yellowstone, Montana, since 1982. Founded by Craig Mathews, a former Yellowstone National Park ranger turned fly fishing innovator, the shop has earned a reputation that extends far beyond its small-town storefront. Craig Mathews is the co-creator of the Sparkle Dun, X-Caddis, and Zelon series of fly patterns that have become staples in fly boxes across the world, and his approach to fly design, grounded in careful observation of natural insect behavior, permeates the shop's entire philosophy.
Blue Ribbon Flies is far more than a retail store. It serves as a nerve center for fishing information in the Greater Yellowstone region, with staff members who spend their mornings on the water and their afternoons behind the counter, offering firsthand reports on current conditions across dozens of rivers, streams, and lakes. The shop's guided trip program connects visiting anglers with a handpicked roster of experienced local guides, while the fly selection, largely tied in-house or by regional tiers, reflects the specific patterns and sizes that are working on local waters that week. The rod repair service handles everything from broken tips to full rebuilds, and the fly tying materials department is one of the most comprehensive in the region. For any angler visiting West Yellowstone, a stop at Blue Ribbon Flies is not optional; it is the essential first step to a successful trip.
Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout
Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout, Brook Trout
Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout
Cutthroat Trout, Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout
Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Westslope Cutthroat Trout
Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Cutthroat Trout
“Patrick Daigle is an awesome guide. My wife is new to fly fishing and he did a great job working with her, getting her on fish and he was super kind the entire day. Fun conversation, good education wading the Madison behind the Campfire Lodge. It was an epic day. Thank you Patrick!”
“We've done 4 or 5 guided trips over the last few years with Blue Ribbon, and every guide has been great, but this year we worked with a guide named Patrick who is really phenomenal. He taught us so much and we really grew our skills over the two days we worked with him. He has a fantastic attitude, is super knowledgable, and takes real joy in watching his clients land big fish & enjoy themselves. From now on we will be booking our trips through Blue Ribbon based on Patrick's availability. We really look forward to coming back next year and getting back out there with Patrick. A quality I really appreciate about him is his passion for conservation and fishing with an awareness of how to protect the fish & the longevity of the sport in the area. In June we fished in Yellowstone & Patrick took us to some of his favorite spots off the beaten path, which we were able to return to on our own in the following days and catch fish. (this is especially valuable because the park can be hard to navigate if you aren't familiar with it & some of the features that can be dangerous to walk on). In July we fished the Madison with Patrick and I landed the biggest rainbow I've ever caught. He coached me through landing it, and now I feel much more confident in landing one like this when I'm out there on my own. He also really helped my boyfriend learn a lot about the terrain and how to watch for fish, and he landed a huge brown at the end of the day as Patrick coached him. It was so gratifying for all 3 of us to end the day on a high like that! THANK YOU PATRICK!!”
“What an amazing experience from reserving, picking up equipment in the friendly shop to catching Rainbow trout! All the people we dealt with were nice, helpful and knowledgeable. Our guide Scott was exceptional! Alice and Rene”
