Shade Tree Outfitters
Fort Smith, Montana
The business is a small, local, family owned and operated outfitter run by Tyler Steele, who serves as owner and primary guide. It is based in Fort Smith, the tailwater town at the head of the Bighorn where the fishery below Yellowtail Dam begins, and it positions itself against what it calls a generic lodge or fly shop experience by building customized trips instead. Alongside guided days, Shade Tree offers private lodging in two properties, The Haven and the Drive Inn, and sells fishing packages that pair guides with that lodging. Boat rentals are available for anglers who want to run the water on their own. The water it covers includes the Bighorn River as well as Bighorn Lake and the surrounding Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area.
Guides
Waters
| Water | Discharge | Percentile | Temp | 24h | Guides | Programs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bighorn RiverMTBighorn R bl Yellowtail Afterbay Dam nr St. Xavier | 1,590 cfs | 14th | n/a | → steady | 5 | none yet |