Healing Waters Lodge offers rustic elegance and extensive access to terrific public, private and exclusive trout fishing in southwestern Montana. Located in Twin Bridges, the lodge is situated perfectly to provide a wide variety of fishing opportunities for a range of fishing styles. Within a 40 mile radius anglers can float larger blue ribbon rivers, walk and wade on mid-size meadow streams, small, productive spring creeks and still water fishing.

The amount of high quality fishing at Healing Waters is unbelievable. Anglers can pick from the Big Hole, Madison, Jefferson, Beaverhead River larger floatable rivers; from the Ruby, Upper Clark’s Fork, South Boulder, Mill Creek, Flint Creek for smaller meadow rivers & streams; and from Circle 3 (exclusive), Alber’s (exclusive), Leonard Slough, Parson’s Slough for private access spring creeks. There’s a lifetime of fishing here, and it’s not a complete list! Healing Waters roster of experienced guides is headed by co-owners Greg Lilly and Bill Kemph

Healing Waters can accommodate up to 18 guests in 9 bedrooms. The main building was actually moved from Sheridan, Montana in 1891 to its current location and restored with local stone and timber. The name “Healing Waters” was a partial homage to the buildings previous use as a hospital and its new location overlooking a small pond. When Greg and Janet Lilly transformed the building into a fishing lodge in 1997, they kept the name Healing Waters because of the healing effects fly fishing has on the soul. The Lilly’s converted a then storage room connected to the main building into a guest room and a two-story workshop into 4 guest rooms. Since then a second 4 room guest building has been constructed. Each of the guest rooms have two queen beds, a private deck and patio, private baths, and a fantastic view of the Ruby Mountains. The lodge also offers a pool table, television room, an exercise room, wireless internet access, fax machine, conference room and quiet places to read a good book. Healing Waters prides itself in offering its guests the lavish comforts of world-class resorts with a down to earth, Southwestern Montana hospitality.

Guides

Healing Waters has an experienced, knowledgeable and personable group of guides on staff. Each of these guides will work their hearts out for you. They will not just help you catch fish but they will make you a better angler and they will share with you their love for Montana and its wonderful natural treasures. Bill Kemph is a native Montanan who grew up fishing and hunting the rivers and forests of SW Montana. For almost 20 years Bill has guided both fishermen and hunters in Montana. He operates his own hunting outfitting business, and is a superb angler, skilled in all aspects of fly fishing including instruction, an accomplished tier and a wonderful streamside companion. Greg Lilly is also a native Montanan. He has been a guide in Montana, Idaho and Wyoming for 40 years. He has been an outfitter and owner/operator of four outfitting businesses in Montana for 22 years. Greg Lilly has a reputation world wide as a teacher of fly-fishing and as one of the finest guides in the Rocky Mountain area.

Bart Doig is a native Montana who chose to stay in state and make a career as a professional guide. Bart is a wonderful angler and a terrific stream guide however Bart’s real passion is chasing exceptionally large trout on some of the Stillwater fisheries of SW Montana. Bart has had clients catch a number of fish in the ten pound class guiding anglers and hunters in Montana for 25 years. Butch Wicks grew up in Oregon and has guided steelhead and trout fishermen for many years in the Northwest and Montana. Butch recently retired from a career as a teacher and now is one of the primary instructors of the Lilly & Kemph “Learn to Fish Like a Guide Schools.” Butch enjoys technical match the hatch type of fishing and is really at home on our spring creeks. Terry Throckmorton grew up in Montana. He has been a fishing and hunting outfitter in SW Montana for well over 20 years. Terry is another apparently easy going and laid back Montana guide. He is a very easy man to spend time on the water with, but don’t let that relaxed demeanor fool you! When it comes to finding fish and game Terry is a predator! T. J. Migneault is the newest addition to the Healing Waters’ staff. T.J. has been a guide in the Missoula, Montana area for six years. He established an excellent reputation on the Clark Fork, Rock Creek, Blackfoot and Bitterroot rivers. T.J. is one of those guys who is fishing every day of the year when he is not guiding. He knows the Big Hole/Big Hole area well and is looking forward to working and fishing this corner of Montana on a full time basis.

Bob Flynn is one of the real “Old Men” of guiding in the Big Hole and Beaverhead Valleys. He has guided anglers on these waters for over 30 years. He is head of the local guides and outfitters association. He knows the trout on all the SW Montana rivers by name and is just a lot of fun to be with on the stream. Cassandra Osborn is an excellent angler and most pleasant companion on the water. Cassandra has guided anglers in Montana for many years. She is a licensed fly fishing outfitter with a reputation as a superb guide. Cassandra spends her summers guiding anglers in Montana and then finds a way to spend the winters pursuing bonefish, permit and tarpon on the flats of some exotic location. Chuck Robbins is not only a veteran fly fishing guide but also a professional photographer and author. He has written the “Fly Fisher’s Guide to Montana” and “On the Fly Guide to the Northern Rockies”. His photographs have appeared in numerous prestigious magazines such as Montana Outdoors. Originally from Pennsylvania, Chuck learned his fly fishing craft on very selective small stream trout. He is a patient teacher and enjoys sharing his knowledge of spring creek and small meadow stream tactics.

Fishing Calendar

April and May, prior to run-off, finds Montana’s rivers low with warming water temperatures. With growing activity and no pressure on the rivers, nymph and streamer fishing excels, with occasional dry fly action on the top. 

June brings out the heavy Stone Flies on the Big Hole and the Madison. Big flies appear after the waters clear in early June, and on the Madison, a huge Salmon Fly hatch usually pops during the last five days of the month. 

July means consistent dry fly fishing. You’ll experience caddis, mayflies, and small stone flies in great numbers. With incredible fishing, you’ll also experience more pressure on the rivers. 

August means hoppers, beetles, ants and crane flies are fished on the surface for some aggressive large trout. If the surface becomes inactive, fishing small nymphs off attractor dry flies can be productive. 

September begins like August and transitions into fall-like fishing toward the latter part of the month. You’ll spend most of the days fishing nymphs and streamers. 

October and early November bring incredible vistas and beauty, along with very little pressure to go after large (and careless this time of the year) brown trout.

Non-Fishing Activities

Nature/History Tours: You can spend the day hiking and photographing everything wild… digging for quartz crystals, or exploring and enjoying natural hot springs. With a naturalist/historian by your side, you’ll see the Montana that most people just drive by. We’ll walk in Lewis and Clark’s footsteps, visit legendary battlefields, and step into ghost towns where you can still feel a bygone century. Let us know your fascinations and we’ll plan a day that you’ll never forget.

Horseback Riding: Nothing’s more relaxing than the gentle sway of the saddle as you venture into the serene high country. Let your horse climb into stunning mountain lakes while your senses practically overload from the pure air, mountain scents and incredible vistas. If it’s your first time riding or you’ve spent years in the saddle, the McNiel family’s Diamond Hitch Outfitters or the McDonald’s Upper Canyon Outfitters will take great care of you. You decide how long you want to ride and they’ll tailor an experience agreeable to your physical needs. Just let us know and we’ll set you up with the right horse, a wrangler, plenty of beverages, and a gourmet trail lunch, ready to eat near a cool mountain stream.

Hunting: Healing Waters’ all inclusive packages provide everything you’ll need to leave the world behind. Call for specific dates and to set up a trip. As a general rule, hunts take place approximately within these dates: 
Upland Birds: Mountain Grouse Sept 1-Dec 15; Partridge Sept 1-Jan 1; Wild Pheasant Oct 8-Jan 1; Preserve pheasant shooting on the Circle 3 Ranch (early September – March); Sage Grouse Sept 1-Nov; Sharp Tailed Grouse Sept 1-Jan 1
Waterfowl: Coot, Oct 2-Jan 14; Ducks, Oct 2-Jan 14; Geese, Oct 2-Jan 14; Swan, Oct 16-Dec 1
Deer: Halloween to Thanksgiving. Call about special early or late season hunts

 

Our Services are Free!
Contact us for Seasonal Discounts, Special Offers or Promotional Pricing

 

Healing Waters 2020 Rates

Package	Double Occupancy	Single Occupancy	Non-Fishing
7 Nights / 6 Days Fishing	$5,525 per person	$6,625 per person	$3,250 w/ angler
6 Nights / 5 Days Fishing	$4,750 per person	$5,350 per person	$2,725 w/ angler
5 Nights / 4 Days Fishing	$3,975 per person	$4,475 per person	$2,300 w/ angler
4 Nights / 3 Days Fishing	$3,200 per person	$3,600 per person	$1,875 w/ angler
3 Nights / 2 Days Fishing	$2,425 per person	$2,725 per person	$1,350 w/ angler

 

Included in the rate: Accommodations; Daily guided fishing; Breakfasts, Streamside lunches are prepared each day, hor d’oeurves on the porch, followed by a delicious dinner with meat, poultry, and seafood; tackle (use of the lodge’s rods, reels and waders can be arranged with advance notice); Evening wines are handpicked from the wine list to compliment each individual course selection, beer and soft drinks, Gratuities for the staff, leaders and flies.

Not included in the rate: Airfare to Bozeman; Transfers to and from the Bozeman Airport and the lodge; Guide gratuities; hard liquor (the lodge only has a license to dispense beer & wine but you can bring your own liquor); private water rod fees; airfare and other travel expenses.