The BIG decision. Where will I like to live and fish the rest of my life? I have looked at the guidebooks and maps and it all looks good. My style is wading, and I always have my dog with me. Which one has more good wading style water closer to town? Off topic but also wondering about jobs/economy in these towns and which might be better for mountain bike trails. Opinions, facts, B.S.? Thanks.

Split the difference and live in Butte.




It is all good.

Scott - That's hilarious. Not that Butte's bad, it's just going to give him another choice that will likely just make it harder to make a decision.

Vagabond - I don't live in either Missoula or Bozeman, but I very much like both towns. Scott's right though - it's all good. Both towns have plenty of great fly fishing nearby and wadeable.

The question - Bozeman vs Missoula is sort of like Blondes or Brunettes.

I don't know how old you are, but if you were my kid, I'd say spend some time in both towns, do some fishing and looking around. Then decide because no one's going to be able to tell you which you'll like spending the rest of your life living in.

That is funny...

Been a long time since I lived there but I have always missed Bozeman since I moved back to Idaho
.
At least you are not choosing between Glendive and Browning.

I would also look at Helena too.
Like they have said before, it is all good.
I have lived in both Bozeman and Missoula and I perfer Bozeman.

Both are good towns, with universities and good fishing.
If you like Winter, Bozeman has lots of it.
If you bird hunt, Bozeman has lots of it.
Missoula has more good fishing close to town.
Thirty one years ago, both were in my top three choices when looking for a place to live.
But, I chose Lewiston, Idaho and have been happy ever since.

I've lived in Missoula for 7 1/2 years and love it. It is a very easy town to get to know people and get involved in issues, politics, organizations, etc. I don't know Bozeman at all and I don't think you can go wrong with either town. Missoula is a major dog town, but I suspect Bozeman is as well.

It always pays to bring your own job if your moving to Montana.

Well...I had the same choice last year (plus several other cities in the mix). I have kids and a family, so my needs may differ from yours, but I ultimately chose Bozeman, and we moved here last year. I have a fly fishing friend in Missoula, and she loves it there...so honestly I'm not sure you can go wrong. Here are some things I've learned...others can confirm or deny my opinions.

-Bozeman is more expensive, the housing market being the worst offender. While home prices took a hit in 2008, "good" family houses that don't look like 1970 are still very pricey. Energy prices are also expensive vs where I came from , though I don't think they differ much from Missoula, so that is likely a wash. Home rental market is VERY challenging to find anything but a "college" rental.

-Bozeman is big enough to serve every need I've had thus far, but small enough to still have a great "town" atmosphere and events. Downtown is awesome. Restaurants are a bit slim. MSU support is fantastic, though we do apparently have a knack of getting waxed by big brother U of Montana in most sports.

-Personally, I would not move anywhere without having a job first, but I also have a lot of responsibilities (family/kids) that you may not.

-In my field (technology), Bozeman has a much better professional "scene", with several larger tech firms and a very good entrepreneurial spirit. I had heard that Missoula salaries for professional jobs were quite low, but can't confirm.

-Missoula is west of the divide, and there suffers from "inversion". Not exactly sure what that means other than it is cloudy there much of the winter. Bozeman is VERY sunny year round. Others talk about the clouds in Missoula in a similar vein as Seattle (can be depressing).

-Bozeman has a reputation state-wide of being more like California than Montana (a lot of CA transplants) and a bit "snooty". There may be some truth to that, but it can be avoided.

-Bozeman was also just ranked by National Geographic magazine as one of the top 25 ski towns in the WORLD (thanks in part to Big Sky), if that is your thing. In fact, Bozeman is just as much a ski town, if not more-so, than it is a fishing town.

-Fishing-wise, from downtown Bozeman, I can be fishing the lower Gallatin in 30 minutes, probably closer to 45 minutes to reach the canyon waters. It is a waders dream, if you are a strong wader. I can be fishing the lower Madison in about 45-minutes-1 hour, which is very wade-able. Upper Madison above Ennis Lake is closer to 1.5 hours, and West Yellowstone is also 1.5 hours. 45 minutes to Livingston and the spring creeks and the Yellowstone river, double that to get to the Yellowstone in the heart of Paradise Valley.

So, I wouldn't say fishing is right out my back door, but it is close. Honestly, Missoula has just as many fishing options, from what I've seen. I would say access to Yellowstone tips the scales to Bozeman for me, but I'm sure Missoula has plenty of similar type access/water. As others have said...they are both good.

I can certainly give you more information on Bozeman if you want. Hit me up if you have any specific questions. Unfortunately, at this stage in my life here, I know more about that town than I do the fishing! Gotta change that!

Just my opinion (based on having to deal with my brother-in-law; let's just leave it at that), but I've always thought Missoula had more of a hippie vibe; not saying that's good or bad and others may disagree.
I like the flyshops in Missoula a lot - Kingfisher, Grizzly Hackle, Missoulian Angler (used to have great deals on locally harvested partridge but that was years ago). Only one I've frequented much in Bozeman is Troutfitters and that's a good one, too. If you have any Simms gear and you have a problem, it's kinda cool to just drop by their office in BZN - stopped there last April with a pair of leaky waders (still wet; I'd been fishing the Yellowstone about 45 minutes before) and they swapped them for a new pair on the spot.
Like other folks have said, you should spend some time in both places to see if they offer what you're looking for. That suggestion about Helena should be investigated, too; beautiful country up there and you're near some outstanding fishing and hiking (and I'd imagine mountain biking). Wherever you end up, your dog will be happy.




That would be an entirely different thread. Haven't been to Glendive, but I have been to Browning a number of times and no matter how great the fishing is on the Blackfeet and how spectacular the scenery is (once you get away from town), the best way to view Browning is in your rearview mirror as you haul a.s out on Hwy 89.


Regards,
Scott

hippies or hollywood?? haha just kidding!

Ill be in big sky or west by june! which ever you go with, montana is awesome. If only Idaho would be come a medical state.

Missoula: bigger town and all the pros and cons that go with that.

Bozeman: smaller town and all the pros and cons that go with that.

I have lived in big cities and I have lived in not so big cities. I have since moved to a small town, Dillon. No traffic to speak of and only two traffic lights in town. The closest big town is Butte, Where we do our major food shopping once a month.

The only thing you have to watch out for in Dillon is the old ladies that think they own all the roads in town. I believe that the old people in town are the worst drivers I have ever seen.

But I'm also retired, and have been since 1999. Close to the Beaverhead and the Big Hole. What more could one ask for.

dillion rocks! great harvest bread slices.. mmm..

I suppose I'll get in on this one. I moved to Missoula in Aug 2010 from Portland for the main reason that I love to fish. Not that the fishing is bad in Oregon. ? But after being here..... jeeeeez man. I dont have a T.V., computer(I'm typing this on a friends), so I can't tell you whats going on with local politics. I moved here for the fishing and the outdoors. And it is awesome. I didn't move here for the people so I don't have that many buddies which is fine by me. I CAN tell you that there are over 300 FLOATABLE miles within an hour of Missoula. Not to mention all the small creeks and tribs. Some of which hold outstanding fish. The wildlife is great. I can look at the hills on the northside of town and always see deer. Peek out the front door and see elk up on Mt Jumbo. Bald eagles here in town. And moose, bears, cougars, coyotes..... beavers, otters.... the list goes on. The Bitterroots( YES!!) are right here with trails going up each canyon. Most of which have a lake in them. Rattlesnake Wilderness on the North side of town, Hiking, Biking, Fishing, Camping.
The Bighole is but a couple few hours away. Glacier Nat. Park is 3 hrs. maybe 6 hrs to Yellowstone. 2 hrs over into Idaho for Steelhead. (Hush up Northwesters!!) Steelhead they are. Year round fishing as long as there isn't to much ice. You'll catch lots of whitefish, which is fine, cuz we put em in the smoker. But when, on a cold, snowy day in December, you watch your indicator go under and you finally land that pig rainbow that looks as healthy as they do in the summer and fall, oh boy. Clark Flork, Bitterroot, Blackfoot, Rock Creek. They are all right here. Mountain biking is very abundant. Dogs everywhere. If you take you dog fishing, remember that this is wild country. Wild critters that dont care if its a dog or a deer. Now about employment. MAKE SURE YOU HAVE A GREAT, STEADY JOB. Not sure what field you're in. I was homeless and Jobless for the vast majority of last year. Not a bad place to be in that situation if you like what I do. Fishing. I've been here a little over a year and a half now and only been employed for maybe 8 of those months. Not because I didn't look for jobs, there just isn't really much there. Pay cut. ouch. I've made so far this year what I made in a month in Portland. Lots of good music comes through town. If you're into drinking beer(which is a way of life here) there are quite a few brewpubs with some darn good beer. That what people do here. Drink. Not really for me personally. I make a 6 pack last me a month. I've got better things to spend my money on. Like gas to go fish. Hippies there are, and I was warned before I moved here. Not a fan of hippies really. Seems everybody here is stoned all the time. blah. I can only speak of Missoula, never been to Bozeman. It's a great town IF you have a good job. Hell, it's a great town anyway. Whichever you choose, You're gonna love Montana. Its absolutely beautiful here. If you choose Missoula, I'd try the Missoulian Angler. Top notch fellas there. Huge fly selection, the biggest fly tying selection in town. So thats that for me. Is it just you or is there a family coming with you ? If you make it here, hit me up. I have alot to pay back in this life. That goes for any of you who read this and make it to Missoula. Good luck !!
Josh

You can't go wrong with either city if you love the outdoors. Missoula gets labeled as the hippie city and there is some truth to it, but it doesn't bother this old hippie (cleverly disguised as a businessman) one bit. This is a very engaged community.

One more reason to move to Missoula: We have the funniest mayor in the country in John Engen.