ABOUT LINEHAN OUTFITTING COMPANY

EXPERIENCE THE BEST HUNTING AND FISHING IN MONTANA

Since 1992 we’ve been providing first class fly fishing and hunting adventures here in Montana. Tim and I are the sole proprietors and proud of what we’ve accomplished over the years. We are Orvis Endorsed and that gives a very specific and clear idea of the quality you can expect. We built this business the old fashioned way with lots of hard work, long hours, and by always keeping in mind that nothing is more important than determination and a positive outlook. Our success is reflected in the large number of return guests we see every season and resting on our laurels is of absolutely no interest to us.

'“It’s never been our ambition to be one of the biggest Montana fly fishing or hunting companies in the west, just one of the best."

FOUNDER’S STORY

In 1989 I decided on a wing and prayer to load up my little Toyota pick-up and move to Montana in hopes of becoming a fly fishing and hunting guide.  Prior to starting the truck, I had broken up with Joanne since at the time I felt I wanted to be free from all responsibilities beyond myself and my dreams.  The break up lasted until Chicago. I couldn’t find a pay phone fast enough to call Joanne and beg her to join me in Montana.

Serendipitously we ended up in the extreme northwest corner of the state in what was, and actually still remains, one of the more remote areas in the lower forty-eight states.  This place called Yaak Valley is not typical big sky country.  It’s a place of dense, coniferous stands of timber and a place where the Pacific rainforest ecosystem crashes into the spine of the northern Rocky Mountains.

In 1992, we sold $900 worth of AT&T stock that my grandfather had left me, borrowed $330 each from my brother and three college friends, bought a drift boat, and incorporated Linehan Outfitting.  Humble beginnings.

In the early days we lived hand to mouth and immediately realized that a little ambition goes a long way in a place like northwest Montana.  There was always work.  I guided whenever possible, planted trees for the Forest Service, and did odd jobs whenever I found extra time.  Joanne taught at the one room school house, pulled beer at the Red Dog Saloon, and even had a real estate license for a while.  Life was simple and we kept our eye on the prize.  It has never been our ambition to be the biggest outfitting company in the industry, just one of the best.

We’re proud to have been in business this long and to have built our business, our authentic version of the American dream, one step at a time and the old- fashioned way.

Looking back, we’d have it no other way.

AWARDS AND ACHIEVEMENTS

Over the years Linehan Outfitting Company has been recognized and praised for our professionalism and quality. At first, we kind of thought it would be a bit like bragging to list the awards and accomplishments we’ve received over the years. But, well, umm…Ford and Apple do it so we figured what the heck. And truth be told, it feels good to be recognized by guests and peers in the industry and we just hope you recognize that it validates our work ethic if nothing else.

MOGA OUTFITTER OF THE YEAR

2025

ORVIS OUTFITTER OF THE YEAR

2020

ORVIS GUIDE OF THE YEAR

2013

FINALIST FOR ORVIS ENDORSED
OUTFITTER OF THE YEAR

2011

ORVIS ENDORSED CONSERVATIONIST
OF THE YEAR

2006

ORVIS ENDORSED OUTFITTER
OF THE YEAR

1998

MONTANA GUIDE OF THE YEAR

1995

OUR CONSERVATION ETHIC

We believe it’s important to let you know that our strong conservation ethic is the backbone of our business plan. In this industry, you can’t have one without the other. To that end, for us it’s simple. Good conservation is good business.

MEET THE LINEHANS

WE’RE SOME OF THE MOST FORTUNATE PEOPLE WE KNOW
We still love what we do every day because ultimately it makes people smile. What could be better than that?

Tim Linehan

Tim grew up in New Hampshire, and when he’s not on the river pulling hard on the oars and getting guests into fish or in the woods hunting, he’s watching a Red Sox game, listening to a Red Sox game, or poring over the Boston Red Sox website. You can take the boy out of New England, but you can’t take New England out of the boy. And from time to time, he forgets that words like car and farther actually have r’s in them.

With his wife, Joanne, Tim is the co-owner and outfitter of Linehan Outfitting.  Above all, he still considers himself a guide.  He'd been guiding for over half his life and consistently spends 150 plus days a year fishing and hunting with guests.  He is noted for his patience, his experience, and his unwavering enthusiasm.

Joanne Linehan

Joanne hails from Florida and is an accomplished angler and hunter in her own right. Many years ago, when we were kid,s she thought she would be a guide, too. But she loves to cook way more than she likes to guide, and feeding people simply makes her happy. And it makes our guests very happy, too. She’s a studied chef, well-versed, and inherently believes in preparing fresh, locally grown food when it’s available. She’s definitely not afraid to butcher an elk, either. It’s all about good food for her, and Joanne maintains that there’s nothing like good food to keep people healthy and happy. Oh yeah, and she basically runs the day-to-day operations, too.

MEET THE LINEHAN OUTFITTING TEAM

IT’S TRUE THAT THERE IS NO “I” IN TEAM. 
And to be sure, there is no Linehan Outfitting without these extraordinarily dedicated, hard-working, talented, motivated, kind souls.

Linehan Outfitting in the Media

Linehan Outfitting has been featured in Montana fly fishing publications, national outdoor media, and leading fly fishing podcasts. From trout conservation and river stewardship to guided fly fishing on Montana’s legendary blue-ribbon rivers, we’re proud to share our perspective and contribute to the broader fly fishing community. Through stories from the water and conversations about the future of our fisheries, we’re honored to represent the traditions and values that define fly fishing in Montana.

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