Missoula Fly Fishing Report
Bitterroot River

Missoula Fly Fishing Report 6/6

by MAngler

Fly Fishing Report Brought To You By Our Missoula Fly Fishing Guides And Fly Shop Staff.

Enjoy and Good Luck!

Overview

Our streams have been dropping steadily and clearing up. Fishing is really starting to pick up on the Blackfoot, Bitterroot, Rock Creek and the rest of our tributaries in western Montana. Salmon Flies have started to show up and we’ve had some good success on the big dry flies this week. The weather forecast is calling for warm weather which will help increase the amount of adult Salmon Flies hatching. If you want to fish the Salmon Fly hatch this year, your best bet will be the next few weeks.

Bitterroot River

The upper and middle Bitterroot river are fishing much better than the lower section. Water is still a bit high but running clear and fishing consistently. There’s still not a lot of bugs out on the middle and lower but nymphing and streamer fishing has been good. The upper sections are starting to see some Salmon Flies hatching and should just get better and better with the warmer weather on tap. Fishing bigger patterns like Super G, Henry’s Fork Salmon and Water Walkers are your best bet for dries on the upper section. Nymphing the middle and lower sections with bigger stonefly nymphs like TJ Hooker, Pat’s Rubber Leg, Double Bead Stone and trailing a smaller nymph behind will keep you busy. We’re expecting Golden Stones to start soon and that should help fishing improve on the whole river.

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Bitterroot Streamflow

Blackfoot River

The Blackfoot river has dropped a lot over the last few weeks and just like that, it’s fishing good! We have been on the upper and lower sections the last few days. Both have been fishing good but the lower is producing more fish on the Salmon dry, while the upper is more of a big nymph and streamer game. Streamer fishing has also been good on the lower but we’ve been throwing single Salmonfly dries and consistently catching fish on top. We’ve been fishing bigger Salmon flies and twitching here and there to get fish excited to eat. The Super G, Henry’s Fork Salmon, Double Stack and Fools Gold have been the most productive. Nymphing big Stonefly patterns on the inside seems has been great. Try nymphs like Tung Zirdle, Tung Found Your Bugger, TJ Hooker, Squatchy, Jig Pats, Yuk Bug and Bitch Creek. Lighter colored streamers like Tan Gonga, Kill Whitey, Dirty Hippie, Sparkle Minnows and Bangtails have been the most productive followed by most olive streamers.

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Blackfoot Streamflow

Clark Fork River

The Clark Fork river is still off color but slowly coming around. The Clark Fork is always the last to clear up this time of year, but with the rapidly dropping flows, it should start to fish well soon. We’ve had a few good reports in the upper sections while the lower is still a week or so away from producing good fishing. There are better options out there right now.

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Clark Fork Streamflow

Rock Creek

Rock Creek has really start to fish good over the last week. Adult Salmon Flies are on the lower and Middle sections with great dry fly fishing. Not a lot of big bugs on the upper yet but they move up that creek fast and we expect steady dry fly fishing river wide soon. If you’re after dry fly fishing, head to the lower half and grab a handful of big orange dries for good fishing. Patterns like the Super G, True, Double Stack and Water Walkers have produced the most fish. Nymphing bigger stonefly patterns like Double Bead Stone, Tungsten Pats, Squatchy and TJ Hookers will product numbers for you. Streamer fishing with smaller lighter colors has been great. The Salmon Fly hatch on Rock Creek will be gone before you know it, so get out there soon while they’re stilll out. Although the Goldens will follow shortly after, which can be just as good if not better than the Salmonfly hatch.
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Rock Creek Streamflow

Missoula June Summer Hatches

Click any photo below to find out more information on each individual hatch. Includes life cycle, best fly patterns, helpful tips and where to find these hatches in your Western Montana fly fishing adventure.

Best Salmon Fly Patterns
Best Golden Stone Fly Patterns
Best Green Drake Patterns

Missoula Fly Fishing Report
Bitterroot River

Missoula Fly Fishing Report 6/1

by MAngler

Fly Fishing Report Brought To You By Our Missoula Fly Fishing Guides And Fly Shop Staff.

Enjoy and Good Luck!

Overview

The general report on all the local rivers is they’re dropping, and dropping fairly hard right now. This is providing fishable water in the upper and middle stretches of the Blackfoot, Bitterroot, and Rock Creek, and the upper reaches of the Clark Fork as well as on the tributaries that opened last weekend. For simplicity, the further you get from Missoula, and the closer to the headwaters, the better the fishing will be. It’s almost all subsurface, and the fly has to be where the fish are. While the rivers are dropping, they’re nowhere near low, so where your fly is is a lot more important than what the fly is. Find the softer water, the places where trout can hold, and fish them carefully. You’ll have to search those places out, but the trout will be there. Some of the Missoula fly fishing guides are out fishing the mid to upper Bitterroot and Blackfoot with decent success.

If the rivers continue to drop at this rate, we may get an earlier Salmon Fly hatch than we’ve seen in the last couple of years. That will also translate into earlier Goldens as well. It will depend on water temp and flow, but with the trend right now, it might pay dividends to be ready earlier rather than later. We’re expecting fishing on the Blackfoot and Bitterroot to start producing good fishing in the next one to two.

Bitterroot River

The upper and middle Bitterroot river are fishable, with the visibility varying with the latest rain. Find the softer water, and get your flies deep for the best success. Don’t mess with dry/dropper, go indicator and a double nymph. Most anglers have been using a big point fly, like a Double Bead Stone, Jig Pat’s Rubberlegs or even a smaller Chicago Overcoat. As a dropper on the double nymph rig, an Hot Spot P-Tail Orange Jig, G Kes or Umpqua Jig Pheasant Tail.

The smaller fly has been doing the majority of the catching, while the larger fly gets the rig to the depth it needs to be. You can certainly run two smaller nymphs, but you’ll want some additional weight to get the flies to the zone.

The streamer fishing has been very good as well. Don’t be afraid to go big, and use a fly with a sizable head, like a Dungeon or a Boogie Man. A sinking Tip or a sinking leader will be very useful with those flies. If you’re using a floating line, lengthen your leader and work a Sculpzilla, Chicago Overcoat or a Kreelix to get the fly down quickly. Color hasn’t been critical, though darker flies have been working better. Again, it’s about where the fish are in the faster water. Make sure the fish has a chance to make a decision- find the softer water.

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Bitterroot Streamflow

Blackfoot River

The Blackfoot river is dropping very quickly, and there is visibility along the length, though the lower section hasn’t really rounded into shape as much as the upper. Give the lower section a day or so and it should be fishable subsurface. The middle and upper sections are fishing, though certainly not lights out. But Salmon Flies are coming and may be here before we expected if the future forecasts stay true.

It’s more important where your fly is in the water column than what your fly is. The double rig nymph with a large point fly and smaller dropper is working in the softer water along the bank and behind rocks and boulders. Think TJ Hooker or Double Bead Stone as point fly, with a Duracell Jig, Z-Stone Yellow Sally Jig or a simple Hare’s Ear Jig as a dropper. Some anglers have been running a double rig nymph with 2 larger bugs, both for the depth and working the Salmon Fly nymphs that are starting to move to the banks getting ready to hatch soon.

The steamer bite hasn’t really gotten started on the ‘Foot, but with the water dropping and clearing, we expect to see some good streamer fishing in the next couple of days. If you head to the Blackfoot, take your streamer rod and give it a run, but be ready to work the nymph if things are slow. Give it a bit of time, the bite is coming.


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Blackfoot Streamflow

Clark Fork River

If you plan to fish the Clark Fork river, you’re heading east as least as far as Drummond, and for better fishing keep driving till you find clearer water. Also note the Hog Hole and Pond Three opened on May 25, so if some still water angling for enormous fish is something of interest, drive all the way to Warm Springs with some scuds and balanced leeches. On the upper river, a double nymph game, with location being more important than pattern. Find the slower water, and get your flies there.

On the way upper sections, where the river gets small, the Euronymphers have been doing very well. They’re not wading, but are capable off getting to the holding water with the long rod. It might be worth the drive to find that water. Down lower, the double nymph with big and small gas been getting eats on both size nymphs.

The streamer fishing has been good enough to keep anglers satisfied, but it can and will get better. A Baby Gonga, Mini Dungeon or a Zoo Cougar on a sinking leader have been working in the darker colors. It’s not light’s out, but it’s worth tying a big fly on and ripping it through the holding water.

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Clark Fork Streamflow

Rock Creek

The top of Rock Creek has been fishing decently as the flows drop. The double nymph rig has been the most effective, with a heavy point fly like a Jig Girdle Bug, 20 Incher or a Black Double Bead Stone. Use a Hot Spot P-Tail Orange, Duracell or Black Blowtorch as the dropper. The bite has been about 50/50 up here between the big and little bug, so varying size is useful from both a fishing and a sinking standpoint. Salmon fly nymphs are starting to move and getting ready to hatch- the fish are recognizing bigger food forms.

Don’t miss the streamer opportunities either. Go a bit lower to the bigger water with a bit less visibility, and streamers are moving fish. Work the structure- fish are staying out of the faster currents. Bigger flies, to a point, are better. So is a bulky head, but make sure you can cast the fly on the line weight you’re using. Think of a Baby Gonga or a Mini-Dungeon- a good mix of size and bulk. A sinking tip or sinking leader will help in the deeper water, but much of the water is fishable with a long leader and front weighted fly, like a Sculpzilla or a Chicago Overcoat.
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Rock Creek Streamflow

Missoula June Summer Hatches

Click any photo below to find out more information on each individual hatch. Includes life cycle, best fly patterns, helpful tips and where to find these hatches in your Western Montana fly fishing adventure.

Best Salmon Fly Patterns
Best Golden Stone Fly Patterns
Best Green Drake Patterns

Missoula Fly Fishing Report
Bitterroot River

Missoula Fishing Report 5/9

by MAngler

Fly Fishing Report Brought To You By Our Missoula Fly Fishing Guides And Fly Shop Staff.

Enjoy and Good Luck!

Bitterroot River

The Bitterroot river is running high and off color with the warm weather we’ve been seeing lately. The upper stretches are your best bet but still not a great option. Side channels on the main stem can produce some fish during high off color water, but again, not a great option. Focus on inside seems and any kind of soft water along the edges. Nymphing and dead drifting streamers will be your best bet. At this rate it looks like early to mid June should be the start of decent fishing.

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Bitterroot Streamflow

Blackfoot River

The Blackfoot river much like the rest of our rivers is blown out and fishing is tough. Fishing slow inside seems and soft edges will produce some fish but keep your expectations low and be safe. Tributaries open on May 20th and those should offer some better conditions for fishing. At this rate we expect decent fishing to start early June on the Blackfoot. Get ready for an early Salmon Fly hatch this year.
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Blackfoot Streamflow

Clark Fork River

The Clark Fork river is off color and won’t be a good option for some time. With all of the main rivers dumping into the Clark Fork, it is always the first to get muddy and the last to clear up. The smaller tributaries will be much better options when the General fishing season starts on May 20th and all the smaller streams open. We’re expecting the Clark For to start fishing better around mid June. But that’s a guess and the weather will tell the true story.

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Clark Fork Streamflow

Rock Creek

Rock Creek is running high. If you are to pick one of our big streams to fish right now, this will be one of your best options as Rock Creek typically fishes better during high flows than the rest of our big streams. Still not a great option by any means, but you can get it done up here nymphing and streamer fishing. Focusing on inside seems, soft edges and side channels will be your best bet. We expect things to start turning around later this Month and into early June. For now, check out some of your favorite stilllwater fisheries or come into the shop and we can point you in the right directions to get on some fish until the rivers clear up.
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Rock Creek Streamflow

Spring Hatches

Click any photo below to find out more information on each individual hatch. Includes life cycle, best fly patterns, helpful tips and where to find these hatches in your Western Montana fly fishing adventure.

Best Skwala Patterns
Best March Brown Fly Patterns
Top BWO Patterns

Missoula Fly Fishing Report
Bitterroot River

Missoula Fishing Report 4/20

by MAngler

Fly Fishing Report Brought To You By Our Missoula Fly Fishing Guides And Fly Shop Staff.

Enjoy and Good Luck!

Bitterroot River

The Bitterroot river is benefitting from the cooler weather, dropping and clearing with each day. The cooler weather is going to be with us for a bit which will keep the river fishing well. The Skwalas are moving fish on the surface, with the Plan B Gray/Olive and the Mill Creek Skwala working very well along the length of the river. Sub-surface, the 20 Incher and TJ Hooker are moving fish.
It feels like the Bitterroot is about 2-3 weeks late, and the Western March Browns have yet to truly establish. More are being seen every day, and pods of risers are starting to be found. The Parachute Hare’s Ear, Purple Haze and the Split Flag Adams have been taking the fish showing on the surface. The nymphing has been really good, with a PT Jig, Hare’s Ear Jig and the Caramel Jig working all day long. Don’t forget the Worm.
The streamer fishing has been good in the morning, with Tan and Olive bugs working better than others. Smaller streamers have been working better than the big dogs, with the Overcoat taking more than it’s share of fish. The dedicated streamer anglers have been taking fish all day long, but it’s tough passing up the risers.

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Bitterroot Streamflow

Blackfoot River

The Blackfoot river is a tale of two rivers right now. Below Monture Creek, the water is very off color, with almost no visibility. Above Monture, the river isn’t gin clear, but it’s definitely fishable. Bring your indicators and streamers- the dry fly fishing up here is almost non-existent. Pick your big and little nymphs, and get them deep. The Blackfoot is still very cold, so the fish are in their Winter holding lies. Low and slow with nymphs and streamers is the way to go. Not our first choice for fishing, buty if you’re willing to do the work, you can take some fish.
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Blackfoot Streamflow

Clark Fork River

The Clark Fork river is off color, pretty much along the length. It’s still fishable, especially above the Blackfoot confluence. The middle section has very limited visibility due to the Blackfoot, but by the time you get to the lower section, the visibility gets decent enough to fish.
Dry fly fishing has been spotty at best, but with the cooler temps forecast for the next 10 days, we should see the river clear a bit, and the dry fly fishing will improve. If you take a dry to the Clark Fork, expect to work for your rises.
The streamer fishing has been fairly good on the upper and lower stretches, taking advantage of the limited visibility. The Baby Gonga and the Boogie Man have been taking fish. The common denominator is a bulky head, allowing the fish to find the streamer in off color water. If you’ve got the dedicated streamer rod with sink tips, now is a good time to put it to work.
The nymphers have been working the edges with bigger nymphs like the TJ Hooker, Pat’s Rubber Legs or a Double Bead Stone. Keep the nymph as deep as possible, and put a tiny bit of action on the indicator to help the fish locate the fly. It’s a visibility issue on the Clark Fork, so be ready with high water tactics.

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Clark Fork Streamflow

Rock Creek

Another tale of two rivers, Rock Creek. Rock Creek Road is still not in good shape from mile 12 to the upper section. The upper section is fishing well, with March Browns and Skwalas bringing fish to the surface. The Rasta Skwala is working really well, followed by the Mill Creek Skwala. For the WMB’s, the Parachute Adams has been very consistent. Don’t sleep on the nymphing. The San Juan Worm is getting it done with regularity- not really a surprise. A Double Bead Stone Peacock or the 20 Incher are working for Skwala nymphs, or use a Duracell and Pheasant Tail Jig for the WMB nymph.
The lower river is a little off color, but not enough to slow down the fishing. Streamers have been producing very well on the lower section. The deeper holes are a perfect streamer green- take advantage. There’s a lot of water in the lower section, making dry fly fishing a bit of a challenge. High floating Skwalas like the Plan B or the True Wing Skwala worked along the edges have taken fish, but not at pace. The WMB’s also need to be close to the bank. Look for slower water along the edge, and expect to work for your rises.
The nymphing on the lower section has been excellent. It’s almost a pick’em situation. Take your favorites and make sure to get them deep. The Euro nymphers have been cleaning up, and we’re hearing about anglers drop shotting to get the depth. It’s about the depth- get your flies to the bottom and the fish are eating well.
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Rock Creek Streamflow

Spring Hatches

Click any photo below to find out more information on each individual hatch. Includes life cycle, best fly patterns, helpful tips and where to find these hatches in your Western Montana fly fishing adventure.

Best Skwala Patterns
Best March Brown Fly Patterns
Top BWO Patterns

Missoula Fly Fishing Report
Bitterroot River

Missoula Fly Fishing Report 4/11

by MAngler

Fly Fishing Report Brought To You By Our Missoula Fly Fishing Guides And Fly Shop Staff.

Enjoy and Good Luck!

Bitterroot River

The Bitterroot river has seen an influx of water over the last few days with the warmer weather. Still, even through the rising water, we’ve had some great reports coming in from the guides through Easter Sunday. Fewer good reports on Monday as the weather hit 80 degrees, but still decent fishing. If the weather predictions hold true, we should see more great fishing with more water in the system which is what we needed as flows were very low. Expect Skwala’s, March Brown’s, Nemoura’s and BWO’s to be on the menu.

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Bitterroot Streamflow

Blackfoot River

The Blackfoot river fly fishing has been much tougher than the rest of the rivers in the last few days with cold water temps and a major push of water from the warm weather. Streamer fishing has been decent through the push of water but nothing to write home about. Look for the river to stabilize and fishing will get better. Streamers and nymphing will be the main tactic on the Blackfoot this spring.
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Blackfoot Streamflow

Clark Fork River

The water in the Clark Fork river running off color with the warm weather. Fishing on the Clark Fork was good up until Saturday. The Clark Fork always takes the longest to come back around and clear up. There will be better options to fish in the coming days.

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Clark Fork Streamflow

Rock Creek

Rock Creek continued to fish decent through the bump in flows and should keep producing good fishing for weeks to come if the weather holds true. There’s been decent Skwala dry fly fishing, a few March Brown’s and BWO’s out and about. Dry fly fishing will be better in the afternoon, so focus on nymphs and streamers in the morning.
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Rock Creek Streamflow

Spring Hatches

Click any photo below to find out more information on each individual hatch. Includes life cycle, best fly patterns, helpful tips and where to find these hatches in your Western Montana fly fishing adventure.

Best Skwala Patterns
Nemoura Patterns
Top BWO Patterns

Missoula Fly Fishing Report
Bitterroot River

Missoula Fly Fishing Report 3/23

by MAngler

Fly Fishing Report Brought To You By Our Missoula Fly Fishing Guides And Fly Shop Staff.

Enjoy and Good Luck!

Bitterroot River

The Bitterroot river has started to fish, and with this cold spring, none too soon. The Skwalas are on the surface, as are the Nemouras and BWO’s. The fish aren’t rising with reckless abandon, but they’re certainly looking up. The Gray/Olive Plan B and the Olive Water Walker have had some early success, along with the Rogue Skwala and El Camino. Drop a dry Nemoura off the back of a Skwala, you’ll be surprised at how effective that little guy is. The BWO’s are getting the fish to rise in pods on cloudy days, while sunny days shorten the hatch duration. Have a Quigley Split Flag BWO or a Last Chance Cripple to take the bigger fish.
Don’t sleep on the nymphing. The SR French Bullet or Keslars Black Widow in a 12-14 are excellent Nemoura nymphs, well worth dropping off a dry or as the point fly behind a 20 Incher or Double Bead Stone Peacock. The Duracell, Caramel Jig and Newbury John Brown are all working as a Western March Brown nymph, while the Olive SR Bullet and Jake’s Olive Perdigon are doing the job for BWO nymphs. Don’t forget the worm
If you can take your eyes off the surface, the big fish are moving to streamers. Work the edges, tail outs and deeper riffles with a mid-size streamer. The Baby Swim Coach, Baby Gonga and the Articulated Silver/Gunmetal Kreelix have been taking some impressive trout. A 3ips sinking leader helps get the fly down, but can be a bit intrusive.
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Bitterroot Streamflow

Blackfoot River

You can get it done on the Blackfoot river, but be ready to go deep and work the slower water. The Blackfoot is the farthest north and highest elevation river- it takes the longest to get into shape. A deep TJ Hooker or a 20 Incher have been effective, and a San Juan Worm dropper is highly recommended. Find the best water and work it hard, that’s going to be more effective than fishing the marginal water that has fish in the summer.
Keep your streamer selection smaller than expected, Baby Gongas, Double Fuegos and the Dirty Hippie have been moving some fish. LOW AND SLOW. Give the fish a chance to see and react- too fast and it passes by. The water is cold, and the Blackfoot trout are still in their winter lies. Not many people up here, but be ready to work to move the fish.
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Blackfoot Streamflow

Clark Fork River

The water in the Clark Fork river is cold- the ice along the edges tell you that! That doesn’t mean it’s not fishging. BWO’s are being seen on the lower Clark in size 16-18. If the BWO doesn’t work, they could still be rising to midges, so be ready for both. Trout are taking a Tiltwing BWO and a Split Flag Quigley- it hasn’t gotten very tricky yet. They’ve been feeding on midges for the last 3 months. Be ready to switch flies till you find exactly what they’re eating.
The Clark Fork is fishing better sub-surface. As with most late winter fishing, low and slow is the way to get it done. TJ Hookers and Pats Rubberlegs 4-6 feet deep have been moving fish with regularity. A skwala nymph along the edges has proven effective in the middle section, and we expect that to move to the lower Clark Fork as well. Make sure you have some gray/brown nymphs in a 12-14 for the Westernb March Browns. The Duracell and a Hare’s Ear Jij are working for the mymph. And if you want to go small, use an Olive Bullet to imitate the BWO nymph. Don’t forget the worm.
Streamers have been performing fairly well. The fish aren’t crushing the streamers, but the ones that do have been big. The upper and Middle Clark Fork have more fish moving, while the lower Clark Fork is kicking up fewer fish to streamers. But the Lower Clark Fork trout are well worth talking about. Mid-size articulated streamers like a Baby Swim Coach or a Barely Legal have been good, and of course the Sparkle Minnow. The new Sparkle Yummy has been effective as well.

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Clark Fork Streamflow

Rock Creek

The lower and upper sections of Rock Creek are easily accessible- the road in the middle is still in winter form, so there’s no running the length of the river over the day. Skwala nymphs are taking fish on the edges, as is the Pheasant Tail Jig in sizes 12-14. The San Juan Worm has been very effective, as has the Gummy Worm. The nymphing has been really good up here, and while those nymphs have been strong, we’re hearing that a well presented nymph of your choice is working.
Skwalas are being seen on the surface, but don’t expect the dry flies to be lights out. Pick up a couple dries, but don’t lose your mind. That’s coming soon. The BWO’s are also showing, and a simple Parachute or Cripple are talking fish when you find them rising. The BWO’s have been better on the upper section, but are found top and bottom.
Streamers have been good, but not great. Again, low and slow will move the bigger fish, while working the faster water will get more fish, but of lesser size. Small to mid-size streamers like a Kreelix or sparkle Minnow have been strong, with a Natural Sculpzilla also making the list. Be ready for Rock Creek to get very good as the weather continues to warm up.
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Rock Creek Streamflow

Spring Hatches

Click any photo below to find out more information on each individual hatch. Includes life cycle, best fly patterns, helpful tips and where to find these hatches in your Western Montana fly fishing adventure.

Best Skwala Patterns
Nemoura Patterns
Top BWO Patterns