Missoula Fly Fishing Report

Missoula Fishing Report 6/12

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 fly fishing is starting to pick up and water is dropping and clearing up. Still a lot of water and not much for hatches on the main river the last few days. With the water temps warming up, the bugs should come soon. Nymphing and streamers in the inside seems is what we have been focusing on for the most part. Lots of stonefly nymphs moving around, so use stonefly nymph patterns as your point fly while nymphing and switch up droppers until you find one they like on that particular day.
Scroll to the bottom of this page for additional fly patterns and tips for each hatch

Blackfoot River

The Blackfoot River fly fishing is still slow due to clarity but good fishing is right around the corner. No bugs as of yet but nymphing inside seems and chucking streamers close to the bank is the main game. Look for that soft water. The Blackfoot is steadily dropping and should be game on by next week, depending on rainfall this week.
Scroll to the bottom of this page for additional fly patterns and tips!

Clark Fork River

The Clark Fork River fly fishing is not good and should be your last option. Clark Fork is always the last river to come around. Might be fishable by end of next week or week after. We will keep you posted,
Scroll to the bottom of this page for additional fly patterns and tips!

Rock Creek

Rock Creek fly fishing has been good lately with lots of Salmon flies river wide. There’s also a few Golden Stones kicking around and expect to see some Green Drakes kick around with the clouds in the upcoming weather forecast. Rock Creek should continue to fish good and is one of the best times to hit the Creek with some great Stonefly hatches.
Scroll to the bottom of this page for additional fly patterns and tips!

Montana Fly Fishing Guides – Float Or Wade Fishing Trips

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Missoula Fly Fishing Guide Chase Harrison

June 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.

Fish Species

Missoula Fishing Report 6/3

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 starting to come back down after runoff and should continue to drop as long as we don’t see to much rain in the next few weeks. With the cooler temps coming upcoming weather forecast, things should be fishing better day by day. Water is still high and caution is a must but those who venture out should have some success this week on the upper stretches of the river. Some Salmon flies starting to pop and we expect to start seeing some Green Drakes hatching with the cloudy weather on its way.
Scroll to the bottom of this page for additional fly patterns and tips for each hatch

Blackfoot River

The Blackfoot River is also starting to come back down and should clear up a little with the cooler weather on the way. We will see how much rain we get though. Not a great option right now but keep an eye on reports and flows. Green water is right around the corner!
Scroll to the bottom of this page for additional fly patterns and tips!

Clark Fork River

The Clark Fork River is not a good option right now. The upper stretches are coming around but the rest of the Clark is still a few weeks out at least.
Scroll to the bottom of this page for additional fly patterns and tips!

Rock Creek

Rock Creek fly fishing is starting to pick up and flows are dropping quickly in the last few days. Still pretty big but still one of your best options around Missoula. Salmon flies are starting to show up at the bottom but with the cool weather coming, don’t expect them to move as quick up the stream like many other years. We expect to see some Green Drakes hatching if the weather forecast holds true.
Scroll to the bottom of this page for additional fly patterns and tips!

Montana Fly Fishing Guides – Float Or Wade Fishing Trips

Let Us Make Your Montana Fly Fishing Trip A Vacation Of A Lifetime!

Missoula Fly Fishing Guide Chase Harrison

June 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.

Fish Species

Creek Time

Tributaries in the Western District open the third Saturday of May every year in Montana, opening up a lot of new waters we haven’t been able to fish since December! The cold nights and cooler days will provide some good fishing in the upper reaches of the tribe, so there’s going to be some good fishing to be found!

But as we start to venture farther away from the main stems, we start to wander closer to the wilder sections of our area. For the last two years, the bears have been prevalent in the Blackfoot valley. So if your,re going to head up to your favorite Blackfoot River tributary, you will want to have bear spray. The bears are up and moving, be ready for that situation.

Mooses are starting to calve. When we think of dangerous animals in Montana, we think of bears and wild cats, but in truth, in the Spring Moose can be incredibly dangerous. They are calving, and if you find yourself between a moose and its calf, you are going to have problems! If you see a moose, steer very clear. While moose are normally docile to humans, they will defend their calf vigorously, so don’t spend time looking to see if there’s a calf, just find another place to fish!

It’s still Spring in Montana, so as you venture up the tributaries, make sure to take additional layers, and maybe a little extra water and some essential safety gear. As we all know, the weather in Montana can turn on a dime, so you’ll need to be prepared for whichever way the wind blows. A little pre-planning can be a true life saver if you find yourself high in the hills when the weather gets unfriendly.

Once you’ve made the necessary preparations for Montana’s weather and critters, the fishing can be fantastic as the tributaries open. The Mother’s Day Caddis is still out and about. Make sure to have some dries and pupa to be ready when they come off. The Salmon Flies are right around the corner. While the big bugs probably won’t be flying, the nymphs are starting to stage in the shallows. Make sure you have a few sizable Pat’s Rubberlegs or Some big Double Bead Stones. The fish are looking for these tasty morsels, so make sure you’re prepared.

There is a lot of excitement around Missoula fly fishing when the tribs open, and there’s good reason, especially this year. They should be relatively clear, if still moving fast. The water is cold, and some of the bigger fish will still be holding out of the main stems. Don’t count on much surface activity, so be ready with your streamers and your nymphs. While the opening day is important, not as many anglers will take advantage as you think they will, especially this year, as the students are mostly not here. It will be easy to find the best spots, and make sure you work them well. Fast water keeps the fish close to the bank, so keep your flies there as well.

For some of Missoula’s tributaries, this is the best time to fish them. Some of them get low and warm as the season progresses. If you love the small waters, the solitude of the woods and the simplicity of wading, today will mark the first time in 6 months that you can indulge in these joys.

Missoula Fly Fishing Report

Missoula Fly Fishing Report 4/21

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

Enjoy and Good Luck!

Our Missoula fly shop is still open for call in or email orders. Give us a call and we will get your order ready to go ASAP. Click here for a menu that highlights the current hot flies that we have in stock or check out our online store to order here.

The Governor is encouraging outdoor recreation at this point in time. Fly fishing is a great way to get away from the crowds and enjoy the fresh Montana air.

Bitterroot River

The Bitterroot river fly fishing has been really good over the last week with cooler night temps and mild days. With the warmer weather trend coming up, we will start to see the flows bump which will effect the dry fly fishing. Still one of your best options for Missoula fly fishing but keep your expectations in check. Hopefully we get one more cool down and another window to fish before the rivers really start to blow.
Scroll to the bottom of this page for additional fly patterns and tips!

Blackfoot River

The Blackfoot River is starting to rise after a few warm days but clarity is still decent. Streamers are the main game right now fishing soft edges, inside seems and any soft water you can find. Nymphing inside seems is also a good strategy this time of year.
Scroll to the bottom of this page for additional fly patterns and tips!

Clark Fork River

The Clark Fork River is on its way up right now and should continue to rise and get muddy for at least this week depending on weather. Still fishable today and maybe tomorrow but ClarkFork fishing will go down hill quickly with the warmer weather.
Scroll to the bottom of this page for additional fly patterns and tips!

Rock Creek

Rock Creek fly fishing has been really good for the last few weeks but a push of water is coming and that will turn the fishing off a bit. Often bumps in Rock Creek don’t effect it as much as other fisheries but this will be a significant bump and it should cause the dry fly fishing to take a backseat. Nymphs and streamers are the way to go up here for at least the next few days.
Scroll to the bottom of this page for additional fly patterns and tips!

Montana Fly Fishing Guides – Float Or Wade Fishing Trips

Let Us Make Your Montana Fly Fishing Trip A Vacation Of A Lifetime!

Missoula Fly Fishing Guide Chase Harrison

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.

Fish Species

Missoula Fly Fishing Report

Missoula Fly Fishing Report 4/18

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

Enjoy and Good Luck!

Our Missoula fly shop is still open for call in or email orders. Give us a call and we will get your order ready to go ASAP. Click here for a menu that highlights the current hot flies that we have in stock or check out our online store to order here.

The Governor is encouraging outdoor recreation at this point in time. Fly fishing is a great way to get away from the crowds and enjoy the fresh Montana air.

Bitterroot River

The Bitterroot river fly fishing has been good the last few days with stable flows and good water temps. There has been a variety of bugs out that includes Skwala, March Brown, BWO and Nemoura. The weather has stayed mild with some cooler nights and the forecast is calling for the same for the weekend and the coming week. The fishing on the Bitterroot should continue to be really good. We could see some bumps in the flow coming but nothing that should keep you home. The dry fly fishing should continue to produce. May is right around the corner and so is runoff, so get out while it’s still fishing. The weather forecast is calling for clouds today and tomorrow so make sure you have March Brown’s and BWO’s with you like Parachute Pheasant Tail and Parachute Hare’s Ear for the March Browns, and Comparaduns, Hi-Vis BWO and small Olive Parachute Hare’s Ear for the Blue Winged Olives.
Scroll to the bottom of this page for additional fly patterns and tips!

Blackfoot River

The Blackfoot River is starting to clear up nicely after the recent bump in flows and clarity is good to go. We floated the Blackfoot yesterday and saw lots of March Browns and even a few fish eating them. Still a better streamer game then anything right now and should continue to be a good streamer option for the coming week if the weather forecast holds true. Hovering around that 45 degree mark, this is a great temperature to pull out some very nice fish out of the Blackfoot river. Still focus on slower water, inside seems and soft edges. Lighter colored streamers have been the ticket for us up here lately.
Scroll to the bottom of this page for additional fly patterns and tips!

Clark Fork River

The Clark Fork River fly fishing is kicking back into gear and we have had some decent dry fly action in the afternoon. Flows should stay somewhat stable with the extended weather forecast in mind. We have been seeing March Brown’s, Skwala’s and BWO’s out on the Clark Fork and fish are taking notice. Streamers have been productive and of course nymphing is a numbers game. Keep an eye out on these cloudy days for March Brown’s and BWO’s for the next few days and more Skwala’s to come in the sun. Make sure you have a few March Brown patterns like Parachute Pheasant Tail and Parachute Hare’s ear. Rogue Skwala, Plan B and Rastaman have been effective too.


Scroll to the bottom of this page for additional fly patterns and tips!

Rock Creek

Rock Creek fly fishing has been really good lately and should continue to fish well. We have heard great reports from the bottom stretches all the way to the top of the Creek. March Brown’s and Skwala’s are the dries of choice. Streamers and nymphs are great options this time of year. For Skwala dries, the Rogue and Rastaman are hard to beat on Rock Creek this time of year but be sure to have some bigger mayfly attractor patterns like Parachute Adams and Purple Hazes in your box. Kreelex and Sparkle Minnow are the streamers of choice. For nymphs try 20 Inchers, Double Bead Stone, Pats Rubber Legs, Hot Spot Ptails, G-Kes and Egg patterns
Scroll to the bottom of this page for additional fly patterns and tips!

Montana Fly Fishing Guides – Float Or Wade Fishing Trips

Let Us Make Your Montana Fly Fishing Trip A Vacation Of A Lifetime!

Missoula Fly Fishing Guide Chase Harrison

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.

Fish Species

Missoula Fly Fishing Report

Missoula Fly Fishing Report 4/15

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

Enjoy and Good Luck!

Our Missoula fly shop is still open for call in or email orders. Give us a call and we will get your order ready to go ASAP. Click here for a menu that highlights the current hot flies that we have in stock.

The Governor is encouraging outdoor recreation at this point in time. Fly fishing is a great way to get away from the crowds and enjoy the fresh Montana air.

Bitterroot River

The Bitterroot river flows have dropped the last few days and fishing has been good. We are seeing low elevation snow drop this morning which should cause a small bump later this week if the weather holds true. Fishing should remain good and even some dry fly action in the afternoon for the next 2-3 days. Expect some bump in flows coming later this week. Even though it’s snowing don’t hesitate to throw the big bug this afternoon. Nymphs and streamers should be productive throughout the day if you’re not getting any dry fly action. If the wind isn’t to bad then keep an eye out for BWO hatches this afternoon in the clouds. Some of our go to Skwala patterns are Rogue Skwala, Plan B, True Skwala and Rastaman. Mayfly attractor patterns like Parachute Pheasant Tail and Parachute Hare’s ear can be great searching patterns that imitate the March Brown. For nymphs try G-Kes Two-Bit Stones, HS Pheasant Tail, Hot Spot PT, Pats and 20 Inchers. Check out our online menu of hot flies for the spring here. Give us a call or email your order and we will get them ready for you.
Scroll to the bottom of this page for additional fly patterns and tips!

Blackfoot River

The Blackfoot River flows have leveled off and clarity is much better then a few days ago. Temps are hovering around the 42 degree mark which isn’t bad for spring fishing on the Blackfoot but still a little chilly. Streamer fishing and nymphs in slow water should remain decent for at least the next few days. Don’t expect quantity but quality is what you’re after this time of year while fly fishing the Blackfoot river.
Scroll to the bottom of this page for additional fly patterns and tips!

Clark Fork River

The Clark Fork River has leveled off but clarity is still not very good for dry flies at least. Still a few days out from being a decent option. For those who decide to hit the Clark Fork in the next few days, focus on streamers and nymphs on the soft edges. If the weather holds true then we will see another push of water from the tributaries draining into the Clark Fork which won’t help clarity. Keep an eye on flows, weather and our Missoula fishing report for updates.


Scroll to the bottom of this page for additional fly patterns and tips!

Rock Creek

Rock Creek is one of your best options for Missoula fly fishing right now and should continue to be a good option throughout the week. Snow this morning will effect dry fly fishing but streamers and nymphs will produce for you. Weather is calling for some warmer days which should help reactivate the Skwala adults to come back. Streamers like the Baby Gonga, Kreelex and Sparkle Minnow have been good. Nymphs like 20 Incher, Pats Rubber Legs, Double Bead Stones and Eggs have been the go to lately.
Scroll to the bottom of this page for additional fly patterns and tips!

Montana Fly Fishing Guides – Float Or Wade Fishing Trips

Let Us Make Your Montana Fly Fishing Trip A Vacation Of A Lifetime!

Missoula Fly Fishing Guide Chase Harrison

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.

Fish Species