Missoula Creek Fly Fishing

It has become the norm, restrictions on our Western Montana rivers seem to occur every year. Once the major rivers hit a temperature or flow trigger, fishing is not allowed from 2 P.M. until midnight (“hoot-owl” restrictions). While this is an important management tool and the best thing for the resource, it can still leave anglers feeling like maybe they should take up golf. Unless you are able to get your boat on the water early in the morning, most float-fishing opportunities are not an option for those of us who have to work during the day. One option; lose the boat and explore one of the literally hundreds of small Missoula Creeks and tributaries within an hour’s driving distance of Missoula.

Any direction you decide to drive from Missoula, MT can get you to fantastic small-stream fishing. The Bitteroot offers a number of beautiful creeks that are easily accessible at trailheads and campgrounds throughout the valley. West of Missoula provides the exploring fly fisherman with a multitude of Clark’s Fork tributaries, many with roads that parallel them and provide miles and miles of accessible water. Travelling East will provide opportunities on the streams that feed the Blackfoot and Upper Clark’s Fork. You would need an entire summer to get to all the small streams within a seventy-five mile drive of Missoula.

The vast majority of these Missoula creeks are flowing double-digit degrees cooler than our major rivers. They are full of healthy fish that are willing to rise to dry-flies just about any time of day that you can sneak out. You will find most of these tributaries inhabited by west slope cutthroat. However, many also hold brookies, browns and rainbows.

You are not likely to land the biggest trout of your season from one of these smaller Western Montana creeks, however you may be surprised at how a 14 inch cutty can hide in a 2 foot-wide plunge pool. Most of these streams have populations that will average 6 to 10 inches. Fish that you would probably row by if you saw them feeding on the Blackfoot. You will have to adjust your idea of “big fish” if all you ever do is float the big water. It won’t take long. Once you get started, a 10 incher from a tight spot from one of the streams carved out of the bedrock in the Bitteroot can be every bit as rewarding as a 20 incher sipping a BWO on the Lower Clark Fork.

Rod manufacturers have aided in making small streams more entertaining by building rods specifically for creek fishing. While you can certainly fish tribs with the 5 or 6 weight rod that you use for the big water, using these lighter-weight sticks can make it a totally different experience. My own personal creek rod is a Douglas Upstream in a three-weight, measuring 7 foot three inches. This rod loads great for short casts and even a hack like myself can drop a dry on a dime at the distances needed for fishing Missoula Creeks. There are a number of options both graphite and fiberglass made specifically for the type of fishing these small streams offer. Many people opt for shorter rods for easy maneuvering in the tight spaces these streams present. However, longer rods work just fine. If you are looking to add a new rod to your collection, a four-weight in 81/2 to 9 feet would provide you with not only a nice small stream rod, but one that will delicately present the tricos and olives that appear in the fall on our major rivers. Again, you do not need special equipment for small streams, but it can make an eight-inch fish a lot more fun.

Their willingness to rise to dries often results in cutties being called “stupid”. I like to call them opportunistic. Most of the small streams in the Missoula area are not as rich in insect life as our larger waters. This means that the fish depend much more on terrestrials than their kin in the bigger streams. The multitude of smaller foam patterns that have populated fly shop bins the last few years has been great for small stream fishermen. I like the stubby chubbies, micro chubbies, small water walkers, and smaller hoppers. The primary concern is not imitation, rather floatability and durability. Most of my days on small creeks are one fly days. Pick something that will float and take a beating.

As far as tactics for small streams, it’s real simple, most any place that has enough water to hold a fish will hold fish. 

Part of the allure of the Missoula Creeks is the solitude. You will very rarely run into other anglers on most of the water I have talked about. I tend to be more secretive when it comes to Montana’s small-streams than I am about what I find on the major rivers. I have purposely not named any of these streams. Part of the fun of fishing the small streams here in Western Montana is getting out and exploring. Pull out a map, any blue line that you find will provide hours of enjoyment when the big water is warm and low.

Best Small Stream Fly Patterns

Tan Stubby Chubby

Stubby Chubby

Purple Haze

Purple Haze

Royal Wulff

Royal Wulff

Hippie Stomper Purple

Hippie Stomper Purple

Gold Micro Chubby

Micro Chubby Gold

Royal Micro Water Walker

Micro Water Walker Royal

Fire Starter

Fire Starter

G Kes

G Kes

TH Duracell Jig

Duracell

Henrys Fork Golden

Henry’s Fork Golden

Golden Chubby Chernobyl

Chubby Chernobyl – Gold

Loaded Large Fly Box

Pre-Loaded Montana Fly Box