Missoula Fly Fishing Report

Missoula Fishing Report 7/2

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

Enjoy and Good Luck!

Overview

Missoula rivers continue to drop and fishing good. The high sun during midday is making it a little tougher and it pays to fish mornings and evenings. Still a few salmonflies kicking around on a few streams, but the Golden Stones, Yellow Sallies and PMD’s will be your main focus with Green Drakes in the clouds.

Bitterroot River

The Bitterroot river had a recent event on the East Fork that made for murky conditions throughout the system from the confluence of the West and East fork on down. The river should be clearing up soon and coming back into play. The Golden Stones and PMD’s have been out in good numbers and dry fly fishing has been good. Focus on those two bugs in the sun and more Green Drake’s in the clouds. We’ve been mostly throwing single dries but have been fishing dries in the afternoon high sun lull. Streamer fishing has also been a good option.

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

Blackfoot River

The Blackfoot river is a great option with the sunnier weather we’ve been seeing. Good numbers of Golden Stones, PMD’s, Green Drakes in the clouds and a few Salmonflies still around on the upper stretches , but not many. Dry fly fishing has been consistent in the morning and evenings. Midday has been a little slower and often takes a dropper to keep you in action. Streamer fishing has been great in the morning. Focus on dries or streamers in the morning and dry dropper rigs in during midday.
Scroll to the bottom of this page for additional fly patterns and tips!

Clark Fork River

The Clark Fork river has been fairly consistent as of late. Golden Stones, PMD’s, Yellow Sallies and Green drakes are all on the menu. The murky water that we talked about on the Bitterroot is causing some clarity issues on the Clark fork river below town. The PMD dry fly fishing has been great during the morning and switching to a Golden Stone/nymph dropper midday will keep you busy. Evening Caddis is starting to get good and streamer fishing in the morning has been productive.
Scroll to the bottom of this page for additional fly patterns and tips!

Rock Creek

Rock Creek is a great option and coming into good wading flows. Yelllow Sallies, Golden Stones and PMD’s are your best options and Green Drakes when the clouds roll in. Streamer fishing has been consistent. Fishing has been decent throughout the day like most of our tributaries. We’ve been throwing single dries mostly, but don’t hesitate to throw a nymph dropper on if fishing is slow.
Scroll to the bottom of this page for additional fly patterns and tips!

July 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.