Bitterroot River Fishing Report
Best Flies for June
Top patterns for the Bitterroot's biggest hatches this month — shop and add to cart.
The Bitterroot River flows north through the Bitterroot Valley before joining the Clark Fork River just south of Missoula. One of western Montana's most popular fly fishing rivers, the Bitterroot offers excellent fishing for wild rainbow and brown trout across a variety of water types. Conditions can change quickly with snowmelt and rain, so checking this report before heading out is always a good idea.
This Bitterroot River fly fishing report is updated regularly by our guides and staff to reflect current conditions, hatches, and techniques that are producing fish. Whether you're planning a wade trip or a float, this report will help you know what to expect on the water.
Last Updated: June 23, 2026
How's the Fishing?: 4/5
The main stem of the Bitterroot is starting to improve, with golden stones beginning to show up. The fish are taking notice of the variety of hatches coming off now, not just golden stones but yellow sallies and PMDs starting to hatch as well.
Like the rest of our rivers, we expect some great green drake hatches during the cooler, cloudy weather in the forecast later this week. The dry fly fishing should be really good, and so should the streamer fishing.
This is one of those weekends you don't see very often where all the stars line up: cool, cloudy days in June. That's exactly what we wait for all year long, and it makes for some great dry fly and streamer fishing, not just on the Bitterroot but on every stream around Missoula. It's shaping up to be a great weekend.
The Bitterroot should keep getting better and better with more golden stones starting to hatch, good water temperatures, and good flows on the main stem and up into the West and East Fork.
Gear Up for the Bitterroot
June Hatches on the Bitterroot River
June brings some of the best dry fly fishing of the year. Here are the top fly patterns to have in your box this month.
Important Resources
Fishing Reports for Other Rivers Near Missoula
Fish With The Best Fly Fishing Guides in Missoula Montana
