Missoula Fly Fishing Report
Bitterroot River

Missoula Fly Fishing Report 9/1

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 fishing has been good over the last week with cooler temps and longer nights. All hoot owl restrictions have been lifted and you can now fish all day.
The upper is fishing a bit better later in the day with cooler water temps than the lower stretches.
The dry fly fishing has really picked up with the recent cool down. Hatches include Tricos, Hoppers and Hecubas.
Streamer fishing has also been good in the morning, and of course the dropper game will pick up fish throughout the day.
We’re excited for cooler and longer nights that are upon us right now and things are shaping up to be a really good September and October for us here in Missoula.


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

Bitterroot Streamflow

Blackfoot River

The Blackfoot river fly fishing has been good over the last week and should continue to fish good throughout September. We’ve been experiencing below average temperatures this August and it has really improved all the rivers in the area, including the Blackfoot.
We’ve been mostly fishing dry fly terrestrials lately. Hoppers, Ants and Beetles have been the main game. These Terrestrials typically fish good through September, and October Caddis should be showing up in a few weeks.
We have also been getting some good fish on streamers throughout the day, and this should get better and better as fall approaches.


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

Blackfoot Streamflow

Clark Fork River

The Clark Fork river like the rest of our rivers, is starting to fish really good with the longer nights and cooler temperatures. Hoot Owl restrictions have been lifted on all stretches of the Clark Fork. So now you can fish all day long.
The dry fly fishing has really picked up with Tricos, Hoppers, and Hecubas on the lower stretches during overcast days.
The fishing should continue to get better throughout September and October.
Expect October Caddis, BWO’s and Mahogany hatches in a few weeks. For now focus more on Terrestrials and Tricos for the time being.
We have also started to have some decent action on streamers early morning.
Get ready for some great Fall fishing!


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Clark Fork Streamflow

Rock Creek

Rock Creek fishing has continued to produce and is only getting better every day with the cooler weather and shorter days.
The dry fly fishing has been good enough on most days to not have to throw a dropper on, but don’t hesitate to trail a nymph off the hopper during slow periods.
Hatches include Terrestrials like Hoppers, Ants and Beetles. Hoppers should continue to fish good throughout September and October Caddis along with a few BWO and Mahoganys should be coming in a few weeks as we head into fall.
The streamer fishing has also been decent throughout the day.

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

Rock Creek Streamflow

September 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 Hopper Patterns
Best BWO Patterns
Best Hecuba Patterns
Best Trico Patterns
Best October Caddis Patterns
13 Tips For Fly Fishing Streamers

Missoula Fly Fishing Report 7/19

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 fishing has been good in the morning and slow in the afternoon. The cooler water towards the upper stretches is fishing much better than the lower end. FWP has now implemented Hoot Owl Restrictions from where the west and east fork come together to the confluence of the Clark Fork, meaning you will have to be done fishing after 2pm. These restrictions are due to warm water temperatures in the afternoon and prohibits fishing between 2pm and midnight.
While the fishing is decent in the morning, things slow down dramatically late morning and it’s a good idea to go hit one of your favorite small tributaries as these run much cooler than the bigger rivers this time of year and will be much better fishing. Don’t hesitate to go fish your favorite Lake or go explore a new one.
Golden Stones, PMD, Yellow Sallies and hopper are the hatches going on the Bitterroot and it’s tributaries.


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

Bitterroot Streamflow

Blackfoot River

The Blackfoot river fishing continues to fish decent early morning, but slows down quickly as the water warms up by late morning. There is now Hoot Owl Restrictions on the Blackfoot from the confluence with the Clark Fork to Cedar Meadows, meaning no fishing between 2pm and midnight.
Get on the water early and off early, or go explore one of the many tributaries up the Blackfoot and around Missoula to seek out much cooler water temps. There’s plenty of options to fish around Missoula like this and plenty of stillwater options.
Golden Stones, Yellow Sallies, PMD’s, Spruce Moths and Hoppers are on the menu for the Blackfoot and it’s tributaries.

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

Blackfoot Streamflow

Clark Fork River

The Clark Fork river like the rest of our rivers are slowing down due to warm water temps. Hoot Owl Restrictions are in place for the Clark Fork from the mouth of Warm Springs to the confluence with the Flathead river. You must be done fishing from the hours between 2pm to midnight.
We’ve said it a few times in this report and we’ll say it again, the Clark Fork and the surrounding Missoula area has some great small tributaries with much cooler water than the big rivers and will be fishing good. Go explore some water you’ve haven’t and maybe bust out your favorite 2wt and 3wt. There’s also some great options for lakes in Western Montana.
The hatches on the Clark Fork and it’s tributaries include Golden Stones, Yellow Sallies, PMD’s, Trico’s, Spruce Moths and Hoppers.

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

Clark Fork Streamflow

Rock Creek

Rock Creek fishing has been decent in the first half of the day and slowing down the second half of the day. Rock Creek is one of your better options for bigger streams around Missoula, but like the rest, the early morning is the best time to fish and cooler water temps in the upper 50’s and low 60’s.
Hatches include Golden Stones, PMD’s, Yellow Sallies, Spruce Moths and Hoppers.

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

Rock Creek Streamflow

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.

Best Hopper Patterns
Best Goldenstone Patterns
Yellow Sally Overview
Best Trico Patterns
Best PMD Patterns
13 Tips For Fly Fishing Streamers
Missoula Fly Fishing Report
Bitterroot River

Missoula Fishing Report 7/8

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 fishing has been good over the last few weeks with plenty of bugs and good water temperatures. The water will warm up with this week as warmer weather moves in, especially on the lower end. The upper stretches will stay much cooler than the lower and is a better option for fishing throughout the day and the lower will be better fished during the first half of the day.
We’ve been seeing good hatches of Golden Stones, Yellow Sallies, PMD’s and even some early Hopper and Trico action.


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

Bitterroot Streamflow

Blackfoot River

The Blackfoot river fishing has been good in the morning and slowing down throughout the afternoon. Get on early and off mid-day for best fishing.
There’s still Golden Stones hatching along with Yellow Sallies, PMD’s and we’re starting to see fish eat hoppers as well.
The streamer fishing continues to produce big fish, but the streamer fishing slows down into the second half of the day.

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

Blackfoot Streamflow

Clark Fork River

The Clark Fork river continues to fish good on the lower, while the upper end is a little tougher fishing lately. We’ve been seeing good hatches of PMD’s, Yellow Sallies, Golden Stones, and a few Tricos. The hopper fishing is just getting started and should continue to get better. Like the rest of our rivers, get out early and off by mid day to beat the heat. While our big rivers are starting to get warm in the afternoon, the smaller tributaries are a good choice in the afternoon as temperatures heat up. These tributaries around Missoula stay much cooler.

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

Clark Fork Streamflow

Rock Creek

Rock Creek fishing continues to produce some great fishing. Water temperatures are still good and the fishing remains good all day, but the best fishing will be had in the first half of the day. Pick your poison for how you want to catch fish from dry fly to nymph to streamers, it’s all been fishing good up here.
For hatches, focus on Golden Stones, Yellow Sallies, PMD’s and hoppers.

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

Rock Creek Streamflow

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.

Best Hopper Patterns
Best Goldenstone Patterns
Yellow Sally Overview
Best Trico Patterns
Best PMD Patterns
13 Tips For Fly Fishing Streamers
Missoula Fly Fishing Report
Bitterroot River

Missoula Fishing Report 6/21

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 fishing has been good depending on what section you’re on. The upper sections have been more productive with fewer Salmonflies on the forks, more Golden Stones, Yellow Sallies, PMD’s and green drakes. We are starting to see some more bugs on the middle and lower river but still waiting for more to show up. It should happen soon with the warmer weather coming.


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

Bitterroot Streamflow

Blackfoot River

The Blackfoot river fishing has been awesome lately with plenty of bugs. Salmonflies are still present on the upper and middle river and Golden Stones throughout the system. Flows are stable and water temps are good. The clouds brought some decent Green Drake numbers, but the sun will bring out more Salmonflies, Golden Stones and Yellow Sallies.
The streamer fishing has also been great with active fish chasing from top to bottom. Single dries have been productive, but the dropper game during lulls will keep you busy during these slow periods.

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

Blackfoot Streamflow

Clark Fork River

The Clark Fork river fishing has been good lately. The dry fly fishing has really picked up over the last few weeks with Golden Stones, Yellow Sallies, PMD’s and Green Drakes. Over the last week, the Green Drake dry fly fishing was great on the on the Clark Fork, but the sun should bring out more Stoneflies like Golden Stones and Yellow Sallies. we’re starting to find some good pods up on PMD’s as well. The streamer fishing has been good, like the rest of our rivers in Missoula.
The Clark Fork river is fishing good top to bottom and should continue to get better over the following weeks.

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

Clark Fork Streamflow

Rock Creek

Rock Creek fishing has been good. We’re not seeing as many Salmonflies as we have in past weeks, but still plenty of Golden Stones out. The cool cloudy weather over the last week brought out plenty of Green Drakes and willing fish. Yellow Sallies and PMD’s are also solid choices for dry flies.
The flows on Rock Creek have dropped down into a good level for wade fishing and getting a little boney for boats, but still enough water. We expect flows to keep dropping into a more wade fishing favorable level.

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Rock Creek Streamflow

June/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.

Best Salmonfly Patterns
Best Goldenstone Patterns
Yellow Sally Overview
Best Green Drake Patterns
Best PMD Patterns
13 Tips For Fly Fishing Streamers
Missoula Fly Fishing Report
Bitterroot River

Missoula Fly Fishing 5/4

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 continues to drop and fishing has been good. We’ve experienced some unseasonably cold weather with plenty of snow and rain mix over the week. Not only has this cold spring helped flows stay low and fishing good, it’s also giving us much needed snow in the mountains. We’re still seeing a few Skwala’s here and there, but it’s been mostly a March Brown and BWO game out there as of late. With the cooler temps in the forecast, we may see some good dry fly fishing for the first part of May, depending on how much rain we see in the coming days. Be prepared for some Mothers Day Caddis to come if the clarity is good for the next few weeks.


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

Bitterroot Streamflow

Blackfoot River

The Blackfoot river has been fishing decent and much better than earlier this spring. We’ve been seeing good hatches of March Browns and BWO’s and some steady dry fly action in the warmer afternoons. The nymphing and streamer fishing has been the most consistent though, and should continue to be the go to strategy until true runoff hits. Keep your focus on inside seems and slower walking pace water until water temps warm up a bit.

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

Blackfoot Streamflow

Clark Fork River

The Clark Fork river fishing has been producing some great fishing this spring and it looks like we may get another good week or two until flows bump and water clarity turns darker. Still decent numbers of Skwala’s, March Browns and BWO’s hatching and fish are eating the dry fly. Nymphing and streamer fishing has been more productive in the morning, and dry fly fishing kicks on in the afternoon. We’re excited at the possible chance of some decent May fishing that we don’t often see on the Clark Fork and a Mothers day Caddis hatch that usually isn’t much of a factor in the Missoula area due to it usually happening around peak flows. We’ll keep an eye on weather and see how much moisture we get, but we’re optimistic that we’re going to have some decent fishing the first few weeks of May on all of our Missoula rivers.

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

Clark Fork Streamflow

Rock Creek

Rock Creek continues to fish great and that shouldn’t slow down anytime soon if the weather forecast stays true. The main game up here is March Brown and BWO’s, but the fish are still eating Skwala’s decently even though there aren’t many around lately. The streamer fishing has been really good and it’s worth it to commit a day to just streamer fishing.
Take advantage of the May fishing we have right now because it won’t last long and is a bit of an anomaly for this time of year.
Scroll to the bottom of this page for additional fly patterns and tips!

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 Patterns
Top BWO Patterns
Best Nemoura Patterns
Capnia Overview
13 Tips For Fly Fishing Streamers
Missoula Fly Fishing Report
Bitterroot River

Missoula Fly 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 has come back into good fishing conditions with dropping water levels and warmer temperatures. Overall the fishing this spring has been great on the Bitterroot river, although there has been better windows than others with the fluctuating flows and water temperatures.
It looks like the weather will stay decent for the next few weeks and that should keep the flows somewhat stable and fishable.
There are still some Skwala’s kicking around and the March Brown fishing in the clouds has been spectacular. We’ve also seen a good amount of BWO’s in the clouds as well.


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

Bitterroot Streamflow

Blackfoot River

Fishing on the Blackfoot river took a bit of a hit with the rising flows and cold water temps over the last week. We’re still seeing decent streamer and nymph fishing even through the cold temps and rising water. There has been a decent window of dry fly fishing in the afternoon with March Browns, BWO’s and Nemouras. But those windows are short lived.
Focus your time on inside seems with deep nymph rigs and slowly retrieved streamers.

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

Blackfoot Streamflow

Clark Fork River

The Clark Fork river fishing, like the other rivers in the area, has seen up and down fishing over the last few weeks with the rising flows and cool temps. The fishing has been good when conditions are good with Skwala’s, March Browns and BWO’s. It looks like the weather forecast will help and give us some better conditions for the next week or two.
This should be a great week to go fish the Clark Fork river with flows trending down and water clarity improving every day.

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

Clark Fork Streamflow

Rock Creek

Rock Creek fishing remained decent even through the rising water and colder water temps. The fishing should keep getting better for the next few weeks if the weather forecast holds true.
We’ve been seeing decent numbers of Skwala’s, March Browns and BWO’s hatching on rock creek and we expect that to continue for the near future.
Streamer fishing and nymphing will be your most effective strategy for numbers, but the dry fly fishing has been good in the afternoons.

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

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 Patterns
Top BWO Patterns
Best Nemoura Patterns
Capnia Overview
13 Tips For Fly Fishing Streamers