Fly Fishing the Bitterroot River This includes a Bitterroot River fly fishing report
Type: Freestone and tailwater
Fly and Gear ordering and delivery: We can get flies to you within two to three business days from the time you place your order via Priority Mail. If you provide a budget for flies, we will select them to match the budget and get them to you on time for your trip. Please see the bottom of this column for ordering options.
We also have custom Perfect Fly selections in 3 different price ranges for this stream that come with or without fly boxes. They make excellent gifts. Click Here To Order or Call us at 800 594 4726 or email us at sales@perfectflystore.com.
Season
3rd Sat. May – Nov 30th (Catch and
Release year-round some areas)
Access: Good
Non-Resident License
State of Montana
Recommended Tackle & Gear
Fly Line:5 or 6 weight
Leaders:
Dry fly: 9 & 12 ft., 5 or 6X, Nymphing:
71/2 ft., 3 or 4X, Streamers 0-2X
Tippets:
Dry fly: 5 or 6X, Nymphing: 3 or 4X,
Streamer 0-2X
Best Fly Rods:
Perfect Fly Superb Five or Ultimate Six
Fly Reels:
For 5/6 fly line
Fly Floatants and Misc Items:
Floatants, KISS Strike Indicators
Tools & Accessories:
Nippers, forceps, retractors, etc.
Fly and Gear ordering and delivery:
Email us at (sales@perfectflystore.com) with the dates you will be fishing and we will send you a list of our fly recommendations. We can get flies and gear to you within two to three business days from the time you place your order via Priority Mail. If you provide a budget for flies, we will select them to match the budget and get them to you on time for your trip. Your can also call us at 800-594-4726 and we will help you decide what flies and gear to use. All orders are shipped free in the U.S. If under a $100 order requiring Priority mail is a charge of only $8.10. Orders over a $100 are shipped free via Priority Mail.
Type of Stream
Freestone and Tailwater
Species
Brown Trout
Rainbow Trout
Cutthroat Trout
Brook Trout
Bull Trout (Rare)
(Wild Trout)
Size
Medium
Location
Southwestern Montana
Nearest Towns
Missoula
Conner
Season
3rd Sat. May – Nov. 30th (Catch and
Release other times)
Special Regulations
Access:
Good
Non-Resident License
State of Montana Copyright 2013 James Marsh
Copyright 2013 James Marsh
Bitterroot River Montana Fly Fishing Report, November 19, 2024
We continue to get good reports from customers although the stream is flowing below a normal level and clear. There are very good hatches taking place. Check back often as we will update the Bitterroot River fly fishing report often.
Stream Conditions: Near Darby
Flow: 194 cfs Level: 1.41 ft Afternoon Water Temperature: 50
Clarity: clear
Stream Flow Data Near Victor: Flow 359 cfs Level 4.53
Weather:
Recommended Trout Flies:
Midges: Cream and Red (Blood) midges sizes 20/22, larva, pupa and adult. Our larva and pupa midge flies, pre-rigged in tandem, are very popular here. You can fish them under a strike indicator keeping the larva fly near the bottom. https://perfectflystore.com/product/pre-rigged-tandem-midge-larva-pupa-tippet
Sculpin and White Belly Sculpin and Articulated streamers, size 6/4
Black Matuka and Olive Matuka Sculpin, size 4/6
Blue-winged Olives: size 16, nymphs, emergers, duns, spinnersOctober
Spotted Sedge Caddis; size 14/16, larva, pupa and adults
October Caddis, size 6, larva, pupa and adults
Perfect Flies are designed and tied to to imitate and behave like the natural foods the trout rely on to survive as much as possible. The more your fly looks like and moves through and on the surface of the water like the real things, the higher your odds of success.
Fly Fishing On The Bitterroot River In Montana The main stem of the Bitterroot River is formed by the confluence of the West Fork of the Bitterroot, a tailwater, and the East Fork of the Bitterroot, a freestone stream. The main river flows through the Bitterroot Valley on its way to the Clarke Fork River in Missoula, Montana. The Bitterroot Mountains form the western skyline and the Sapphire Mountains form the eastern skyline. Fly fishing the Bitterroot River is usually a very neat adventure. Each of the two forks provide about twenty miles of fishing. The main stem of the river flows for seventy-five miles through a fairly well developed area of Montana on its way to Missoula. Most of the Bitterroot Valley is used for agriculture purposes but there are a few ranches. Both grass and timber line the banks of the stream. The Bitterroot is an excellent trout stream consisting of diverse water and some quality hatches. Cutthroat, brown, brook, and rainbow trout can all be found in its waters. The Bitterroot River overall is approximately seventy-five miles long from the junction of the East and West Fork just below the little town of Conner to where it meets the Clark Fork River near Missoula, Montana. You will find some beautiful riffles, shallow and deep pools, and some fast, deep runs. It has just about everything that makes it a good trout stream.There are Special Regulations area’s, so where you fly fish the Bitterroot River can make a difference in the regulations.The uppermost section of the Bitterroot, running from Conner to Hamilton, consist mostly of fast pocket water and it offers excellent dry fly, nymph, and streamer fishing opportunities. The river tends to stay cooler in its upper section. It’s headwaters of both forks stay cold year-round. Below Hamilton, the river slows somewhat and more and more riffles become available for the dry fly angler. Once the river reaches the valley, it flows fast large trees consisting of cottonwood, aspen, and fir.In the lower section, the river flows past some ranches and farms. Both the East Fork and the West Fork of the Bitterroot offer great trout fishing opportunities. These two forks, along with the larger main stem, provide a tremendous diversity of water. There’s small stream headwater fishing, tailwater fishing, and varying water types in the main steam that ranges from long, slow moving deep pools with short sections of riffles connecting them to faster water with lots of riffles and runs. There’s also some braided channels and plenty of undercut banks. Below the town of Victor, the Bitterroot flows about thirty-five miles before it enters the Clarks Fork River. This section gets warmer in the summer because the water flows slower and the stream is much wider. Access to the entire Bitterroot River is great because highway #93 following the main stem and the East Fork throughout their lengths. The West Fork is accessed from County Road #473. Check back often as we update the Bitterroot River fishing report often.
Fly Fishing Guide to the Bitterroot River: The methods and strategies you use for fly fishing the Bitterroot River depends on the section you are fishing and the time of year. The East Fork of the Bitterroot River is a freestone stream subject to the whatever Mother Nature brings to it. It flows for about twenty miles before joining the West Fork to form the main stem of the Bitterroot. The upper part is followed by the East Fork Road through National Forest Land. Highway #93 follows the East Fork from Conner to near Sula. There are several fishing access sites along the road and some private property in this section. This is a small stream that contains mostly small Westslope Cutthroat trout. The fish are plentiful and the stream provides an action packed, fun filled fishing experience.The West Fork is a tailwater below Painted Rocks Lake located near the Idaho and Montana border. There are approximately ten miles of the stream above the lake. It contains small brook, cutthroat and rainbow trout. It can be accessed from the West Fork Road. Most of it lies on National Forest land. To your right is a thumbnail image of Painted Rocks Lake. The West Fork tailwater runs about fifteen miles before its confluence with the East Fork. The water below the dam runs clear all year long and can even be fished during the spring runoff. It has some good sized rainbow, brown and cutthroat trout. Most of the water is of moderate flow. It is easily waded.The two forks of the Bitterroot join just above the little town of Conner. The main stem, downstream of Conner, is still a small size and provides excellent wading and floating conditions. It has a good population of rainbow, brown and cutthroat trout. There’s a public access just below Conner, the Hannon Memorial Fishing Access. This upper section is still cooled during the summer from the West Fork flows of cold water released from the bottom of Painted Rock Lake. It has lots of riffles and is surrounded by some very nice scenery. Its fish may not be quite as large as they get downstream, but you most likely won’t be crowded.The next section flows between the towns of Hamilton and Victory. There the water is often used for agricultural purposes and the river can get rather low. It is broken up in many areas with split channels. This is a good section to wade. Most of the time the flows are slower than most everywhere else. There are many gravel bars along the river, along with several diversion dams in this section. Fishing access sites are available.From Florence to Victor, the river can get too warm for good trout fishing during the late summer, but its great most any other time. There are no diversion dams and the river can be floated fairly easy. The fish population is probably slightly higher than it is upriver. There is plenty of deep water in large, slow moving pools that can hold trout. The fish in this section are larger than most of them found upstream. The biggest problem is the traffic during the late spring and summer created by recreational boaters.From Florence to the Clarke Fork River, the Bitterroot River takes on a slightly different appearance from the section above Florence. The braids, channels and islands return. The stream doesn’t have as good of a population of trout as the section above Florence, but it does hold some very nice trout. Large rainbows have been caught in this section. The river slows down again, and the water can become too warm during the late summer.
Hatches and Flies: Our information on aquatic insects is based on our stream samples of larvae and nymphs, not guess work. We base fly suggestions on imitating the most plentiful and most available insects and other foods at the particular time you are fishing. Unlike the generic fly shop trout flies, we have specific imitations of all the insects in the Bitterroot River and in all stages of life that are applicable to fishing. If you want to fish better, more realistic trout flies, have a much higher degree of success, give us a call. We not only will help you with selections, you will learn why, after trying Perfect Flies, 92% of the thousands of our customers will use nothing else. 1-800-594-4726. The hatches on the Bitterroot River varies with the sections of the river. Some of the insects are only found in certain types of water, so keep that in mind. You want find Trico mayflies in the fast water of the headwater sections, for example.The Blue-winged Olives are among the most important hatches. The BWOs start hatching about the middle of March. It can last until the end of April. A second hatch takes place starting about near the end of September. It can last until the first of November, depending on the weather. Another important mayfly is the Pale Morning Dun. They hatch starting about the middle of June and lasting until as late as the first of August. There is a Brown Dun hatch that takes place about the last week of March and through the month of April. The only other substantial hatch of mayflies are the Tricos. These hatch on the slower, smoother sections of water during August and September. Caddisflies can be the most important insects at times. Spotted Sedges are the most plentiful species. They start hatching around the middle of July and can last through the month of August. There is a Little Black Caddis hatch, called the Mother’s Day Hatch, that starts in mid April and last through the month of May, depending on the section. The big October Caddis hatch from about the middle of September through October. There are several other species of caddisflies in the Bitterroot River but they usually don’t exist in plentiful quantities. About the first of March you will find two species of stoneflies on the Bitterroot River. The Winter Stoneflies hatch until about the middle of April. Skwala Stoneflies start abut the middle of March and last through the middle of April. The Salmonflies usually start about the first of June and last through July, depending on the section of the river. About the first of June the Golden Stoneflies start hatching. They hatch through the month of July, depending on the section of the river. Yellow Sallies, or Little Yellow Stoneflies, hatch from the middle of May all the way through the middle of August, again, depending on the section of the river.Make sure you have a good selection of streamer flies. The river has plenty of minnows, baitfish species and sculpin. Streamers work great early and late in the day, and when the water is stained from heavy rains.Terrestrials become very important during the months of July, August and September. Imitations of ants, beetles, and grasshoppers work great at times. Midges hatch throughout the year but are most important during the months of March and October.Use our “Perfect Fly” hatch chart” and select your flies for the time you will be fishing. Please give our flies a chance to work for you if you haven’t done so already. We feel confident that you will be more than satisfied with them. The big October Caddis hatch from about the middle of September through October. There are several other species of caddisflies in the Bitterroot River but they usually don’t exist in plentiful quantities.About the first of March you will find two species of stoneflies on the Bitterroot River. The Winter Stoneflies hatch until about the middle of April. Skwala Stoneflies start abut the middle of March and last through the middle of April. The Salmonflies usually start about the first of June and last through July, depending on the section of the river. About the first of June the Golden Stoneflies start hatching. They hatch through the month of July, depending on the section of the river. Yellow Sallies, or Little Yellow Stoneflies, hatch from the middle of May all the way through the middle of August, again, depending on the section of the river. Make sure you have a good selection of streamer flies. The river has plenty of minnows, baitfish species and sculpin. Streamers work great early and late in the day, and when the water is stained from heavy rains. Terrestrials become very important during the months of July, August and September. Imitations of ants, beetles, and grasshoppers work great at times.Midges hatch throughout the year but are most important during the months of March and October. Please give our flies a chance to work for you if you haven’t done so already. We feel confident that you will be more than satisfied with them. Be sure to check the above Bitterroot River fishing report often as we update it often. Thank you for viewing our Bitterroot River fishing report.
Stream Report Archives: 02/17/2020 The stream levels are near normal but the gauge isn’t working due to ice. We recommend fishing the West Fork tailwater because the water coming from the bottom discharge dam is a little warmer than the freestone section.
03/23/2020 The stream levels are running low but wading is safe and easy. We are still recommending the West Fork because the water is a little warmer due to the bottom discharge from the dam. Trout are being caught by our customers in good numbers.
04/02/20 Stream levels are still running low and the water clear. There are some insects hatching and trout are being caught by the few anglers fishing. We are getting a few good reports from customers.
04/17/20 The stream levels are still well below normal. We still recommend the West Fork due to its warmer tailwaters. This coming week will be much warmer and should bring on some new
hatches.
05/04/20 The river is flowing at a high level, too high to wade safely. Fish when it drops back down. There are some hatches taking place.
06/02/20 The river is in full runoff condition with high, muddy water in all sections.
06/25/20 Stream levels are still very high in all sections of the river due to runoff conditions.
07/07/20 The stream levels are down a lot and it can be fished from drift boats, We think it is still too high to fish well but some trout are being caught. It is dropping everyday and soon be in better shape very soon,
07/18/20 The stream levels are down in all sections of the river and the water mostly clear. There are still multiple hatches taking place and we are getting some very good reports from customers.
08/18/20 Recent rain has the stream levels a little high. We did receive a couple of good reports from customers. It will be much better when it drops and that should be very soon. There are multiple hatches taking place and all sections of the river should produce good soon.
08/28/20 The river is in good shape running a little low and clear. We recommend the West Fork tailwater and the upper middle and uppermost sections of the freestone section. We continue to get good reports from customers.
09/15/20 All sections of the river are in good shape. We are getting some very good reports from customers. There are lots of insects hatching and our ants, Japanese beetles and hoppers are also working good.
Note: We are no longer posting the archive due to the large
number of post we already have.