Fishing Season: Year round; some tributaries closed December 1-third week of May. Check regulations before fishing.

Bitterroot River - MT

Fishing Outlook & Conditions

Water Temp:

50

Blackfoot River Outfitters's Tip of the Week

As it gets more chilly by the day here in Western Montana, you may notice that the timing of aquatic insects hatches isn't like it was in late summer. When nighttime temperatures drop way down, chilly conditions can linger late into the morning, sometimes right up until mid-day. When the air temperature at mid-day is no longer rising above 50*F, anglers will have more success from noon to late afternoon. Read more about this subject and other fall fishing tips here: https://www.orvis.com/secrets-of-fall-trout-fishing.html?srsltid=AfmBOorWM5i_JN_V8rdcKQJHvVpYWI8Hxby5Q7wFVizXmpA6WKWMH9mW *See our 7 Day Outlook for updates on blockages jamming up the Bitterroot.

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Map of Bitterroot River

Water Flow Data

Orvis-Endorsed guides nearby

Blackfoot River Outfitters
Blue Damsel Lodge
Montana Hunting and Fishing Adventures
Triple Creek Ranch

5-Day Outlook as of 10/25/24

In the Bitterroot valley, this week's weather forecast shows that we'll be getting scattered showers throughout the week and even cooler temperatures later in the week. **There are currently fishing restrictions on the Bitterroot river by Montana FWP. Please refer to Montana FWP’s current waterbody restrictions to see the latest.** If you are floating please use extreme caution. This river changes rapidly and is known for producing fatal log jams. Give us a call for an updated obstruction report. If you see any issues be sure to call us or send pics so we can share the same. Thanks. *There are currently MANY obstructions on the Bitterroot. Hannon-Wally: Several sweepers in this section. It is getting tougher as water drops. Wally-Anglers: flows over Sleeping Child dam are always dicey! Don’t consider running after a scout unless you are highly skilled. The channel around the left side is too low to consider. Vets-Woodside: More wood down between New Bridge and Blodgett Park. The river right channel will require careful scouting and likely boat dragging. Woodside-Tucker: New tree down in right channel need to stay left here. The left channel at the split is open but be sure to choose your splits wisely, and the right channel over the diversion dam may need to be portaged. Have a look before you run it. Tucker-Bell: Very sketchy in the channel through the woods now that the water has come up. Consider going somewhere else until runoff subsides. Bell-Stevi: Follow the sign that says “GO LEFT” to miss the log jam. A new log is exposed in the “clear” channel so proceed with caution. Stevi-Florence: Clear. Follow the water at any splits. As the river fluctuates it is smart to pull over and check for any potential changes.

Techniques & Tips as of 10/25/24

In the Bitterroot Valley, fishing has been pretty good. This past week, anglers saw more dry fly eaters rising and streamer fishing was also pretty productive. Mahoganies seemed to be the main event, while October Caddis were a close second. Keep an eye out for BWOs during late morning and early afternoon. Make sure to stop by and grab some of our new October Caddis, Mahogany and BWO patterns so you're well prepared! If you're nymphing, fish smaller mayfly nymphs, stonefly nymphs, and larger caddis pupa patterns. If you're fishing streamers, make sure you're fishing darker colored flies on those cloudy days. Olive and black streamers are a good bet in these conditions. *The Online Store is updated daily!  Check it out! *Call us for up to the minute updates at 406.542.7411 or if you are in the area stop in for all your gear and the right bugs.

Local Species Available Year round; some tributaries closed December 1-third week of May. Check regulations before fishing.

  • Fish Icon

    Trout - rainbows

  • Fish Icon

    browns and cutties - whitefish

Blackfoot River Outfitters's Recommended Fly Patterns

"Must-have" fly fishing patterns in descending order of importance:

Name: Colors: Size(s):
Stimulator N/A #10-14
Chernobyl Ant N/A #10-14
Hopper N/A #8-14
Indicator Spinner - Trico N/A #18-22
TJ Hooker N/A #08-12
Sparkle Minnow N/A #04-08
TH 20 Incher N/A #8-12
Tungsten Jig Bugger N/A #06-10
Chubby Chernobyl Gold, Purple #8-12
Flash Cripple Purple #14-18

Stimulator

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Item #0928

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Blackfoot River Outfitters's Recommended Gear

Description: About Bitterroot River

The panoramic mountains of the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness towering above this river make for an unforgettable setting. The Bitterroot affords anglers over 80 miles of varied freestone trout water ranging from riffles and runs to undercuts and deadfalls. This river's largest fish often rise to dry flies even in non-hatch conditions. One of our guides claims that "If you catch a fish on the Bitterroot, you could have caught it with a dry fly!" This probably isn't far from the truth in light of our fishing dries here 90% of the time (often with an additional bead head dropper). Renowned hatches of stone and may flies are in full force by March, providing the state's best early season surface action and Bitterroot river fish tend to look up for the rest of the season. Expect to catch native westslope cutthroat, rainbows and browns on any outing.

Nearest Airport:

Missoula International Airport (MSO)

Hatches:

October Caddis, Mahoganies, and BWOs

Best Time to Fish:

Mornings and evenings are best!

Best Stretch:

Most of the river is looking good.

Best Access:

Multiple fishing access sites throughout the river.