Bitterroot River Fishing Report
Best Flies for July
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: July 16, 2026
How's the Fishing?: 4/5
The Bitterroot has been fishing well lately. The Bitterroot is still putting out some great golden stone hatches. If you want to throw big dry flies at fish that are still looking for them, this is the river to do it on.
PMDs and yellow sallies are around too, so there's plenty on the menu to keep fish looking up. And like everywhere else around Missoula, the terrestrial fishing is starting to pick up. It doesn't hurt to have some hoppers, ants, and beetles in the box.
The Bitterroot benefited from that late June snowstorm and rain just like the rest of our rivers, and flows are sitting at decent levels for mid July. Water temperatures are holding up fine for now, but this is the time of year to start paying attention. If we get a stretch of hot days, plan on fishing the first half of the day and giving the fish a break in the afternoon.
Gear Up for the Bitterroot
July Hatches on the Bitterroot River
July brings incredible dry fly fishing with a variety of hatches and terrestrials. 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
