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
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!
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!
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!
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.
