You’ll never forget fishing the Bitterroot River
You’ve Hit the Montana Fly Fishing Jackpot
There’s miles and miles of world class fly fishing as the Bitterroot River flows through the Bitterroot Valley.
The Bitterroot River is well known as one of the premier fly fishing rivers in Montana, and for good reasons.
Most fly fishermen will agree that catching a bunch of trout on a dry fly is what they really want to do.
But the truth is, many rivers are not all that productive fishing dry flies “on top”.
Instead, fishermen resort to using nymphs and streamers that are fished under water.
It’s a productive technique, but not quite as exciting as fishing with dry flies on the surface.
An abundance of quality dry fly fishing is why we think the Bitterroot River is such a special place.
Here’s our collection of articles and information about fishing the Bitterroot River.
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Fishing the Bitterroot River
Bitterroot River / Bitterroot Info
FLY FISHING GEAR
When heading to the Bitterroot River to do some fly fishing, you’ll want to have the right equipment.
If you need a little help with what gear you’ll need for your Montana fly fishing trip, this article is for you.
Bitterroot River / Bitterroot Info
FISHING LICENSES
Montana fishing licenses are required for anyone over 12 years old planning to fish on state lands.
This article spells out what’s required, and what it costs for residents and non-residents.
Bitterroot River Brown Trout / Bitterroot Info
FISHING REPORTS
It’s always helpful to see current fishing reports before heading out to fish the Bitterroot River.
We’ve tracked down a group of Bitterroot River fishing reports and organized them in one place.
Image / Bitterroot Info
RIVERFRONT RENTALS
If you want to experience what it’s like to stay along the banks of a river in Montana, this article is for you.
We’ve assembled our list of some of the best riverfront vacation rentals in Montana’s Bitterroot Valley.
Bitterroot River / Bitterroot Info
STREAMFLOWS
Monitoring streamflows is a necessary and important part of planning your fishing trip to the Bitterroot River.
We present current data from all 4 Bitterroot River streamflow monitoring stations in this article.
Image / Patrick Molcan
FLY SHOPS
When you really want to know what’s going on with the Bitterroot River, head to the fly shops.
Nobody is more in touch with current fly fishing conditions than these local experts.
Big, Beautiful Trout
Native Westslope Cutthroats, Rainbows, Browns, Brookies, and Bull Trout all call the Bitterroot River home.
You’ll likely catch more cutthroats than anything else, but rainbows and browns are both common.
Average fish size varies from 10” – 20”, with most fish in the 12” – 16” range.
But, there are many bigger fish in the Bitterroot River, which keeps fishermen coming back again and again.
Cutthroat Trout / Bitterroot Info
During the epic Skwala stonefly hatch in March and April, fish over 20” are not uncommon.
The Salmonfly hatch on the Bitterroot River is also well known for producing lots of good sized fish.
Fish populations are carefully managed by Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks, and regulations change each year.
Be sure to review the current fishing regulations before you start casting.
And please remember to safely catch and release whenever possible so we can maintain a healthy population of fish in the Bitterroot River.
Lots of Bugs and Hatches
There is rarely a time when one kind of aquatic insect or another isn’t hatching on the Bitterroot River.
This is what provides for all the dry fly action.
The Bitterroot River is somewhat famous for its annual Skwala stonefly hatch beginning in late March.
It’s usually the first good fishing of the year in western Montana and it attracts a crowd.
Bitterroot River Salmonfly / Bitterroot Info
Although the weather can be a little on the cold side, fishermen just keep fishing during this epic event.
The Salmonfly hatch begins later in the season, usually late June, and also draws a lot of fishermen.
The green and brown drake hatches are awesome, and the crazy golden stone hatches are our favorite.
Midges hatch just about all year long, and caddis, mayfly and stonefly’s combine for constant hatching from March all the way through October.
Great Access to the River
It doesn’t matter how great the fishing is if it’s impossible to access a river.
But this is where fishing the Bitterroot River shines.
There are established fishing access sites up and down the Bitterroot Valley and access is easy.
Additionally, Montana’s stream access laws are great for fishermen.
They state that once you legally access a river, you may fish upstream or downstream within its high water marks.
Plentiful access points and friendly stream access laws make for great fishing access to the Bitterroot River.
You Won’t Run Out of Rivers to Fish
In addition to fishing the Bitterroot River, there are plenty of other rivers to fish in the area.
The East and West Forks of the Bitterroot River provide dozens more miles of excellent fly fishing.
These smaller tributaries aren’t fished quite as much as the main stem of the Bitterroot River, which can get busy during the summer months.
West Fork of the Bitterroot River / Bitterroot Info
These are excellent rivers to learn to fly fish. Fish are abundant, and moving around the river is somewhat easier than on the main stem at times.
And if over 100 miles of the Bitterroot River and its tributaries isn’t quite enough for you, there are 4 more world class fly fishing rivers within an hour or two of the Bitterroot Valley.
The Big Hole River, the Clark Fork River, the Blackfoot River, and Rock Creek are all just a short drive away.
The Bitterroot River is in the middle of fly fishing paradise.
That’s a Good Question
Late March and April are great for early season stonefly fishing.
Mid to late June and July are great for summer dry fly fishing.
Late September and early October are great for fall fishing.
While Montana fishing regulations do allow keeping certain sizes and species of fish caught on the Bitterroot River, catch and release is strongly encouraged to maintain healthy fish populations.
Residents pay $31 for a season fishing license.
Non-residents pay $31.50 for a single day license. Extra days are $14, and a season license is $117.50.
Youth, senior, military, Native and disabled rates are also available.
Additional Resources
Current Montana Fishing Regulations can be found here.
Montana Fishing licenses can be purchased here.