The Bitterroot River

The Bitterroot River runs the length of the Valley and is one of the best kept secrets in Montana among serious fly fishermen. The river is relatively unknown when compared to nearby rivers in the Yellowstone area.

The Bitterroot River is a meandering, braided river that has many deep holes and undercut banks making excellent habitat for the numerous trout which inhabit its waters. The predominant species are Rainbows, with Browns running a close second, and Cutthroats and Brook trout making up the balance. Good fishing normally starts in March on the lower river.

Weather prevailing, this "spring" fishing can be phenomenal.

Normally the river rises and becomes almost un-fishable from mid-May through the middle of June. The upper Bitterroot can provide outstanding fishing the last two weeks of June during the Salmon fly hatch. This is a sporadic hatch due primarily to the level of the spring runoff. If you plan to fish at this time, please give us a call so we can provide you with up-to-date information on water conditions. Again, the most effective way to fish the Salmon Fly hatch is from a raft or boat; however, if you are willing to buck the heavy current, you can get into some fast and furious action.

When the water drops and clears, the fishing picks up dramatically. This usually occurs during the first week of July. Fishing up on top with dry flies is unsurpassed at this time. The entire river can be productive.

This exciting fishing usually continues through the first week of August, at which time the water historically drops to its lowest point of the season. The river then receives 15,000 acre-feet of water from Painted Rocks Reservoir during this low- water period. This means continued good fishing throughout the normally low-water month of August and into the first couple weeks in September.

The Big Hole is famous for the Salmon Fly Hatch in June, but it also provides fabulous fishing with large streamers and dry flies throughout the summer and fall. Normally from early August through the first week of September the water is quite low as a result of large irrigation withdrawal, and unlike the Bitterroot, the Big Hole presently has no water storage reservoir upstream to augment this withdrawn water.

Therefore, at this time the fishing is tough, although good catches are reported at times.