Bitterroot River

The Bitterroot is the river Missoula calls home. 84 miles from the confluence of its East and West Forks near Conner downstream through the Bitterroot Valley to its confluence with the Clark Fork at Missoula. The river runs through a wide cottonwood-bottomed valley between the Bitterroot Mountains on the west and the Sapphire Range on the east — wide gravel-bar water with deep slots, side channels, and constant braiding that creates new structure every spring. Wild rainbows, browns, and native westslope cutthroat make up the trout fishery; mountain whitefish and the occasional bull trout (federally listed, mandatory release) round out the fish list. Average size is 10-15 inches with regular fish over 18.

The Bitterroot is the first river in Montana to fish each spring because of the Skwala stonefly (Skwala americana) hatch. Skwalas are a smaller, darker olive-tan stonefly that hatches in late February through April when most Western trout streams are still in winter mode. Bitterroot anglers fish the Skwala hatch under blue sky on 50°F afternoons in March — a remarkable dry-fly window when nothing else is happening anywhere. Runoff hits late May through June and the river blows out for a few weeks. Post-runoff in early July through October, the river runs through a long sequence of hatches — golden stones in July, PMDs through July and August, caddis through summer, Tricos in August, and a strong fall BWO and brown drake in October. The streamer fishing for fall browns in the deeper runs and along the cottonwood-snag structure is excellent.

Hamilton is the corridor town with several fly shops including Chuck Stranahan's and Bitterroot Anglers. Missoula at the downstream end is a regional fly fishing hub with Grizzly Hackle, Kingfisher Fly Shop, Missoulian Angler, and others. Drive times: 30 minutes from Missoula to Hamilton, 4 hours from Bozeman, 2 hours from Coeur d'Alene. The Bitterroot has good FWP access through the valley but a lot of the river runs through private agricultural land. Boat ramps at Demmons, Hannon, Bell Crossing, Tucker Crossing, Florence, and others bracket the float water. Standard floats run 6-10 miles between ramps. The river is wadeable at lower flows (post-July) but a drift boat or raft opens up the better water. Bull trout (Salvelinus confluentus) are federally listed and must be released immediately. Hoot owl restrictions can apply on the lower river below Hamilton in hot/low summers — check FWP before fishing in July-August.