Blackfoot River

A small, cold, high-gradient mountain tributary out of the Bob Marshall front near Ovando — wild and lightly pressured, reached by forest roads north of Ovando and largely walk-and-wade. The cold input cools the mainstem at River Junction. Bull trout are present — do not target them; release any that grab a fly.

Best for: Westslope cutthroat trout (catch-and-release) and mountain whitefish on small stimulators, attractors, and hoppers. A marquee reconnection and restoration success and a bull trout spawning stronghold.

The river straightens and gains volume below Nevada Creek and the North Fork, including Box Canyon — a roughly 5-mile section of riffles, pools, larger waves, and one whitewater stretch. The North Fork Blackfoot enters here and noticeably refreshes and cools the flow. Access at River Junction FAS and Aunt Molly FAS upstream.

Best for: Brown trout and rainbow trout on dry-dropper rigs, hoppers, and stonefly dries — the point where the Blackfoot becomes a real trout river as cold tributary water comes in.

The postcard water — rock- and boulder-strewn pocket water, fast current, Class II whitewater, and ponderosa-pine canyon. Roundup Bridge marks the start of more technical water. This is the most popular and most heavily floated stretch, so expect recreational-float crowds on warm weekends. Access via the Blackfoot River Recreation Corridor (Russell Gates down to Johnsrud).

Best for: Rainbow trout and westslope cutthroat on salmonfly and golden-stone dries in June–July, hopper-dropper in summer. The heart of the salmonfly hatch experience.

Small, meandering freestone-to-meadow water through forest and ranchland — downed timber, twists, and undercut banks, with slow current through the Mineral Hill–Cedar Meadow stretch. Much of the meadow water fronts private ranch land, so access is limited to Highway 141, secondary roads, and Aunt Molly's WMA.

Best for: Big brown trout in the undercut banks (some over 20 inches) and westslope cutthroat; streamers and stonefly dries. The visible payoff of the mine-cleanup and restoration work above Lincoln.

Large pools, riffles, and boulders with Highway 200 paralleling the river; fishing legally ends about 2 miles above the old Bonner Dam site at Milltown. Easy roadside access off Hwy 200 at K. Ross Toole and Marco Flats FAS, roughly 30–40 minutes from Missoula. The USGS Bonner gauge — the primary flow reference — sits at the bottom of this reach.

Best for: The river's largest rainbow trout and brown trout; nymphing the deep pools, streamers, and evening caddis and mayfly dries.