Best Trout Fishing in Montana: Missoula, MT

| Written By

Aidan Morton

Trout Mecca Missoula, Montana: Fly Fishing the Clark Fork, Bitterroot & Blackfoot Rivers

Missoula, MT sits at the convergence of three of Montana’s famous trout rivers — and that’s why we call it the Trout Mecca! The Clark Fork River flows right through town and heads west to Idaho. It drains Montana, west of the divide, and is home to some of the best trout fishing in Montana — featuring hard-fighting, dry-fly-eating Rainbows, Cutbows, and Westslope Cutthroat.

Just east of town, the Blackfoot River dumps into the Clark Fork. This river was made famous by Norman Maclean in his book A River Runs Through It and even more famous by the Robert Redford movie adaptation. The Blackfoot is a boulder-filled river with feisty Cutthroat, Rainbows, Cutbows, and Browns. It is our most scenic river with canyon views and the occasional grizzly bear sighting.

The Bitterroot River joins the Clark Fork on the west side of Missoula, flowing south to north through the beautiful Bitterroot Valley. Known for its braided channels that shift with runoff, this river holds some of our area’s biggest Brown Trout, as well as Rainbows, Cutbows, and Westslope Cutthroat. Together, these three rivers offer some of the best trout fishing in Montana at different times of the year.

Discover Missoula’s Hidden Tributaries

If three major trout rivers aren’t enough to make you want to experience the best trout fishing in Montana, consider the countless tributaries feeding these waters. From mountain streams to valley meadow creeks, there are miles of fishable water just waiting to be explored.

We don’t talk much about these tributaries by name — and if you know small streams, naming them is blasphemy! All you have to do is find a stream on the map and try it. Imagine throwing dry flies to eager Cutthroat all day on a stream all to yourself, only 30–60 minutes from Missoula!

Missoula, Montana: America’s Trout Mecca!

Missoula: A Dry Fly Fisher’s Paradise

Not only does Trout Mecca Missoula have an abundance of water for every trout fishing style, but our fish love dry flies! We fish dry flies 90% of the time, from big Salmonfly and hopper foam patterns to delicate Tricos and BWOs. This truly is a dry-fly angler’s paradise.

All rivers and streams are freestone, which makes fish more opportunistic and willing to look up. If you’re not into dry-fly fishing yet, Missoula will make you one!

Experience Missoula: More Than Just Trout Fishing

Missoula isn’t just a Trout Mecca — it’s an amazing town. The fly fishing culture is everywhere, from guides chatting in Charlie B’s downtown to music at the KettleHouse Amphitheater on the Blackfoot River. When locals aren’t fishing, the town’s bars, restaurants, and live music keep the energy alive.

Picture this: an epic day on the Bitterroot River catching big trout on dries, followed by a show at the Wilma Theater, finishing the night at the Dry Fly Apartments. In what other town can you do all that in a single day without hours of driving? Very few, if any, match Missoula!