Bitterroot River Fishing Report
Our Bitterroot River fishing report comes to you straight from the river! We tell it like it is and take pride in providing the most accurate Missoula fishing report available. When you want to know how the fishing is, what tactics to use, or what flies to tie on, we’re your one-stop Missoula fly shop.
QUALITY RATING
Full details below
September 5, 2025
CURRENT CONDITIONS
Hoot owl restrictions (fishing prohibited 2:00 p.m. to midnight) are in effect for the upper Bitterroot River - from the confluence of the East and West Forks to Veterans Bridge at Hamilton starting July 11.
Starting to cool off on the Bitterroot River, yet flows still very low. Heading out early is your best bet on "the Root" as of now. Flows at Darby are just above 450cfs. Temps are much better on the Bitterroot following this brief cool down period: hovering around the mid 60s at the highest near Darby, warming up by the time it reaches Missoula.
Terrestrial time on the Bitterroot! Dry-dropper fishing is the best way to prospect throughout the Bitterroot right now. We like the Chubby Chernobyl, Water Walker and Henneberry Hoppers when hanging a nymph underneath. For the dry fly enthusiasts, focus on a low-profile attractors like a Plan B, Hop-drop-and-roll Hoppers, Panty Droppers and ants like Foam Flying Ants, GR Ants and Splitsville ants.
Tricos consistently hatching on the Bitterroot now. The best window has been between 8am - 11am. For trico dries, we like the Twiggy, Two-Wing Spinner, Sparkle Flag and Trico Cluster. Long leaders and light tippet for these picky risers. Reports of hecuba mayflies out sporadically. Be sure to bring your big Brindlechutes, Purple Haze and Para-Wulffs for these awesome fall drakes! Best chance at seeing hecubas will be in cloudy, drizzly conditions.
Subsurface, reach for a TJ Hooker, Twenty-Incher, Jig Pheasant Tail, Jig Prince, spanish bullet or Jig Baby Sally. Darker spanish bullets and perdigons like are fooling fish keyed in on drowned spinners or trico nymphs. Stonefly nymphs early in the day, changing nymphs to be more "hatch specific" as the sun gets higher.
Streamer fishing is a great way to find fish in between hatches right now. Sparkle Minnows, Kreelex Minnows and Overcoats have produced fish stripped or swung.
Looking Forward
The Missoula area rivers and streams are starting to cool off. As hoot owl restrictions begin to be lifted across the state, be on the lookout for our amazing fall hatches on the horizon! This is some of the best fishing of the year!
FLOATERS BEWARE
Lots of trees are down again this year and a few places are dangerous. Give our Missoula fly shop a call for up-to-date information. 1/2 off Fridays are still happening, every Friday all year long. (1/2 off your first dozen dries or nymphs)
FEATURED FLIES
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BITTERROOT RIVER Conditions
Know before you go! Understand current Bitterroot River flows and conditions before hitting the water.
BITTERROOT RIVER FLOWS
BITTERROOT VALLEY WEATHER
See the Bitterroot fishing report weather forecast for the next 7-days. For more information on the forecast or detailed weather data, please visit NOAA Weather Data – Stevensville, Montana.
