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
March 17, 2025
CURRENT CONDITIONS
Spring is near in the Bitterroot Valley! Flows are just under 1,000cfs near Missoula,585cfs at Bell Crossing and 285cfs in Darby. Daytime temperatures hovering around 40 degrees, yet we do have some colder nights on the horizon. Definitely no need to break dawnthis time of year, as the fishing will only improve as the daytime temperatures increase. Some of the best fishing is found after-lunch into the evening. Fish are still holding in those quintessential “winter spots”– deep inside bends, buckets,etc. However, this bump in flows will start to move them around. Even more so when the skwalas start to do their thing.
We’ve heard reports of a few skwalas here and there, with fish eating the dry flysporadically. Still, we have in no way reached that “rocking and rolling” dry fly stage just yet. Nymphing and streamer fishing will be the most productive. For nymphs, begin to focus onthose skwalas. Our favorite skwala nymphs include the TJ Hooker, Pats Rubberlegs, Front St.Stone and Sili-Leg Stone. Additionally, San Juan Worms, Pheasant Tail Nymphs, Prince Nymphs and Duracells have all been working. Streamers like Sparkle Minnows, Mini Dungeons,and other natural-colored sculpin or baby trout imitations will work great. Midge activity in theafternoon has had us using Zebra Midges, Tailwater Tiny’s and small Perdigons to catch thosefish keying in on the small bugs. A Griffith’s Gnat or equivalent midge dry fly will be handy for pesky risers.
If you need to scratch the skwala dry fly itch (believe us, we’re right there with you,) we have a slough of NEW skwala dry flies in the shop– several are custom, Grizzly Hackleexclusive patterns! We love the olive/peacock Chubby Chernobyls, Plan Bs and Dancin Rickysfor skwala eaters on the Bitterroot Breakers.
Looking Forward
We have some chillier weather on the forecast down the Bitterroot. This will keep the skwala hatch at bay for a bit. Make sure to get your dry flies ready, however,as our prime spring dry fly fishing will be here before we know it!
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 Friday’s 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 RIVER Temperature
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.
