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
October 15, 2026
CURRENT CONDITIONS
Fishing has been hit or miss down the Bitterroot as of late. The river is low and clear, making fishing technical in spots on sunny days. Keep your eyes out for windows of rising fish and focus on deep buckets and riffles to find fish feeding on nymphs.
Fishing early on the Bitterroot has been slow. Come midday, anglers are focussing on our fall mayflies on-top and subsurface. Warm, sunny conditions this week have made the dry fly window short and difficult. Keep your eyes peeled for rising fish mid-morning on and make your first cast count! Low, clear water and picky fish is a tricky combo. Lots of BWOs and mahoganies out now. Our most productive dry flies have been the Flash Cripple, CDC Para Spinner, LC Cripple, Ms Tickle and Half Dun. Purple Hazes, PA Adams, Rocky Mtn. Mints and Brindlechutes in sizes #18-20 also fooling fish (with a good drift.)
Nymphing has been the most consistent. Fishing TJ Hookers, Zirdles, Jig PTs, Frenchies, Duracells, Jig Napoleons and dark-colored perdigons 3-5' deep has been the ticket. The fish will be congregated in the riffles, eddies and along structure this time of year. Finding the right type of water on a given day is the ticket. Colder nights have the fish held up in slow, deep water. They will move into the quicker, shallow riffles during the heat of the day.
October caddis patterns like the Stimulator, Godlike Caddis and PMXs in a #10 or #12 have moved lots of fish twitched or skated. Not as good as it was earlier this month, but they're still producing fish on the upper river!
Expect streamer fishing to only improve as we near the end of the month. Last week was really good. Our favorites on the Bitterroot are typically white, yellow, and/or olive. The flashier the better on these bright, clear days. Articulated Sparkle Yummies, Headbangers, Lazer Legals and Butchers have produced fish in the right water.
Looking Forward
Fishing should continue to get better as we near the end of the month. Keep an eye on the forecast and get out there!
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 Flows & Conditions
Know before you go! Understand current Bitterroot River flows and conditions before hitting the water.
Bitterroot River Flows @ Missoula, MT
Bitterroot River Flows @ Bell Crossing Near Victor, MT
Bitterroot River Flows @ Darby, MT
West Fork Bitterroot River Flows @ Connor, MT
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.
