Come to the River … and Fish
Whether you prefer to walk, wade, or float the Bitterroot River offers a premiere fly fishing
experience. The Bitterroot River in Southwestern Montana is characterized by pristine waters and fine fishing. There are opportunities for
fishermen who prefer wading as well as those who prefer floating from a raft. Many access sites provide the wading fisherman ample
stretches to spend a few hours or the entire day. From its tributaries of the Bitterroot River’s East and West Forks
to its finale at the Clark Fork you can find a variety of fishing opportunities including Rainbows, Cutthroats, Browns, Bull
Trout and Brookies. West slope Cutthroats abound here due in part to the catch and release regulation for this species. Many of
the tributaries such as Skalkaho, Tin Cup Creek, Blodgett Creek and Sleeping Child have good populations of catch able Cutthroat.
Upper tributaries of the Bitterroot, above Painted Rocks Reservoir on the West Fork such as Blue Joint and Martin Creek are full of
Brook Trout. They provide some excellent small creek fishing for lighter two and three weight rods.
The Bitterroot in its seventy plus miles of meandering is almost like two rivers. The upper stretches have a higher gradient and
are characterized by the runs and riffl es of a free stone river. Most of the stone fl ies hatch here. The stone nymphs prefer oxygenated
water and the upper runs provide this. The lower stretches of the river are much slower because of a more gradual gradient. You
will find an occasional riffle and run but mostly longer and deeper pools. Here you find larger hatches of mayflies.
There are twenty or more combinations of stretches that can be floated and fished as well as waded on the Bitterroot. Stream access laws in Montana are very friendly to fi shermen and there are plenty of available walk in sites providing miles and miles of river bank to fish. A copy of the access laws are available at any local Licensing Agency. The Bitterroot is well known as one of the fi nest dry fly fishing rivers
in the state. The dry fly fi shing season begins mid- March and ends in late November. The first major hatch is the Skwala (stonefly) in March. If the conditions are right the fi sh will key on the imitation pattern for a full 6 weeks. One pattern to use for the Skwala is a bullet head fly tied with a black egg sack and dark body. The underwing is dark brown or black and the overwing is tied in bullet head style with dark brown premo-deer hair. The fish seem to look for this hatch to begin their yearly feeding habits and with the size of this stonefly they can build bulk fast. The summer fishing is best described as a continual opportunity for dry fly action. With the abundance of mayfly hatches the expert as well as the novice fisherman can do well. If you are not capable of matching the hatch a well tied attractor pattern such as a stimulator will usually do the trick. The Bitterroot in its seventy plus miles of meandering is almost like two rivers.

The late fishing which continues into November includes patterns such as the October Caddis and Midges.
The October Caddis are large and can be fished with an imitator that is size #8 or #10. The Midges on the
other hand are from #20 - #24. In between the major hatches include Pale Morning Dun, Blue Winged Olive, Green Drake,
Salmon Fly, Golden Stone and several varieties of Caddis. The mayfl ies are typically sizes 14 - 18 with the exception of the Green Drake which is size 10. The Salmon Flies should be fished with a size 6 or 8 and the Golden Stones are sizes 8 - 10.
September and Labor Day mark an end to the heavy tourist season. With children going back to school and vacations over, the river lulls to
a slower pace. As October approaches the local Montana people begin to ready themselves for the winter. Many begin gathering wood that they will use to heat their homes during the next 6 months. Elk and Deer seasons begin later in the month and it is time to sight in that favorite rifle. After the third weekend in October you can count on having the river almost to yourself almost the entire day. The only local fi shermen you will bump into are those like yourself who have chosen to spend their time fi shing rather than hunting. Late fall fi shing can be the golden opportunity that you have been waiting for.

By Bill Bean

www.fishaus.montana.com
406.363.6158 • Toll Free 888.363.6158
702 North First Street • Hamilton, MT 59840