Here's just a small sampling of what the rivers in our area have to offer:

Clark Fork River

The Clark’s Fork of the Columbia is the longest, largest and most diverse river in Western Montana with over 150 miles of floatable fishing water within an hours drive of Missoula. The Clark Fork flows through the heart of Missoula and provides us locals with a daily reminder of our connection to the larger wild word at our doorstep. The Clark Fork’s character changes dramatically over the span of its course. Upstream from Missoula, the Upper Clark Fork is a smaller more intimate river with an expanding mix of trout species as the river re calibrates itself to the removal of the Milltown Dam which had impeded fish migrations for nearly a century. Through the diligent efforts of local and national conservation minded groups the river channel has been restored and it’s making an impressive comeback. Rainbows, Browns and Westslope Cutthroat Trout all thrive here and respond to a wide array of tactics.

Just a couple of miles above Missoula, at the old dam site, the Big Blackfoot River and the Clark Fork meet mixing the waters from two massive drainages. It’s now a more substantial river as it heads into Missoula. On the western edge of town the river changes again with the addition of the waters from the Bitterroot River. This now muscular Lower Clark Fork River, the largest by volume in Montana, offers a very different experience from its modest Upper Clark Fork beginnings. Here the trout mix shifts more heavily towards rainbows which are some of the hardest charging trout in the state, IMHO. Large river bends pushing against cottonwood lined banks and pine forested mountains, create deep slow slicks where pods of large trout rise to prolific hatches making for some memorable days. Prospecting with a large dry fly as well as a dry/dropper rig will produce fish even when they are not rising to eat a specific hatch.

 With its immense diversity there is always a section to float where you can avoid other boats and have a river all to yourself.  Regardless of your preferred fly fishing tactic, style or temperament, the Upper and Lower Clark Fork will provide you with options galore. And it’s all right here, mere moments from our base.

Blackfoot River

Arguably the most scenic river west of the continental divide and my personal favorite to fish most of the year.  A great dry fly and streamer river with lots of pocket water, eddies, deep runs and even whitewater.  One trip down any stretch of this amazing river will make you realize why anglers return every season to fish here.

Bitterroot River

The Bitterroot is the most geologically dynamic of the rivers we fish. It flows through a broad valley with the high, craggy peaks of the Selway Bitterroot Wilderness flanking its west side and the more subdued Sapphire Range to the east. The river passes over a mostly granite cobble and sand riverbed that seems to be in constant flux. The snowmelt swollen streams that emerge from the surrounding mountains each spring exert their hydrologic forces on the moveable base of the river to often dramatic effects. The river has ample room to wander and meander in its wide valley and regularly creates new channels, riffles, runs and pools or reassigns old ones to new locations. Through all this tumult the trout still flourish here in both numbers and size, especially the native Westslope Cutthroat that have been fining in these waters for eons. Also sharing the river are solid numbers of rainbows and browns that can reach surprising proportions.

This river is definitely best fished from a boat with a guide that has the experience needed to navigate the ever changing river landscape and the “fishiness” to understand where the trout are currently hanging out. The Bitterroot is known for it's dry fly fishing, perhaps most notably the prolific Skwala stonefly hatch that kicks off Western Montana’s spring season and is one of the earliest big fly eating events in Montana. While they don’t get the same amount of press, the mayfly and caddis hatches here can be just as impressive. This river can be fantastic in the right conditions.  Some of the best fishing days ever are had here.....also some of the slowest when conditions aren’t right, but hey, pull over, crack a beverage and enjoy the stellar scenery. Exercise a little patience, fly fishers are supposed to be patient, right? It’s only a matter of time until it to turns on again.

We fish the main Bitterroot from the confluence of its East and West Forks all along its braided Eighty plus mile journey downstream to its confluence with the Clark Fork River on the west side of Missoula.

Missouri River

The only true tailwater near Missoula.  Known as the worlds largest spring creek, it boasts some very high fish counts and is a favorite among many anglers.  Just east of the continental divide, the Missouri has a dramatically different feel from the Missoula freestone rivers.  Generally, smaller bugs, bigger rainbows and browns and a bit more traffic on the water.

Blackfoot River, Bitterroot River, Clark Fork River, Missouri River

Missoula, Montana, Fly Fishing Guides