Western Montana Fly Fishing Report
Regional River Conditions Overview
Recent rain added water to the Bitterroot, Blackfoot, Clark Fork, Rock Creek, and West Fork. Several rivers are now carrying more volume than they did during the previous low and clear period, but clarity is generally improving. The added water should help keep trout comfortable through the first part of the week.
The Bitterroot remains the most consistent all-around choice. The Blackfoot is fishing well with golden stones and smaller summer hatches, but floaters need to be aware of a dangerous strainer below Harry Morgan. The Clark Fork is elevated but productive in softer water. Rock Creek is now a wade-fishing option, and the West Fork remains the cleanest smaller-water choice.
Bitterroot River
Conditions
Flows are approximately 1,340 CFS near Darby, 2,340 CFS at Bell Crossing, and 3,620 CFS near Missoula. The river rose after recent rain, especially in the lower valley, but is dropping and clearing. Morning water temperatures range from the low-to-mid 50s on the upper river into the low 60s near Missoula.
Where to Fish
- Upper and middle-river riffle edges
- Grassy banks and willow lines
- Side channels with steady current
- Foam lines along inside bends
- Tailouts below productive riffles
- Soft shelves next to heavier current
How to Fish It
- Begin with a golden stone or attractor dry and a PMD, caddis, or jig nymph dropper
- Start with a three- to five-foot dropper and shorten it as insects emerge
- Watch for PMDs and Green Drakes from late morning into early afternoon
- Use Yellow Sallies and smaller stonefly dries along banks and riffle edges
- Fish caddis pupa, dries, and soft hackles later in the day
- Use white, yellow, olive, or black streamers between hatch windows
- Move your fishing earlier as temperatures rise late in the week
Top Patterns
- Golden stone dry, size 8–12
- Stonefly nymph, size 6–10
- Green Drake dry or emerger, size 10–12
- PMD dry, emerger, or nymph, size 14–18
- Yellow Sally dry or nymph, size 12–16
- Caddis dry or pupa, size 12–16
- White, yellow, olive, or black streamer, size 4–6
Blackfoot River
Conditions
The Blackfoot near Bonner is running around 2,390 CFS. Recent rain added some water and push, but the river remains in a productive summer range. Salmonflies are mostly finished. Golden stones, PMDs, Green Drakes, Yellow Sallies, and caddis are now the main hatches.
Where to Fish
- Willow lines and grassy banks
- Boulder edges and deep buckets
- Soft inside seams
- Slower riffle edges
- Shelves below faster current
- Shaded structure during bright afternoons
How to Fish It
- Fish golden stone dry-dropper rigs close to banks and structure
- Use a stonefly nymph, caddis pupa, PMD nymph, or attractor dropper
- Shorten the dropper when trout begin feeding higher in the water column
- Watch for PMD, caddis, and Yellow Sally sippers in the afternoon
- Use Green Drake patterns during cloudy or stormy periods
- Streamer fish boulders, buckets, plunge pools, and deeper banks
Top Patterns
- Golden stone dry, size 6–10
- Stonefly nymph, size 6–10
- PMD dry or emerger, size 14–18
- Green Drake dry or emerger, size 10–12
- Yellow Sally dry or nymph, size 12–16
- Caddis dry or pupa, size 12–16
- Olive, black, or flashy streamer, size 4–6
Clark Fork River
Conditions
The Clark Fork is running around 4,150 CFS above Missoula and 7,840 CFS below Missoula. Recent rain produced a noticeable bump, and flows are above the previous low-water stretch. The river remains fishable, but anglers should focus on softer water and expect variable clarity between sections.
Where to Fish
- Grassy banks and inside bends
- Foam lines and side channels
- Drop-offs near shallow shelves
- Soft seams beside heavy current
- Riffle edges during PMD activity
- Lower-river banks and buckets during low light
How to Fish It
- Search with golden stone or attractor dry-dropper rigs
- Use PMD, caddis, or jig nymphs beneath the dry
- Watch for nocturnal stoneflies early along banks and structure
- Fish PMD and Green Drake dries when trout establish feeding lanes
- Use Yellow Sallies and caddis during afternoon and evening windows
- Nymph when wind, sunlight, or color makes surface fishing inconsistent
- Use streamers while rain-bumped water continues to clear
Top Patterns
- Golden stone dry, size 6–10
- Nocturnal stone dry or nymph, size 6–10
- PMD dry, emerger, or spinner, size 14–18
- Green Drake dry or emerger, size 10–12
- Yellow Sally dry or nymph, size 12–16
- Caddis dry or pupa, size 12–16
- Olive, black, or white streamer
Rock Creek
Conditions
Rock Creek near Clinton is around 947 CFS. The creek received a rain bump but remains clear enough to fish. Salmonflies are finished, and golden stones, PMDs, Green Drakes, Yellow Sallies, caddis, and smaller attractors are now the main program.
Where to Fish
- Willow edges and cutbanks
- Boulder pockets and current cushions
- Inside bends with manageable current
- Riffle edges during PMD and Green Drake activity
- Tailouts during evening caddis and spinner activity
- Deeper buckets during bright periods
How to Fish It
- Use golden stone or attractor dry-dropper rigs
- Fish Green Drake patterns during cloudy or stormy windows
- Switch to smaller dries as afternoon insects become more important
- Fish PMD dries and emergers through riffle edges and tailouts
- Use caddis dries, pupa, and soft hackles later in the day
- Swing or strip streamers during rain and low light
- Plan on wade fishing rather than floating
Top Patterns
- Golden stone dry, size 8–12
- Stonefly nymph, size 6–10
- Green Drake dry or emerger, size 10–12
- PMD dry, emerger, or spinner, size 14–18
- Yellow Sally dry or nymph, size 12–16
- Caddis dry or pupa, size 12–16
- Olive or black streamer, size 4–6
West Fork of the Bitterroot
Conditions
The West Fork near Conner is running around 296 CFS. Releases have increased slightly from last week, helping maintain fishable depth and cooler water. The West Fork remains the cleanest and most manageable smaller-water option in the Bitterroot system.
Where to Fish
- Riffle edges below Painted Rocks
- Protected tailouts and inside seams
- Foam lines along shaded banks
- Edges below wood, boulders, and structure
- Moderate-speed pocket water
- Calm seams during PMD and caddis activity
How to Fish It
- Begin with a smaller dry-dropper rig
- Use PMD dries and emergers in tailouts and softer riffles
- Fish golden stones and Yellow Sallies near banks and structure
- Swing caddis pupa and soft hackles through riffle edges
- Try small ants, beetles, or attractor dries between hatches
- Scale down leaders and tippet when trout become selective
- Make careful first casts before walking through productive water
Top Patterns
- Golden stone dry or nymph, size 8–12
- PMD dry or emerger, size 14–18
- Yellow Sally dry or nymph, size 12–16
- Caddis dry or pupa, size 12–16
- Small ant or beetle, size 12–16
- Soft hackle, size 12–16
- Small olive streamer
Planning Note
Sunday should fish well from morning through early afternoon, with a chance of late thunderstorms. Monday is cooler and cloudier, creating a good PMD, Green Drake, streamer, and dry-dropper window.
Temperatures return to the upper 80s Tuesday through Thursday and climb toward the mid-90s Friday. Start earlier each day as the week warms. By Friday, the best plan is to be fishing shortly after sunrise and wrapping up around midday.
Scattered thunderstorms are possible Monday and Wednesday. Leave the water immediately when lightning develops. Rain may temporarily add color or produce short flow bumps, especially on the Clark Fork and lower Bitterroot.
River Flow Snapshot – July 5, 2026
Values are based on the latest available readings reviewed July 4–5. USGS readings are provisional and may change during the day.
| River | Section | Gauge | Flow (CFS) | Trend / Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bitterroot | Upper | Near Darby (12344000) | 1,340 | Rain Bump / Settling |
| Bitterroot | Middle | Bell Crossing nr Victor (12350250) | 2,340 | Dropping / Productive |
| Bitterroot | Lower | Near Missoula (12352500) | 3,620 | Dropping / Clearing |
| Blackfoot | Lower | Near Bonner (12340000) | 2,390 | Rain Bump / Fishable |
| Clark Fork | Upper | Above Missoula (12340500) | 4,150 | Elevated After Rain |
| Clark Fork | Lower | Below Missoula (12353000) | 7,840 | Elevated / Fish Soft Water |
| Rock Creek | Lower | Near Clinton (12334510) | 947 | Rain Bump / Wade Fishing |
| West Fork Bitterroot | Lower | Near Conner (12342500) | 296 | Managed / Fishable |
Recent rain added water to several rivers. The Bitterroot is already dropping, while the Blackfoot, Clark Fork, and Rock Creek are carrying more volume than they were before the storm.
Fly Box of the Week
Dry Flies
- Golden stone dry, size 8–12
- Green Drake dry, size 10–12
- PMD dry or emerger, size 14–18
- Yellow Sally dry, size 12–16
- Caddis dry, size 12–16
- Small foam attractor, size 10–14
- Ant or beetle, size 12–16
Nymphs
- Stonefly nymph, size 6–10
- Green Drake nymph, size 10–12
- PMD nymph, size 14–18
- Yellow Sally nymph, size 12–16
- Caddis larva or pupa, size 12–16
- Perdigon or attractor nymph, size 14–18
Streamers
- White streamer, size 4–6
- Yellow streamer, size 4–6
- Olive streamer, size 4–6
- Black streamer, size 4–6
- Small sculpin pattern
Hatch and Fly Chart – Early July Edition
| Hatch / Insect | Activity | Best Time | Recommended Fly | Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Golden Stones | Still important across all five fisheries | Morning through early afternoon | Foam dry or stonefly nymph | 8–12 |
| Green Drakes | Best during cloudy, humid, or stormy periods | Late morning through afternoon | Nymph, emerger, or dry | 10–12 |
| PMDs | Consistent in riffles, seams, and tailouts | Morning through early afternoon | Nymph, emerger, dun, or spinner | 14–18 |
| Yellow Sallies | Active along banks, riffle edges, and pocket water | Late morning through afternoon | Dry or nymph | 12–16 |
| Caddis | Active throughout the day with strong evening potential | Afternoon through evening | Dry, pupa, larva, or soft hackle | 12–16 |
| Nocturnal Stones | Becoming more relevant on the Clark Fork and lower rivers | Early morning | Dark foam stone or stonefly nymph | 6–10 |
| Terrestrials | Ants and beetles beginning to fill gaps between hatches | Late morning through afternoon | Ant, beetle, or small attractor | 12–16 |
PMDs, golden stones, Yellow Sallies, Green Drakes, and caddis remain the core hatches. Early terrestrials and nocturnal stones should become increasingly useful as the week turns hotter and sunnier.
Gear Picks of the Week
Stream Thermometer
Temperatures climb sharply late in the week. Check water temperatures regularly and move your fishing earlier if readings rise quickly.
Dry-Dropper Leaders
Golden stone and attractor dries with PMD, Yellow Sally, caddis, or stonefly droppers remain the strongest all-around setup.
Sun Protection and Water
Friday may reach the mid-90s. Carry enough drinking water, sunscreen, protective clothing, and a hat for long days on exposed water.
Strategy and Expectations This Week
This should be a productive week, but the daily schedule matters. Sunday through Wednesday offer the best balance of comfortable temperatures, cloud opportunities, and active hatches. Thursday through Saturday favor increasingly early starts.
The Bitterroot remains the best overall option. The Blackfoot offers strong golden stone and dry-dropper fishing, the Clark Fork has productive soft-water opportunities, Rock Creek is a wade-fishing hatch program, and the West Fork remains the most manageable smaller-water choice.
