Western Montana Fly Fishing Report
Regional River Conditions Overview
Flows remain in a productive early-summer range across the Bitterroot, Blackfoot, Clark Fork, Rock Creek, and West Fork. Most rivers have continued to settle from runoff, although this week’s rain could produce short-term bumps. Golden stones, PMDs, Green Drakes, Yellow Sallies, and caddis are the primary hatches. Salmonflies are mostly limited to the upper Blackfoot and isolated high-elevation water.
Sunday and Monday favor midday fishing because of cool temperatures and rain. Tuesday through Friday should offer mixed hatch and streamer opportunities around changing cloud cover. Independence Day currently looks sunny and warmer, making an earlier start more productive.
Bitterroot River
Conditions
Morning water temperatures range from the upper 40s near Darby to the mid-50s near Missoula. Flows are approximately 1,250 CFS near Darby, 2,740 CFS at Bell Crossing, and 3,760 CFS near Missoula. The river is in strong early-summer shape, although heavier rain may briefly affect clarity and flows.
Where to Fish
- Upper and middle-river riffle edges
- Side channels with steady current
- Foam lines along inside banks
- Tailouts below productive riffles
- Shaded banks and structure during stonefly activity
- Lower-river shelves and slower seams during mayfly hatches
How to Fish It
- Start with a golden stone dry and a nymph dropper
- Begin with a three- to five-foot dropper and shorten it as bugs emerge
- Watch for PMDs and Green Drakes from late morning through afternoon
- Use smaller stoneflies and Yellow Sallies along banks and riffle edges
- Fish caddis dries, pupa, and soft hackles later in the day
- Use streamers during rain, cloud cover, or temporary water-color changes
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, or olive streamer, size 4–6
Blackfoot River
Conditions
The Blackfoot near Bonner is running around 2,060 CFS, with morning water temperatures in the upper 50s. Salmonflies are concentrated in the upper river near Russell Gates and upstream. The middle and lower river are fishing well with golden stones, PMDs, Green Drakes, Yellow Sallies, and caddis.
Where to Fish
- Upper-river and canyon banks for remaining salmonflies
- Middle-river banks and boulder edges for golden stones
- Inside corners below faster current
- Riffle transitions during PMD and Green Drake activity
- Shaded wood and undercut banks
- Tailouts and soft buckets during midday hatches
How to Fish It
- Use foam dries in sizes 8–12 with a substantial dropper
- Start deep in the morning and shorten the dropper as insects emerge
- Fish smaller golden stones and Yellow Sallies later in the day
- Watch for PMD and caddis sippers during afternoon and evening windows
- Use Green Drake patterns during cloudy periods
- Streamer fish when rain adds color or lowers light levels
Top Patterns
- Foam salmonfly dry, size 4–6
- Golden stone dry, size 8–12
- Stonefly nymph, size 6–10
- PMD dry or emerger, size 16–18
- Green Drake dry or emerger, size 10–12
- Yellow Sally dry or nymph, size 12–16
- Caddis dry or emerger, size 14–18
Clark Fork River
Conditions
The Clark Fork is running around 3,170 CFS above Missoula and 6,690 CFS below Missoula. The upper river is getting lower and may have increasing weed growth, while the river through and west of Missoula is fishing well. Golden stones, PMDs, Green Drakes, Yellow Sallies, and caddis are active.
Where to Fish
- Riffles and softer edges through and west of Missoula
- Foam lines along inside banks
- Shallow shelves near deeper holding water
- Tailouts during PMD and Green Drake activity
- Bank structure during golden stone activity
- Lower-river seams where presentation control is realistic
How to Fish It
- Use golden stone dry-dropper rigs through the morning
- Start with a deeper dropper and adjust as the hatch builds
- Expect better single-dry fishing around lunchtime and into the evening
- Use PMD and Green Drake dries when trout establish feeding lanes
- Fish Yellow Sallies and caddis during afternoon windows
- Try streamers along banks and deeper buckets during low light
Top Patterns
- Golden stone dry, size 8–12
- Stonefly 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, white, or black streamer
Rock Creek
Conditions
Rock Creek near Clinton is around 785 CFS, with morning water temperatures in the low 50s. Salmonflies have largely finished. Golden stones are now the primary large dry, supported by Yellow Sallies, PMDs, Green Drakes, and caddis. Flows are becoming more wadeable, but careful crossings are still appropriate.
Where to Fish
- Willow edges and cutbanks for golden stones
- 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 dry-dropper rigs for consistent fishing
- Fish Green Drake patterns during cloudy, cool, or drizzly conditions
- Switch to smaller attractor dries during the afternoon
- Use PMD dries and emergers in riffle edges and tailouts
- Fish caddis dries and pupa into the evening
- Swing or strip streamers during rain and low light
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 226 CFS. It remains the cleanest and most manageable smaller-water option in the Bitterroot system. Golden stones, PMDs, Yellow Sallies, caddis, and smaller mayflies are the primary insects.
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 small dry-dropper rig
- Use PMD dries and emergers in slower tailouts
- Fish golden stones and Yellow Sallies near banks
- Swing caddis pupa and soft hackles through riffle edges
- Scale down leaders and tippet when trout become selective
- Make careful first casts before moving 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 mayfly nymph, size 14–18
- Soft hackle, size 12–16
- Small olive streamer
Planning Note
Cool rain Sunday and Monday should keep water temperatures comfortable and favor midday fishing. Begin with subsurface or dry-dropper rigs, then shorten the dropper or switch to single dries as mayflies and stoneflies emerge.
Scattered thunderstorms remain possible Tuesday through Friday. Cloud cover may improve Green Drake, PMD, and streamer fishing, but anglers should leave the water immediately when lightning develops. Heavier rain may briefly change river clarity and flows, so check conditions before launching or committing to a long wade-fishing section.
Independence Day currently looks sunny and warmer. Start earlier Saturday and focus on PMDs, golden stones, riffle edges, and shaded banks before afternoon light intensifies.
River Flow Snapshot – June 28, 2026
Gauge values are based on the latest available readings reviewed early June 28. USGS values are provisional and may change during the day.
| River | Section | Gauge | Flow (CFS) | Trend / Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bitterroot | Upper | Near Darby (12344000) | 1,250 | Stable / Fishable |
| Bitterroot | Middle | Bell Crossing nr Victor (12350250) | 2,740 | Slowly Dropping / Productive |
| Bitterroot | Lower | Near Missoula (12352500) | 3,760 | Dropping / Good Edges |
| Blackfoot | Lower | Near Bonner (12340000) | 2,060 | Improving / Big Bugs |
| Clark Fork | Upper | Above Missoula (12340500) | 3,170 | Improving / Watch Weeds |
| Clark Fork | Lower | Below Missoula (12353000) | 6,690 | Improving / Float Water |
| Rock Creek | Lower | Near Clinton (12334510) | 785 | Stable / More Wadeable |
| West Fork Bitterroot | Lower | Near Conner (12342500) | 226 | Clear / Manageable |
Flows remain productive across the region. Rain may create short-term changes, so check current gauges before launching, crossing, or committing to a remote section.
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
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
Hatch and Fly Chart – Fourth of July Week
| Hatch / Insect | Activity | Best Time | Recommended Fly | Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Golden Stones | Strong across the Bitterroot, Blackfoot, Clark Fork, and Rock Creek | Late morning through afternoon | Foam dry or stonefly nymph | 8–12 |
| Green Drakes | Best during cloudy, cool, wet, or stormy periods | Late morning through afternoon | Nymph, emerger, or dry | 10–12 |
| PMDs | Consistent in riffles, seams, and tailouts | Late morning through 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 |
| Salmonflies | Mostly limited to the upper Blackfoot and isolated upper drainage water | Midday through afternoon | Foam dry or large stonefly nymph | 4–6 |
Golden stones, PMDs, and Green Drakes are the most important daytime hatches. Yellow Sallies and caddis add strong afternoon and evening opportunities, particularly when rain does not disrupt clarity.
Gear Picks of the Week
Rain Jacket
Rain is likely early in the week, with additional showers and thunderstorms possible through Friday. A dependable waterproof shell will matter more than decorative optimism.
Dry-Dropper Leaders
Golden stone or attractor dries with PMD, Yellow Sally, caddis, or stonefly droppers provide the strongest all-around setup this week.
Streamer Line or Sink Tip
Cloud cover, rain, and temporary color changes can improve streamer fishing. Carry an intermediate or light sink-tip option for banks and deeper buckets.
Strategy and Expectations This Week
This week should provide excellent hatch variety, but changing weather will matter. Cool rain favors midday mayflies, streamers, and comfortable water temperatures. Heavier rainfall may temporarily reduce clarity or create short flow bumps.
The Bitterroot remains the best overall option. The Blackfoot offers the final reliable salmonfly opportunity in its upper reaches, the Clark Fork is producing strong dry-fly windows, Rock Creek has excellent golden stone and mayfly fishing, and the West Fork remains the most manageable smaller-water choice.
