Missoula Montana Fly Fishing Guide

Missoula Montana

Located in the heart of Western Montana, Missoula is a vibrant hub for outdoor enthusiasts and fly fishing anglers alike. This charming city, located about 200 miles west of Bozeman, boasts a population of over 75,000 residents and a rich history dating back to the late 19th century. The Clark Fork River runs through a vibrant downtown district full of terrific restaurants, bars, and hotels.

Home to the University of Montana and their vaunted Grizzlies, residents of Missoula and Bozeman come together each year to root for their respective teams during the "Brawl of the Wild" football game at the end of each season.

The diverse Montana fly fishing options located within a short drive of town have made Missoula a popular destination among traveling anglers. Spring, early summer, and late fall are considered the best times of the year to fly fish near Missoula. Summer and early fall water conditions vary yearly but are generally challenged by warm temperatures and streamflow from mid-July through mid-September.

Clark Fork River

The Clark Fork River, spanning over 300 miles from its headwaters near Deer Lodge to Lake Pend Oreille in Idaho, offers diverse fly fishing and recreational opportunities near Missoula, Montana.

This waterway, transitioning from a small stream to a vast freestone river, has been the center of environmental battles. Past mining and industrial pollution threatened the ecosystem, but organized efforts by groups like the Clark Fork Coalition have made significant progress in restoring this once-imperiled river, which now serves as a celebrated local resource for anglers and recreational users in Missoula.

Anglers fishing the Clark Fork River concentrate their early season efforts upstream of Missoula while looking to the lower reaches, near St. Regis Montana once the summer heat fades in September.

Blackfoot River Fly Fishing

The Blackfoot River, a renowned trout stream in Montana, gained fame in the 1990s through the movie "A River Runs Through It." This stunning 130-mile river flows through a landscape of forested banks, craggy canyons, and rolling hills, offering endless recreational opportunities for anglers and floaters.

The Blackfoot is a bucket-list destination for serious fly anglers, with prolific summer hatches attracting native Westslope Cutthroat, rainbow, brown, brook, and bull trout. This wild freestone river is among the most scenic blue-ribbon wild trout fisheries in Montana and revered by both travleling and Montana anglers alike.

Early summer stonefly hatches deliver legendary dry fly fishing in Montana for anglers fishing from Ovando to Bonner. Caddis, mayfly, and terrestrial insect activity bring trout to the surface throughout the best months of the season.

Bitterroot River Fly Fishing

The Bitterroot River in Montana offers a diverse and rewarding fly fishing experience surrounded by towering peaks and a pristine river bottom. Flowing through lush forests, open meadows, and rugged canyons; the river attracts anglers with its abundant hatches and stunning scenery.

Known for year-round dry fly fishing, the Bitterroot is suitable for both wade and float fishing, making it a haven for experienced and novice anglers alike.

Anglers descend upon the Bitterroot Valley during the early season skwala stonefly hatch as the fly fishing in Montana awakes from its winter slumber. The entire river fishes well in June and early July when water temperatures are ideal. The upper river becomes the main attraction for anglers as the heat of summer settles in along with low streamflow.

Rock Creek Fly Fishing

Rock Creek flows into the Clark Fork after a 50-mile journey from its headwaters, near Phillipsburg, Montana. This medium-sized river is one of the best trout streams for anglers fly fishing in Montana

Public access is plentiful along the forest service road that follows alongside the river and at designated public access sites. The river gets busy during the prime, summer hatches but restrictions on floating during most of the season helps keep traffic manageable.

Spring hatches, including march browns, skwala, blue-winged olives give way to the stonefly and caddis hatches of early summer. Hoppers, ants and beetles become important as the summer hear settles across Montana.

Rock Creek is a, year-round option for DIY Montana anglers except during the spring runoff.

Missoula, Montana Fly Fishing Trips

Fins and Feathers has been outfitting Montana fly fishing trips for over two decades. Although we are based in Bozeman, our expertise and experience stretch across the Big Sky state and northern Rockies.

Guided fly fishing trips near Missoula are available throughout the year, but our preferences are for the early and late seasons. The upper Clark Fork River is a springtime favorite of ours, while the Blackfoot River and lower Clark Fork are fantastic fall fisheries.

Customized itineraries that include several days of fly fishing in Montana on several rivers near Missoula are recommended for experienced anglers.

Contact us to learn more about the Fins and Feathers guided fly fishing options near Missoula.