People always ask, “Where is the best place in Montana to fly fish?” or “What are the best fly fishing rivers in Montana?” You’ll get many different opinions on this from many different people, but here at Montana Guiding Company we have fished all over the state, and we’ve got the top three choices for you.
When calculating the best rivers, our formula is a combination of numbers of fish, size of fish, dry fly fishing, lack of people you see on the water, and scenic beauty.
Bitterroot River
I truly believe there is no better river in the Springtime in Montana than the Bitterroot River. While other parts of the state and West are still shoveling snow, we are fishing dry flies to big fish on the Bitterroot. The famed Skwala Stonefly Hatch starts in Mid-March and goes until late-April here on the Bitterroot. Your Montana Guiding Company Guide knows the ins and outs of all the side channels on the “Root”, which is a necessity for success. The Bitterroot can be a very intimidating river to read, row, and understand, so it’s best to hire a guide to have the best experience here. We usually float 10-12 miles on the Bitterroot, giving the angler many different types of water and spots to fish. This river in the Springtime and the first half of Summer also gives the angler the chance to catch the biggest brown of the year on a dry fly, as big browns move into shallow feeding runs, waiting for your stonefly to drift over them. We have clients that travel far and wide every year just for the opportunity to hunt big Brown Trout on the Bitterroot. We look forward to watching those dry flies all winter long!
Clark Fork River
The Clark Fork is historically the most underrated trout fishery in the West, and I don’t say that lightly. It is comprised of two different parts, the Upper and Lower rivers. The upper is considered anything East of Missoula, and the lower to the West. The upper river is similar to the Bitterroot in nature, with many windy corners, grass banks, and lots of wood and structure in the water. Here we hunt brown and rainbow trout with an assortment of techniques. This part of the river is one of the least pressured in Montana, and there’s a good chance you’ll experience days with fish and no people. That is the combination we look for at Montana Guiding Company.
The Lower Clark Fork is a large, wide river that has many willing rainbows and cuttbows eager for your fly. Here, great mayfly hatches steal the show in Spring and Fall, with Blue Wing Olives being one of the highlights. The lower Clark also gets a great hatch of large Golden and Nocturnal stoneflies. These massive bugs bring up big fish to smash the surface, and don’t forget to hold on, because lower Clark Fork fish are some of the hardest fighting in the state.
Blackfoot River:
The Blackfoot is well known as maybe the most scenic river in Montana. Originally made famous by a “River Runs Through It”, this magically river starts high up in the Bob Marshall wilderness, and flows down to Missoula, winding its way through canyons, valleys, cottonwood bottoms, and more. But it’s not just scenery here for the Blackfoot River, the fly fishing can be some of the best in the state. June is the hot month on the Blackfoot, as it boasts a prolific Salmonfly hatch. There are some seriously big fish in the Blackfoot, too. When fishing the salmonfly hatch here, you stand a legitimate chance to hook a 2 foot trout on a dry fly. There are not many rivers that give you that chance.
The Blackfoot also boasts great Fall streamer fishing before Winter sets in, as big fish put on the feed bag in preparation for the cold months to come. We have many people that come to fish with us every year, who always make sure to fish the Blackfoot for at least one day of their trip. It is a special river and we would love to show it to you.
We’ll see you on the water,
Trevor Anderson
Owner/Outfitter Montana Guiding Company
Contact Montana Guiding Company today to hire a Missoula Montana Fly Fishing Guide to learn more about fly fishing in Montana.
About Montana Guiding Company:
Montana Guiding Company is a full-service fly fishing outfitter based in Missoula, Montana. Specializing in guided fly fishing trips on some of Montana’s most famous rivers, the company offers personalized fly fishing experiences to anglers of all skill levels. With decades of guiding expertise, Montana Guiding Company provides professional and customized trips on the Bitterroot, Blackfoot, Clark Fork, Missouri rivers, and more.
Contact Information:
Contact Person: Trevor Anderson
Phone Number: (406) 239-7959