Montana ·
Bitterroot River Fly Fishing Report - May 31, 2026
BITTERROOT RIVER
ReportMAY 31 — JUN 7, 2026
🌊
Flow
10900CFS
Bitterroot River near Missoula MT
🌡️
Water Temp
—
Updated 2026-05-31
☀️
Weather
39–64°F
Light Rain
💧
Clarity
Clear
Check post-storm
The Bitterroot near Missoula is running at 10,900 CFS with a gauge height of 8.84 ft — well above normal spring levels and pushing hard through the main channel. Overnight and weekend rain will keep flows elevated, but soft inside bends, side channels, and protected bank seams are holding fish and remain fishable with the right approach.
What's Working — Hot Flies
Tungsten Pat's Rubber Legs - Tan & Brown
#6
Olsen's Straggle Stone Brown Barbless
#12
Wiggly Worm (TBH)
#8
Blowtorch - Hare's Ear
#12
Egan's Thread Frenchie Jig - Olive
#12
Slush Egg Apricot
#14
Coffey's CH Sparkle Minnow Sculpin
#6
Sculpzilla - Olive
#4
Joe's Mini Crayfish Jig
#6
Corn-fed Caddis (CDC) Tan
#20
Parachute - Blue Wing Olive
#22
Egan's GTI Caddis - Olive
#12
Hatch Chart
| Insect | Size | Activity | Prime Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salmonfly (Pteronarcys californica) | #4–6 | Emerging / Building | Midday–Afternoon along willow & alder banks |
| Mother's Day Caddis | #14–16 | Active | Afternoon, especially on overcast days |
| Blue-Winged Olive (Baetis) | #18–22 | Active | Overcast mornings & afternoons |
| Stonefly Nymphs (Black/Brown) | #6–12 | Peak Subsurface | All day — dominant food source in high water |
| Gray Drake | #12–14 | Sporadic | Late afternoon when fish are visibly rising |
Best Time Window
- 10:30 AM – 1:00 PM: Best nymphing window as air temps rise and trout move onto soft edges and inside seams to feed subsurface
- 1:00 PM – 3:30 PM: Prime afternoon window for Mother's Day Caddis and early Salmonfly activity — watch calm back-eddies and willow-lined banks for surface action
- Overcast periods (all day): BWO hatches can fire any time skies are gray — keep a Parachute BWO rigged and ready when fishing protected flats and slow tailouts
Guide's Tip
From the benchAt 10,900 CFS the main channel is a freight train — don't fight it, ignore it. Every fish worth catching today is tucked into a side channel, behind a current break, or along a soft inside bend where the current slows to a walk. Rig a heavy stonefly anchor like the Tungsten Pat's Rubber Legs with a smaller trailer nymph 18–24 inches back, use plenty of split shot, and keep your drifts short and controlled with aggressive mends. Watch for the first Salmonflies crawling on willow and alder branches along the bank — when you see them, slow down and scan the calm margins for rising fish, because the dry fly action can ignite even in high water if you're in the right spot at the right time.
Main Species
Westslope Cutthroat Trout
Brown Trout
Rainbow Trout
