Montana ·
Bitterroot River Fly Fishing Report - June 7, 2026
BITTERROOT RIVER
ReportJUN 8 — 15, 2026
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Flow
6310CFS
Bitterroot River near Missoula MT
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Water Temp
53.8°F
Updated 2026-06-07
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Weather
31–72°F
Partly Cloudy then Widespread Frost
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Clarity
Clear
Check post-storm
The Bitterroot is flowing at 6,310 cfs (gauge height 7.02 ft) with water temps at a cool 53.8°F — still elevated from recent runoff but dropping fast and clearing, making nymphing and streamer fishing the primary game with dry fly windows opening up mid-afternoon.
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
Egan's GTI Caddis - Olive
#12
Corn-fed Caddis (CDC) Tan
#20
Parachute - Blue Wing Olive
#22
Hatch Chart
| Insect | Size | Activity | Prime Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salmonfly (Pteronarcys californica) | #4–6 | Emerging / Building | Midday–Afternoon along willow & alder banks |
| Golden Stonefly (Hesperoperla pacifica) | #6–8 | Peak / Active | Late morning through afternoon |
| Green Drake (Drunella grandis) | #12–14 | Sporadic / Building | Late afternoon when fish are visibly rising |
| Pale Morning Dun (Ephemerella inermis) | #16–18 | Active | Late morning to early afternoon |
| Blue-Winged Olive (Baetis spp.) | #18–22 | Active — especially on overcast days | Overcast mornings & ahead of Tuesday's storm |
| Caddis (Mother's Day / Spotted Sedge) | #14–16 | Active | Afternoon, especially on overcast stretches |
Best Time Window
- Monday 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM: Nymphing the seams and eddy lines as water warms post-frost
- Monday 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM: Prime dry fly window — golden stone, caddis, and green drake activity peaks with afternoon warmth
- Tuesday 7:00 AM – 11:00 AM: Pre-storm streamer and nymph bite before afternoon thunderstorms arrive
Guide's Tip
From the benchWith the Bitterroot still running high at 6,310 cfs, focus your energy on the margins — fish the inside seams, eddy lines, and slack water behind boulders where trout are conserving energy and ambushing food washing by. Monday's sunny skies and 72°F high should push a solid afternoon stone and caddis hatch, so plan to be on the water by 1:00 PM. Watch out for tonight's hard frost (31°F) — it will slow the morning bite considerably, so sleep in and hit the water after 10 AM when things warm up. Tuesday brings 90% chance of storms, which can trigger aggressive streamer and nymph fishing early, but get off the water before afternoon lightning arrives.
Main Species
Westslope Cutthroat Trout
Brown Trout
Rainbow Trout
