Bitterroot River
- Becoming increasingly popular, the Bitterroot
offers great dry fly fishing from early
March through October. The Bitterroot pleasantly
splits the Sapphire and Bitterroot Mountain ranges and incredible views
of large jagged granite peaks are the back drop while you cast to wild
trout. This large fluvial river basin has many side channels, spring
up-wellings, and log jams, providing anglers with all the characteristics
of a great trout river. You can pitch attracter patterns to pocket and
riffle water on the upper reaches or target a crafty rainbow sipping
small mayflies in the flats on the lower. This river has it all.
Blackfoot River -
Famous from Norman Macleans "A River Runs Through It", the
Blackfoot is one of the most scenic rivers we float. Large rock formations,
canyons, rapids, boulders, and lots of pocket water will keep things
exciting as you bounce along this river corridor. The Big Blackfoot
has crystal clear riffles and deep emerald pools that house, native
Westlope Cutthroat, Native Bull, browns, and cuttbows for your angling
pleasure. In early summer high water brings the largest browns in the
river towards the banks and the streamer fishing can be phenomenal.
Come float the Blackfoot and you will understand why there was a movie
made about it.
Clark Fork River - The Clark Fork boasts
nearly 300 miles of meandering river between the headwaters at the confluence
of Warm Spring and Silver Bow Creeks near Butte and its mouth at Idaho's
Lake Pend Oreille. Trout fishing water on the Clark Fork can be divided
into two major sections-- the upper 125 miles above Missoula and the
120 miles below the confluence of the Blackfoot River to the confluence
of the Flathead River near Paradise, Montana.The upper river grows from
a small easily-waded stream at Warm Springs to a modest-sized river
by the time it reaches the confluence of the Blackfoot River just above
Missoula. The upper Clark Fork has meandering and braided channels with
back channels that move from open ranch land into pine forests and cottonwood
bottoms as it nears Missoula. The lower Clark Fork is characterized
by big riffles and long slow-moving runs. It is a large river best suited
to fishing from a boat. The lower Clark Fork is known for its opportunities
to cast to large rising fish. It has consistant hatches and offers dry-fly
fishing from April through November. You can expect scenic, big, open-water
stretches with long bars and wooded islands, large eddies, deep holes,
cottonwood bottoms, and low elevation pine forests with occasional rock
outcroppings. The size of this river can be intimidating to most, but
our guides are experienced on over 150 miles of this river!
Flathead River - The Flathead
River is one of Montana’s largest rivers. Draining a sizeable
portion of Northwest Montana, including parts of Glacier National Park
and the Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex, the waters of the Flathead
River flow swiftly through some of the most beautiful scenery Montana
has to offer. Fly fishing the Flathead River does not require exact
fly imitations nor does it require perfect technique which makes this
a great river for beginners. The Flathead River is fed primarily by
snowmelt, resulting in clear, cold water that has fewer nutrients than
many other Montana rivers so the Native Westlope cutthroat are eager
to take a well presented attractor pattern. For those who are trying
to maximize activities, the Flathead River is conveniently located near
Bigfork, Lakeside, Kalispell, Glacier Park, Polson, & Whitefish,
MT allowing for a fly fishing experience with time left in the day.
Missouri River - Known as the
world's largest spring creek, “The MO” is a challenging
but satisfying experience. Casting tiny dry flies to large wild trout
is the champagne of fly fishing. That's what the Missouri is all about.
Although some of the fishing on this river can be technical, there can
also be fantastic dry fly fishing with larger fly patterns. This river
holds over 4500 trout per mile in the upper reaches, and the hatches
can be prolific. The Mo is a great alternative in late spring / early
summer and offers great dry fly opportunities when most of the state
is still in run off. If you have never experienced the Missouri you
should definitely put this one at the top of your list.
Swan River
- Beginning in the Mission Mountains, the Swan River
runs north through a heavily timbered valley between the Majestic Mission
Mountains and the Swan Range (part of the Bob Marshall Wilderness Area).
This section of the river has heavily forested banks, lots of turns,
and plenty of logjams that lie in wait for the inattentive floater.
Cutthroat, rainbow, and bull trout are all present in the Swan and it
is not heavily fished by Montana standards. This makes the Swan
a great river for those looking to escape the crowds and find some eager
fish.