BIGFORK ANGLERS     |     405 BRIDGE STREET    BIGFORK, MT 59911    |    (406) 837-FORK (3675)
Fly Fishing Whitefish Montana













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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.

 

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