Missoula / Hamilton
Bitterroot River
Live Conditions
Bitterroot River — Near Darby
7-Day Flow
→ Stable
24-Hr Pressure
26.45 inHg · → High/stable
Local Weather
Tough conditions — fish deep
Today
☁️Overcast
64° / 37°
Tomorrow
🌤️Partly cloudy
70° / 42°
Thu
🌦️Drizzle
81° / 50°
0.02"
Fri
🌧️Rain
79° / 52°
0.16"
Cold front incoming — go deep with nymphs, surface activity likely slow.
Weather by Open-Meteo · No API key · Updated every 30 min
What should I fish today?
⚡ AIAI-powered recommendation using today's live flow, temperature, and hatch data.
9.4
Time of Day
Using: 469 CFS · 59.4°F · Hopper season continuing. BWOs returning
What should I pack?
Rod, flies, tippet, and safety gear specific to today's Bitterroot River conditions.
🪰 Hatch Calendar
Bitterroot River · September · Early Fall
🟢 Active now at 59.4°F water
🟡 Approaching — within 5°F of trigger range
Select month
Hopper season continuing. BWOs returning (size 18-20). Mahogany Duns (size 16-18) late month. Cooling water, active fish, fall colors through the Bitterroot Valley spectacular.
🟢 Active · 🟡 Approaching · ⚪ Seasonal only
River Map
About Bitterroot River
Classic western Montana freestone flowing north from the Bitterroot Range to its confluence with the Clark Fork in Missoula. Famous for the early-season Skwala stonefly hatch and a beloved local Salmonfly emergence.
Regulations
Standard Montana trout regulations apply on the Bitterroot; catch-and-release is encouraged for wild westslope cutthroat. Montana fishing license required. Verify current regs at fwp.mt.gov before fishing.
Learn More
Guides to help you fish Bitterroot River with more confidence.
Montana Fishing Regulations for Fly Anglers
Montana's Conservation License prerequisite and AIS pass, the third-Saturday-in-May to November 30 general stream season, blue-ribbon special regs on…
Trout Species of Montana
Montana's six salmonids and how to tell a harvestable brown from a release-required cutthroat or a protected bull trout. Missouri and Yellowstone…
Seasonal Guide to Montana Fly Fishing
Montana rivers are a completely different game each season — Salmonfly in late May, PMD and caddis in July, technical Trico on the Missouri in…