
Missoula Fishing Report
Finally, fall is here, and we can all exhale (and inhale too). After some good cold rains, the forest fire smoke has all but disappeared–and the mayflies have begun to pop. Tricos, BWOs, Mahoganies, and tiny psuedos have blanketed the Clark Fork, ‘Root, and Blackfoot over the past several days.
That’s right, the real reasons for the season are here: long leaders, light tippets, and little bugs fed to rising trout will dominate our Missoula fishing for the next month or so.
Clark Fork River
Exceptional hatches and steadily rising fish on cloudy days.
Bitterroot River
Double dip with tricos in the morning and psuedos/mahoganies in the afternoon.
Blackfoot River
Not always thought of as a mayfly river, but the blue wings have been impressive up here in recent days. Who knew the old Royal Wulff still caught fish!?
Will the big bugs still play?
For sure. October caddis, nocturnal stones, and hoppers will still turn some of the rivers’ biggest fish, but safe money will be on parachutes, cripples, and comparaduns for the duration of the season. Tie your leaders long, find a long-floating imitation, put it at the end of a reach cast — or mend it and befriend it — and let that mayfly ride!
Upper Bitterroot
Lower Bitterroot
Blackfoot River
Upper Clark Fork
Lower Clark Fork
Rock Creek
Missouri River
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