Guided Dry Fly Fishing

4 Great Rivers, Solitude

When you stay at Missoula River Lodge, fishing the Clark Fork River doesn’t require a drive, just a short walk to a waiting drift boat.

Even with an exceptional fishery so close, variety is the name of the game in the Missoula area. Our guests can easily experience the Bitterroot River, Clark Fork River, Blackfoot River, Missouri River, and Rock Creek. All have distinct personalities that reward the traveling angler in new ways.

Diversity within a river complex assures solitude and durability of the fishery. With hundreds of river miles to spread boats out in, many of our days of guiding we will not see another boat. Yes, even in today’s popular fly fishing culture there is water that is only lightly fished. Nothing compares to fishing in Montana on your own personal water. With so many different fly fishing cards to play, we cycle between great options. If the Blackfoot River is fishing slow, hit the Bitterroot. If the Bitterroot River is funky, head to Rock Creek. Or, maybe it’s a Missouri River trip during spring run off that makes the most sense. We have so much water to choose from, trips year after year can be completely different.

We handle all aspects of your fishing vacation. Our shuttle staff picks up guests at the airport for a short fifteen minute drive to the lodge. Upon check in we pride ourselves on freeing our guests to enjoy a relaxing vacation. If you are new to fly fishing we can supply all your fishing gear at no extra charge. Come to Missoula, we’ll take care of the rest.

An exciting fly fishing trip is what we strive to provide for our guests. It’s why we own a private boat ramp on the Clark Fork River and the most commercially limited float permit on Rock Creek. We understand being the only boat at private boat ramp, taking your time beats the “Morning River Rush”.

Please check out the individual River pages (Bitterroot, Blackfoot, Rock Creek, Clark Fork, Missouri) for more information on Missoula fly fishing.

Map of Western Montana.

When you stay at Missoula River Lodge, fishing the Clark Fork River doesn’t require a drive, just a short walk to a waiting drift boat.

Even with an exceptional fishery so close, variety is the name of the game in the Missoula area. Our guests can easily experience the Bitterroot River, Clark Fork River, Blackfoot River, Missouri River, and Rock Creek. All have distinct personalities that reward the traveling angler in new ways.

Diversity within a river complex assures solitude and durability of the fishery. With hundreds of river miles to spread boats out in, many of our days of guiding we will not see another boat. Yes, even in today’s popular fly fishing culture there is water that is only lightly fished. Nothing compares to fishing in Montana on your own personal water. With so many different fly fishing cards to play, we cycle between great options. If the Blackfoot River is fishing slow, hit the Bitterroot. If the Bitterroot River is funky, head to Rock Creek. Or, maybe it’s a Missouri River trip during spring run off that makes the most sense. We have so much water to choose from, trips year after year can be completely different.

We handle all aspects of your fishing vacation. Our shuttle staff picks up guests at the airport for a short fifteen minute drive to the lodge. Upon check in we pride ourselves on freeing our guests to enjoy a relaxing vacation. If you are new to fly fishing we can supply all your fishing gear at no extra charge. Come to Missoula, we’ll take care of the rest.

An exciting fly fishing trip is what we strive to provide for our guests. It’s why we own a private boat ramp on the Clark Fork River and the most commercially limited float permit on Rock Creek. We understand being the only boat at private boat ramp, taking your time beats the “Morning River Rush”.

Please check out the individual River pages (Bitterroot, Blackfoot, Rock Creek, Clark Fork, Missouri) for more information on Missoula fly fishing.

Map of Western Montana.

400 Miles of Options

The Missoula area river map is diverse in its options, geography and personality of water. The sheer scope and size of the five river complex creates vast differences in hydrology which in turn produces trout species diversification along with widest breadth of aquatic hatches in the Western United States.

Bitterroot River

The Bitterroot River is our most hatch oriented trout fishery. With over 90 miles of floatable water, it changes in character rapidly from the headwaters to the mouth. The boat ramp options begin near Missoula and stretch upriver all the way to 25 miles south of Darby. In the upper river, the predominant species are  West Slope Cutthroat trout. They are plentiful and rise easily to dry flies. Trout dominance changes in tandem with the build of the river. Lurking brown trout are the kings of the middle Bitterroot. The Bitterroot River should be at the top of your trip list.

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Clark Fork River

The Clark Fork is a river of two worlds, divided by a massive change in size near Missoula. The Upper Clark is a small, meandering meadow stream whose trout population is over 90% brown trout. She is lightly fished with most anglers focused on the 20 mile section upriver from the mouth of the Blackfoot. Fishing with streamers and big dries are the most effective techniques on the Upper Clark and can produce exceptional results. The Lower Clark Fork grows exponentially after being joined by Rock Creek, the Blackfoot, and Bitterroot. Home to our biggest population of wild rainbow trout, the Clark Fork west of Missoula will challenge and entertain the highest level of dry fly angler. A complex hatch cycle beginning in March carries anglers all the way into late October.

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Blackfoot River

The Blackfoot is habitat for a mixed population of rainbows, cutthroat, browns, and Bull trout. A long treasured destination for anglers due to unmatched scenery  and consistent fishing. A clean, clear, free flowing river alternately tumbling over ledge rock shelves and twisting through soaring canyons.

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Rock Creek

Rock Creek is a limited access stream east of Missoula. Our outfit holds one of three commercial float permits for Rock Creek. The permit allows for a delightful addition to an angling itinerary, and we highly recommend taking a ride down Rock Creek during the month of June. The float options are numerous and cut through one of the prettiest valleys in the West.

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Missouri River

The Missouri is an outstanding tailwater fishery with super charged hatches during high water. Strong flows, large trout populations, and massive insect hatches make it the river to fish during the month of May. For a streamer fanatic its tough to compare when the flows are high.

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Bitterroot River

The Bitterroot River is our most hatch oriented trout fishery. With over 90 miles of floatable water, it changes in character rapidly from the headwaters to the mouth. The boat ramp options begin near Missoula and stretch upriver all the way to 25 miles south of Darby. In the upper river, the predominant species are  West Slope Cutthroat trout. They are plentiful and rise easily to dry flies. Trout dominance changes in tandem with the build of the river. Lurking brown trout are the kings of the middle Bitterroot. The Bitterroot River should be at the top of your trip list.

Read More

Clark Fork River

The Clark Fork is a river of two worlds, divided by a massive change in size near Missoula. The Upper Clark is a small, meandering meadow stream whose trout population is over 90% brown trout. She is lightly fished with most anglers focused on the 20 mile section upriver from the mouth of the Blackfoot. Fishing with streamers and big dries are the most effective techniques on the Upper Clark and can produce exceptional results. The Lower Clark Fork grows exponentially after being joined by Rock Creek, the Blackfoot, and Bitterroot. Home to our biggest population of wild rainbow trout, the Clark Fork west of Missoula will challenge and entertain the highest level of dry fly angler. A complex hatch cycle beginning in March carries anglers all the way into late October.

Read More

Blackfoot River

The Blackfoot is habitat for a mixed population of rainbows, cutthroat, browns, and Bull trout. A long treasured destination for anglers due to unmatched scenery  and consistent fishing. A clean, clear, free flowing river alternately tumbling over ledge rock shelves and twisting through soaring canyons.

Read More

Rock Creek

Rock Creek is a limited access stream east of Missoula. Our outfit holds one of three commercial float permits for Rock Creek. The permit allows for a delightful addition to an angling itinerary, and we highly recommend taking a ride down Rock Creek during the month of June. The float options are numerous and cut through one of the prettiest valleys in the West.

Read More

Missouri River

The Missouri is an outstanding tailwater fishery with super charged hatches during high water. Strong flows, large trout populations, and massive insect hatches make it the river to fish during the month of May. For a streamer fanatic its tough to compare when the flows are high.

Read More

Fly Fishing Videos

Missoula Fly Fishing Videos

These Missoula fly fishing videos below were produced by our Missoula fly fishing guides while on the water with camera in hand. They span the seasons and years fishing the waters of Missoula Montana. Please enjoy stories and images from across Western Montana.

Settle In and Enjoy Some Great Stories and Fishing Action!