bitterroot-river

Bitterroot River is a river in Montana.

It ranks #9 among the 17 waters of Montana in the registry, and is of national prominence.

Also called The 'Root and The Bitterroot.

Fished for trout (inferred from the species listed).

Species: rainbow trout, brown trout, cutthroat trout, bull trout and mountain whitefish.

USGS GNIS record: 798973.

It shares a watercourse with Clark Fork River, Montana.

Access points: Stevensville Bridge, Bell Crossing and Florence Bridge.

Confluences: Conner.

New Bridge (access). It is fishable and launchable. In Hamilton; top of the 'middle Bitterroot' (GHB).

It is upstream of Stevensville Bridge.

It is downstream of Hannon Memorial Bridge.

New Bridge to Stevensville (stretch). It is fishable and floatable. GHB: 'often referred to as the "middle Bitterroot"'; braided side channels and logjams. Also called Middle Bitterroot.

It is upstream of Stevensville to Kelly Island.

It is downstream of Forks to New Bridge.

Forks to New Bridge (stretch). It is fishable and floatable. GHB: from the East/West Fork confluence past Hannon Memorial Bridge, through Darby to Hamilton. Also called Upper Bitterroot.

It is upstream of New Bridge to Stevensville.

Stevensville to Kelly Island (stretch). It is fishable and floatable. GHB: lower Bitterroot downstream of Stevensville Bridge; wide runs, least wade-friendly. Also called Lower Bitterroot.

It is downstream of New Bridge to Stevensville.

Applebury (access). It is fishable. West Fork Bitterroot access off West Fork Rd (GHB).

Hannon Memorial Bridge (access). It is fishable and launchable.

It is upstream of New Bridge.

Kelly Island (access). It is fishable and launchable. Named by GHB as the end of the lower section ('Stevensville to Kelly Island').

Tucker Crossing (access). It is fishable and launchable. GTB: 'From Tucker Crossing just south of Victor to the Florence Bridge, catch-and-release regulations ...' Relative order to Bell Crossing not stated.

West Fork Job Corps (access). It is fishable. West Fork Bitterroot (not the main stem): fishing access off West Fork Rd (GHB). Also called Job Corps.

Float: Stevensville to Florence, from Stevensville Bridge to Florence Bridge.

Float: Bell Crossing to Stevensville Bridge, from Bell Crossing to Stevensville Bridge.

Sourced from 1 independent fly site.

Sources: glaciertoyellowstone.com, The Grizzly Hackle (retrieved 2026-10-20) and missoulianangler.com (retrieved 2026-10-20).

Hatches

Hopper (terrestrial)

Stage: adult. Well sourced.

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug hatching
Sep hatching
Oct
Nov
Dec

Sources: missoulianangler.com, The Grizzly Hackle

March Brown

Well sourced.

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr hatching
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

Sources: missoulianangler.com, The Grizzly Hackle

Grey Drake

Well sourced.

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr hatching
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

Sources: The Grizzly Hackle

Green Drake

Well sourced.

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun hatching
Jul hatching
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

By mid-June throughout the system; lingers into early July.

Sources: The Grizzly Hackle

Golden Stonefly

Well sourced.

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun hatching
Jul hatching
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

By mid-June throughout the system; lingers into early July.

Sources: missoulianangler.com, The Grizzly Hackle

Skwala

Stage: adult. Well sourced.

Jan
Feb
Mar hatching
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

Marks the real start of the season with the first warm weather. A second source says fishing can be good by February 25, with reliable skwalas in March.

Sources: missoulianangler.com, The Grizzly Hackle