Still mud. However, less mud. Soon to be no Mud? Hard to say. Worth fishing? Eh. 

The Bitterroot is starting to move in the right direction. Flows are still strong, especially in the middle and lower river, but the river has been dropping and that trend is helping the fishing outlook. The upper river is becoming more manageable first, while the lower river still has plenty of push. Wading should still be done carefully, but conditions are looking better than they were during the recent high-water stretch.

The best fishing right now will be in the softer water. Focus on inside bends, slower bank seams, side channels, foam lines, eddies, and any walking-speed current where trout can hold comfortably. With the river still carrying good volume, fish do not need to sit in the heavy middle current. Work the edges carefully before stepping in, because plenty of fish will be tucked close to the bank.

Use extra caution while fishing/floating the Bitterroot in the next few days. All the wood and debris on the sides of the river are being moved around and are potentially creating new jams.

The next few days look encouraging overall. There is some rain in the forecast, but warmer and sunnier weather is also moving through, and if flows continue to drop the Bitterroot should keep fishing better. The river is not fully easy yet, but the trend is positive. Stay careful, keep checking the gauges, and be ready for improving conditions as the water settles.

Nymphs

Subsurface fishing remains the most productive option.

Top Patterns:

• Pat's Rubber Legs (#6-8)
• TJ Hooker Stone (#6-8)
• San Juan Worms (#10-12)
• Wire Worms
• Frenchies (#14-16)
• Perdigons (#14-18)

Fish are holding in slower water along the banks, inside bends, side channels, and softer seams adjacent to heavy current. Don't be afraid to add extra weight to get flies down quickly.

Streamers

Higher flows create good opportunities for anglers willing to cover water with larger flies.

Recommended Patterns:

• Mini Dungeon
• Sparkle Minnow
• Peanut Envy
• Thin Mint
• Sculpzilla

Focus on soft edges, flooded structure, and slower water where fish can conserve energy.

Dry Fly Outlook

Dry fly opportunities remain limited while runoff conditions persist. A few early bugs are beginning to show, but the Bitterroot's best dry fly fishing is still ahead of us.

With another stretch of warm weather in the forecast, we expect runoff conditions to remain in place for the near future. Once flows begin to stabilize and drop, we'll start watching closely for stronger Golden Stone, Yellow Sally, PMD, and Green Drake activity.

The Bottom Line

The Bitterroot is firmly in runoff mode right now.

There are still fish to be caught, especially for anglers focusing on nymphs and streamers in softer water, but success is going to come from reading water carefully and adjusting expectations to current conditions.

We'll continue monitoring flows, clarity, and weather patterns closely. Stop by the shop or give us a call for the latest updates before heading out.