March madness is underway and almost everyone’s bracket is a bust, you might as well head out to the Bitterroot River for some dry fly fishing. Here are a few tips to have a successful day on the Bitterroot:
UPPER BITTERROOT (Hannon-Anglers Roost):
This area will see a lot of boat pressure, but for good reason, it’s a fantastic cutthroat fishery up here with a mix of browns and rainbows to keep it interesting. If you are into numbers of fish this is probably your best chance and most consistent place to put up big numbers, though it’s not likely you’ll find your personal best up here, there is a very healthy population of 14-17” trout. It’s a bonus they like to eat dry flies too!
Current Hatches: Skwalas, Numoras, BWO’s
TIP: Nymphing is a great option in the am with a dry fly in the afternoon when the bugs and fish become more active
MIDDLE BITTERROOT (Anglers Roost - Bell Crossing):
This zone has the most diverse and changing conditions than all the rest. The river in here tends to want to meander during high water so you never know where it wants to go. New channels appear every year. Lots of sneaky hiding spots for large trout in this section. New obstructions appear almost every year in here sometimes making a section impassable.
Current Hatches: Skwalas, Numoras, Midges, Capnia, BWOs, March Brown
TIP: Fish a Streamer, Nymph Rig or Dry Dropper until noon then go straight dry fly and pick apart the edges and wood piles.
LOWER BITTERROOT (Bell Crossing - Confluence):
The largest fish are caught in this section of river and they’re not always trout. Along with some hefty rainbows and 2 foot brown trout you’ll find some amazing pike fishing on the lower Botterroot. We see several 40”+ fish every year come out of this section.
Current Hatches: Skwala, Numora, Capnia, BWO, March Brown, Midges.
TIP: Keep a couple different rods rigged and ready. Fish the nymphing runs with a streamer or nymph rig and the tail outs or shallower runs with a dry fly. Any of the slow deeper sections run a big pike fly and try to catch some taco meat.