Montana Trout Outfitters

Montana Trout Outfitters runs full-day float and wade trips on three rivers within an hour of Missoula: the Blackfoot, the Bitterroot, and the lower Clark Fork. On the Blackfoot, floats cover water between Lincoln and the confluence with the Clark Fork near Bonner, with the section between Ovando and Bonner fished most often; guides target westslope cutthroat, rainbow, and brown trout, with a chance at bull trout that must be released unharmed. On the Bitterroot, trips run the West Fork and the upper river, including stretches subject to Hoot Owl afternoon closures in low-water years, fishing dry-dropper rigs for cutthroat, rainbow, cuttbow hybrids, and brook trout. On the lower Clark Fork near Missoula, the outfitter runs jet boat trips for northern pike and smallmouth bass, and sight-fishes for carp, in addition to standard trout floats using drift boats and rafts. June salmonfly hatches on the Blackfoot draw the season’s biggest fish; July brings green drakes, golden stoneflies, and pale morning duns across all three rivers, followed by hopper fishing in August and blue-winged olives and streamer fishing into September.