It’s a fishing day

Bitterroot River fishing conditions · Montana

Now until 5 amRainbow trout

The bite peaks at 78.

Log a trip here
Right now: 78 for rainbow trout, worth the trip · inside the best windowTap or drag along the water to move through the next 36 hours

Rainbow trout, hour by hour

Each float is an hour. The deeper it rides, the better the bite. The strip underneath runs daylight, dusk and dark; the red rule marks the best window. Click any hour to read it.

  1. 781 am
  2. 78
  3. 78
  4. 784 am
  5. 64
  6. 64
  7. 647 am
  8. 64
  9. 64
  10. 6410 am
  11. 64
  12. 64
  13. 641 pm
  14. 64
  15. 61
  16. 634 pm
  17. 64
  18. 64
  19. 717 pm
  20. 63
  21. 63
  22. 6610 pm
  23. 63
  24. 71Tue
  25. 711 am
  26. 74
  27. 74
  28. 744 am
  29. 74
  30. 74
  31. 747 am
  32. 74
  33. 74
  34. 7410 am
  35. 74
  36. 71
Go, 85+Worth the trip, 70+Marginal, 55+Sit it out

Right now · best window

Water
No reading

Rainbow trout range 45–68°

Wind
0 mph

From the

Flow
520 cfs

steady · -9% in 24 h

Light
Dark

Sunrise 8:09 am

Sky
Mostly Cloudy

No rain expected

Air
33°F

NWS hourly forecast

Barometer
Falling

Measured, last 3 hours

Moon
100% lit

Full

What’s biting

Each species is scored against its own water-temperature range and tide preference, then wind, weather and warnings. The rules are Montana Western District regulations for these waters.

Rainbow Trout

Rainbow trout

Oncorhynchus mykiss

78Worth the tripNow until 5 am

Water

No water reading here right now. Rainbow trout bite in 45–68° water, best near 55°.

Why

Sharp 3-hour fall — fish feed hard ahead of a front. Settled river level — clearer water, easier wading. Holds 3–20 ft down.

Keep

3 a day

Catch and release only today. Western District rivers and streams: 3 brown, rainbow and golden trout and grayling a day combined, only 1 over 14". Western District rivers and streams are open the third Saturday in May (May 16 in 2026) through Nov 30 unless an exception says otherwise.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Montana Western District

Season here: Apr–May, Oct, estimated from local air temperature, 2023–2025; there is no water gauge here. More on rainbow trout

Cutthroat Trout

Cutthroat trout

Oncorhynchus clarkii

78Worth the tripNow until 5 am

Water

No water reading here right now. Cutthroat trout bite in 39–62° water, best near 54°.

Why

Sharp 3-hour fall — fish feed hard ahead of a front. Settled river level — clearer water, easier wading. Holds 1–25 ft down.

Keep

12" maximum · 3 a day

Catch and release only today. Western District rivers and streams: 3 cutthroat a day and in possession, none over 12". Many tributaries are catch-and-release for cutthroat. Western District rivers and streams are open the third Saturday in May (May 16 in 2026) through Nov 30 unless an exception says otherwise.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Montana Western District

Season here: Sep–Jun. More on cutthroat trout

Brown Trout

Brown trout

Salmo trutta

70Worth the tripNow until 5 am

Water

No water reading here right now. Brown trout bite in 45–68° water, best near 55°.

Why

Sharp 3-hour fall — fish feed hard ahead of a front. Settled river level — clearer water, easier wading. Brown trout feeds less actively under bright moon. Holds 3–25 ft down.

Keep

3 a day

Catch and release only today. Western District rivers and streams: 3 brown, rainbow and golden trout and grayling a day combined, only 1 over 14". Western District rivers and streams are open the third Saturday in May (May 16 in 2026) through Nov 30 unless an exception says otherwise.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Montana Western District

Season here: Apr–Jun, Aug–Oct, estimated from local air temperature, 2023–2025; there is no water gauge here. More on brown trout

The water

  • Water temperatureNo reading
  • River520 cfs · steady · -9% in 24 h
  • Barometer30.12 inHg, falling

Sun, moon & solunar

  • Sunrise today8:09 am
  • Sunset today6:31 pm
  • MoonFull, 100% lit
  • Major solunarToday 12:20 am–2:20 am
  • Minor solunarToday 8:30 am–9:30 am
  • Major solunarToday 12:40 pm–2:40 pm

Solunar tables are a popular heuristic. A peer-reviewed test found they don’t predict catch on their own, so here they only nudge the score when the tide or moon already agree. How the score works

Fishing report

No current report covers these waters.

We only show reports an agency has published, with their date. Montana FWP has the state’s fishing pages.

Licenses and rules: Montana FWP · fish-consumption advisories

About this spot

A classic western-Montana freestone south of Missoula — wild rainbow, brown, and native westslope cutthroat trout in braided channels beneath the Bitterroot Range. Famous for the early-season skwala stonefly hatch and a long dry-fly season.

Woodside Bridge FAS to Florence Bridge: catch-and-release for all trout, artificial lures only. On the main stem above and below that reach rainbows and browns may be kept (3 a day, 1 over 14") while cutthroat are released. Dec 1 to the third Saturday in May the whole river is catch-and-release for trout.

Nearby

Public spots within 40 miles, with the same 36 hours of floats.

Questions people ask

Do I need a fishing license to fish at Bitterroot River?

Yes (anglers age 16 and older). To fish at Bitterroot River you need the appropriate state fishing license. See the agency's current rules: the state agency website

What fish are commonly targeted at Bitterroot River?

Bitterroot River is listed on this site for 3 commonly-targeted species: Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Cutthroat Trout. Which species is currently in season and which is scoring highest today is shown in the per-species ranking on this page.

When is the best time to fish at Bitterroot River?

It depends more on the species and the day's conditions than on a fixed "best hour." Water temperature, weather, and — at tidal locations — the stage of the tide drive activity most. The per-species ranking on this page scores every target species at Bitterroot River against today's live conditions, so the fish near the top are your best bets right now; check back as conditions change through the day.

What kind of access does Bitterroot River have?

Bitterroot River has multiple access types — pier, shoreline, and at least one public boat ramp. Woodside Bridge FAS to Florence Bridge: catch-and-release for all trout, artificial lures only. On the main stem above and below that reach rainbows and browns may be kept (3 a day, 1 over 14") while cutthroat are released. Dec 1 to the third Saturday in May the whole river is catch-and-release for trout.

Which state's fishing regulations apply at Bitterroot River?

state agency regulations apply at Bitterroot River. Size limits, creel limits, and seasonal closures are listed per species on each species page. Always confirm against the agency source linked from each regulation block — emergency closures can take effect mid-season.

Is Bitterroot River tidal water?

No. Bitterroot River is non-tidal — water level varies with rainfall, seasonal flow, and (where applicable) upstream dam releases rather than tidal exchange.