Southwest Montana has some of the most famous rivers in the United States. Rivers such as the Ruby River, the Big Hole River, Rock Creek and the Bitterroot River are nationally known as high-quality natural trout streams.
The rivers in Southwest Montana are probably the most diverse geographically. Many of the rivers, such as the Beaverhead River, the Jefferson River and the Ruby River, flow through very broad and arid valleys, flanked by tall and distant mountain ranges. Others, such as the Big Hole River, flow through a beautiful agricultural valley before entering the mountains on its journey to the arid valleys further downstream.
Southwest Montana possesses two very big benefits for anglers venturing to this area on a Montana fly fishing trip. First, many of the rivers in Southwest Montana are located closely together, allowing for relatively easy drives between the rivers. This allows anglers with tight time schedules to visit more rivers than is possible in other areas of the state.
The second big benefit of fly fishing in Southwest Montana is that the geographical diversity can frequently rescue a fly fishing trip that may otherwise be doomed by the weather or spring run-off. The weather and river conditions differ markedly among the various rivers in Southwest Montana. While one river may be running high and muddy due to spring run-off, an angler often can venture to another nearby river that is running crystal clear.
Additionally, as many of the rivers in Southwest Montana run through very arid country, an angler frustrated by rainy and cold conditions in other parts of the state can frequently find warm, if somewhat windy conditions, on many of the rivers in Southwest Montana.
Overall, Southwest Montana has some of the finest fly fishing rivers anywhere, all of which have extensive populations of large brown and rainbow trout. Between the geographical diversity of the rivers, their scenic beauty and the excellent fishing, a Montana fly fishing trip to this region should be on any anglers list.
The Beaverhead River is one of the premier brown trout fishing rivers in Montana.
A geographically diverse river, the Big Hole is nationally known as one of the premiere blue-ribbon trout waters in Montana
The Bitterroot River is full of diversity and runs through the beautiful yet quickly growing Bitterroot Valley.
The Blackfoot River has beautiful scenery, classic trout water habitat and a wide variety in river habitat – and all quite close to Missoula.
The Clark Fork runs for three hundred miles, and provides solid trout fishing for much of its length with low fishing pressure.
A small stream in the Phillipsburg Valley that has good trout fishing but difficult access.
A wide and diverse river, the Jefferson River has solid brown fishing but sometimes runs very low during late summer.
A delightful and scenic small river that has excellent trout fishing but limited access points.
A small and seldom fished river in the Centennial Valley along the Idaho border, the Red Rock offers solid trout fishing in a very remote and secluded setting.
One of the finest trout fishing waters in Montana, Rock Creek has several distinct hatches that draw anglers from all over the United States.
Generally narrow, twisty and with bushy banks, the Ruby River has excellent trout fishing but suffers from somewhat difficult access points.