The Root

The East and West Forks of the Bitterroot River come together 90 miles south of Missoula. From there, the main stem flows north through fertile, green pastures and stands of huge, mythic cottonwoods. To the west, the snowcapped granite peaks follow the stream's progress to its juncture with the Clark Fork near Missoula. It is a classic freestone trout stream with wild trout dining on prolific summertime hatches of golden stones, PMD's, hoppers, and caddis. A good day on the lower Bitterroot with fat browns sipping #14 dries will make anyone believe that this truly is the last best place.

Yesterday, three Blue Damsel guests fished the upper Root, and we were relieved to hear them report that the Bitterroot is finally shaping up. They reported zealous cutthroats attacking big golden stone patterns all day, and a few larger fish taking pheasant tails and prince nymphs. With the upper stream running clear, it is only a matter of days before the whole river is back to its normal early-July self.