Visiting Missoula, Glacier NP, and Bitterroot Valley in Montana

[Bitter Dave]

Hi guys,

The girlfriend and I will be visiting the Missoula area the second week of September. Planning on exploring the town and heading up towards Glacier National Park and maybe south toward the Bitterroot Valley. I'm hoping to get several days (mornings or evenings) of fishing in and would appreciate some suggestions on where to fish. I prefer smaller rivers and creeks over large rivers (think Upper Sac instead of American) and will be wading. How is the fishing right in town?

I've searched around and here are some helpful links I found so far:
http://www.kiene.com/forums/showthread.php?35611-Missoula-Area-Trip-Advice
http://www.montanaangler.com/montana-fly-fishing-blog/2013/02/fly-fishing-montanas-rock-creek-in-the-winter
http://www.bigskyfishing.com/River-Fishing/SW-MT-Rivers/SW-MT-Rivers.htm
http://glaciermt.com/fishing.php

I didn't find a lot of info about fishing inside Glacier NP. How is that area or the towns just outside of it?

Recommendations of places to stay/eat/visit/fish while in Missoula, Bitterroot, or the area outside of Glacier?

Thanks,
Dave

[fishnbeatsworkin]

PM sent. I'm lengthening this to over 10 characters so the message will post

[mems]

Aloha Dave, I will bein Missoula tomorrow and then on the west fork of the bitteroot on sunday. I plan on fishing Rock creek a couple of days with my wife. Water levels on rock creek look good at 180 cfs. West fork is a bit higher round 350cfs but no where last years 700cfs that I fished in june last summer. Hoppers, purple hazes for dries. Buggers for big fish. Nymphs if I get desperate. Lots of small feeder creeks to wade, can't really name names, too fragile for internet traffic. You can't really fish in town with out a drift boat. Missouri is full with weeds. Upper blackfoot is fun to wade. Lots of good water there. Good luck, Mems

[Gene S]

Until rain and snow knocks down these fires be prepared for smoke. Lots of it....

[yubaman]

Be prepared for low water . . . Rock Creek was low 2 months ago, and at 180, it's very low. West Fork of the Bitterroot is a good option. If the Blackfoot has decent water, could be another option. Montana had a low snowpack year and a quick spring. They are in much the same boat that we are.

[Bitter Dave]

Thanks everyone for the info so far. I didn't realize that the air quality in the area was going to be so bad. We fly into Missoula so I'm going to check out Rock Creek if the water conditions are acceptable. But we might head south to Bozeman and Yellowstone instead if it's too smokey in the area. Anyone got fishing suggestions for Bozeman and Yellowstone?

Thanks!
Dave

[Fly Guy Dave]

Anyone got fishing suggestions for Bozeman and Yellowstone? Thanks! Dave

Wow! A bunch of good water in that area. Think about The Madison, The Gallatin, Hebgen Lake, Henry's Lake, Henry's Fork, The Yellowstone, The Firehole, etc. All well known and well documented places to wet a line. They might have some hoot owl restrictions this late in the season, but the morning should be fine.

[Garrett S]

We just had a rain storm come through yesterday and visibility is beautiful today, The rivers of the area are running low but still fishing great. Hoot owl restrictions stills stand on the tributaries of the blackfoot, everything else is open.