I'll be making a quick trip to Missoula in a couple weeks and would like to try the flyfishing there...I only fish saltwater, but have dreamed for years of fishing up there. Do any of yall have experience with guides in the area?
Thanks in advance!

Call Blackfoot River outfitters. They are the best and use them often.

Yes. Blackfoot River Outfitters. They did all of our trips when we were running a lodge outside Missoula .
Chocolatelabs uses them because I told him to.


Also check out the concert schedule for The Top Hat, The Wilma and Kettlehouse Amphitheater while you are there. An amazing amount of artists play Missoula.
https://logjampresents.com

Excellent! Thanks for the recommendation! I'll hit them up tomorrow…I really appreciate the tip!

Think you told us about them also.

You need to call ahead and check on river flows. We're supposed to hit peak runoff on the Lower Clark Fork mid-May.

A big thank you for the recommendation! Unbelievable trip for me and my daughter! I was getting a little nervous about the runoff levels, but our guide had a plan! Went to Clearwater and had a day! Numerous whitefish, several cutthroat, and a 20" brown...very much surpassed my expectations and really can't wait to come back and do this some more! It's breathtaking up here, and I can't believe that I've not done this before!

Again, thanks for the tip about BRO...everything about my experience was top shelf, especially our guide...

I can't recall his name, but call Missoula on the Fly and ask for Big Ben. I believe he is their head guide and general manager. Guy is great and they all use Adipose drift boats, which are amazing in and of themselves. The Bitterroot out of Florence is one of my favorite places in the world to cold water fish.

What was your guides name?

My guide was Phil Dedman…amazing guide, so nice, helpful, teaching, and obviously navigated us around runoff issues…as I said, this trip exceeded expectations and I'm already trying to figure out how I can make it back this summer

Thanks for that one too...I'm coming back for sure, and I appreciate this info...somehow I think I'll be late to the party for this July/August and I'll need plenty of options...

Rivers arnt too high right now?

I would say most are, the Blackfoot was like chocolate milk when we merged there…we fished a different river that was not blown out, for lack of a better term, like the others. Both the other rivers in town were flowing big time.

This time of year, a lot of guides are focusing on the Missouri headwaters or some of the smaller tribs. Many of the smaller rivers and creeks are not open until the 3rd Saturday in May. The St. Joe is typically fishable since its runoff is different.

any Rec's for a float trip in early May. will most likely be Helena area midweek.

Charlie Murphy said:

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any Rec's for a float trip in early May. will most likely be Helena area midweek.

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If you're in Helena float the Missouri out of Craig with Headhunter's fly shop. End of discussion.

https://www.headhuntersflyshop.com/

Here's an outfit I'll admit I've never used because I've not had the chance to travel to Montana yet, but Russell Parks, one of their guides, is an old Ag, class of '92.

Missoula Fly Fishing Outfitters