You can find skwala stoneflies on many western waters, ranging from Washington’s Yakima to Idaho’s Owyhee and beyond, but nowhere do those bugs come off in such great numbers, with fish that act appropriately when that happens, than western Montana’s Bitterroot River.

That’s where I was last weekend, visiting friends in the Bitterroot Valley, prepping a raft for launch from the Tucker West access sit…with about 20 other anglers doing the same. The Bitterroot skwala hatch is a lot of things, but don’t ever let someone tell you it’s a solitary affair. March, April and May are the Bitterroot’s most heavily fished months with anglers congregating from across the West. At any given access site you might find license plates from Nevada, Washington, Oregon, Wyoming and beyond.

There’s good reason for that activity—the skwala hatch is the season’s first emergence of big bugs and the trout, accordingly, pack their stomachs with skwala nymphs and winged adults. Anglers, in turn, get a reprieve from throwing size 20 brassies and copper Johns under and indicator and, instead, get to throw size 6 and 8 skwalas and watch healthy trout slam them at the surface. In addition, the skwala hatch is often accompanied by a great March brown emergence. Usually, by late-morning or early afternoon, those size-12 bugs start popping and the trout focus on them. Basic patterns, such as size 12 and 14 Parachute Adams, Sparkle Duns and Cripples fool those fish. Choppy sections below riffles and along cutbanks offer plenty of March browns and the accompanying sippers.

A typical skwala day begins with anglers fishing a skwala dry (a standard olive stimulator works great) with a skwala nymph dropper or a Pheasant Tail Nymph. Some anglers prefer the complete subsurface arsenal – two skwala nymphs under an indicator, all weighted down by two or three size-bb split shot. By afternoon anglers see fish rising to skwalas and March browns. At that time a skwala dry trailed by a March brown adult imitation proves successful. Because the Bitterroot’s fish are trying to put on weight lost during winter, they are aggressive and rarely tippet-shy—4X tippet is a first choice; use 5X if you feel the fish are picky or you aren’t getting the drift you desire.

On a productive spring day, when water and weather conditions are favorable, a competent angler should catch a half-dozen to a dozen fish a day, a mix of rainbow, cutthroat and brown trout. An average fish stretches 12 or 13 inches long; a true brute might measure 20 inches or more.

Fortunately, the Bitterroot offers many productive sections and a variety of channels, plus two quality forks—the east and west. That abundance of water is spread over 90 miles. The most productive sections range from the confluence of the east and west forks downstream to Stevensville. Some of my favorite floats include Hannon Memorial to Wally Crawford; Anglers Roost to Blodgett Park; Woodside Crossing to Bell Crossing; and Tucker West to Stevensville. A warning to oarsmen: the Bitterroot is laced with sweepers and its narrow sidechannels push a lot of water so keep on your toes. Remember, you don’t have to float to find skwalas and March browns on the ‘root. In fact, wade fishers access some great water in and around takeouts and they also probe smaller sidechannels that the flotilla, for good reason, won’t challenge.

While fishing draws anglers to the Bitterroot Valley, which rests just south of Missoula and is often described as Montana’s banana belt, there are other reasons to be in the area during March and April. First, the place is downright beautiful with the pastel Sapphire Mountains rising in the east and the blatant Bitterroots jutting from the valley’s west floor. While fishing the ‘root, anglers enjoy stunning scenery and wildlife galore – whitetail deer, mule deer, coyotes, a few bighorn sheep and an occasional moose wander the valley. Also during spring a variety of waterfowl, including geese, swans and a multitude of ducks, use the valley, particularly the Lee Metcalf National Wildlife Refuge, which is located on the east side of the valley between the towns of Florence and Stevensville.

Speaking of towns, the Bitterroot offers some fun places to play when a day’s fishing is done. Grabbing a beer and appetizers at Bitter Root Brewing in Hamilton makes sense. Farther south is The Rocky Knob, which is a classic Montana drinking establishment and worth a visit. Bar food also is served.

When fishing north of Hamilton these days I’m prone to visit Victor and a bar called the Stumble Inn. For a big dinner, try Victor Steakhouse. In Stevensville the Blacksmith Brewing Company is a great, well-lighted place to be and, of course, they serve a variety of on-site brewed beers. If your day begins and ends in Missoula, you can’t beat the Buffalo Pie served at The Shack—breakfast and lunch as one; for dinner hit The Depot and get a blackened prime-rib sandwich.

Nearest Airport: Missoula
Season: Skwalas are found from late-February through early May
Fly Shops
In Missoula: The Kingfisher (406) 721-6141
In Florence: River Otter (406) 273-4858
In Hamilton: Chuck Stranahan’s Flies and Guides (406) 363-4197; Angler’s Roost (406) 363-1268

Greg Thomas is Fly Rod & Reel's managing editor. He lives in Ennis, MT. E-mail gthomas@flyrodreel.com.