Bitterroot Fishing Regulations

Fishing Access Sites

Hannon Memorial River Mile: 82: Directions: 20 miles south of Hamilton on Hwy 93 to Milepost 27.
Stay limit is 7 days. Fee required. Contact the regional office for fee info.; Other Info: Two areas - one is day use only and the other has 6 campsites. Open all season. 58 acre(s).
Wally Crawford River Mile: 72: Directions: South of Hamilton off Hwy 93 at the Coms Broke.; Other Info: Open all season. 2 acre(s).
Demmons River Mile: 57: Directions: Under development; Other Info: Seasonal. Contact the regional office for open and closure dates. 1 acre(s).
Woodside Bridge River Mile: 52: Directions: From Hwy 93, than east at Woodside onto Woodsite cutoff toward Corvallis; Other Info: Disabled fishing platform. Open all season. 3 acre(s).
Tucker Crossing West River Mile: 47: Directions: 3 miles south of Victor off Hwy 93.; Other Info: Open all season. 257 acre(s).
Bell Crossing River Mile: 41: Directions: 2 miles north of Victor on Hwy 93, then 1/2 miles east on Route 370.; Other Info: Open all season. 65 acre(s).
Bass Creek River Mile: 30: Directions: North of Stevensville on Hwy 93.; Other Info: Walk-in access only. Hand launching of boats is not recommended. Open all season. 14 acre(s).
Poker Joe River Mile: 28: Directions: 19 miles south of Missoula on Hwy 93, then east 11/2 miles on Co. Road.; Other Info: Site is walk-in access only. Canoes/rafts can be hand launched from site. Open all season. 12 acre(s).
Florence Bridge River Mile: 23: Directions: 17 miles south of Missoula on Hwy 93 to east side Bridge, then 1 mile east.; Other Info: Open all season. 12 acre(s).
Chief Looking Glass River Mile: 21: Directions: From Lolo, south on Hwy 93 for 6 miles, then turn east on Chief Looking Glass Road.
Stay limit is 7 days. Fee required. Contact the regional office for fee info.; Other Info: Canoes/rafts can be hand launched from site. Please reference "Montana Boating Laws" brochure for river use restrictions. Seasonal. Contact the regional office for open and closure dates. 13 acre(s).

NOTE: All river Fishing Access Sites (FAS) are listed in descending order by river mile from headwaters to mouth. The mouth of a stream is its confluence with another body of water and is considered mile 0.

Special Regulations: Special Limit Areas

West Fork above Painted Rocks Reservoir: Catch-and-release for cutthroat trout.

West Fork from the mouth to Painted Rocks DamCatch-and-release for cutthroat trout. 3 rainbow or brown trout, no size limit. Extended whitefish season and catch-and-release for trout open December 1 to third Saturday in May with aquatic insects, maggots and/or artificial lures only.

One mile downstream of Darby Bridge to Star Falls on the East Fork Catch-and-release for cutthroat trout. 3 rainbow or brown trout, 1 over 14 inches. Extended whitefish season and catch-and-release for trout open December 1 to third Saturday in May with aquatic insects, maggots and/or artificial lures only.

Tucker Crossing to Florence Bridge and one mile downstream from Darby to Como Bridge Catch-and-release for all trout. Artificial lures only. Extended whitefish season and catch-and-release for trout open December 1 to third Saturday in May with aquatic insects, maggots and/or artificial lures only.

Como Bridge to Tucker Crossing: Catch-and-release for cutthroat trout.3 rainbow or brown trout, 1 over 14 inches. Extended whitefish season and catch-and-release for trout open December 1 to third Saturday in May with aquatic insects, maggots and/or artificial lures only.

Tucker Crossing to Florence Bridge: Catch-and-release for trout. Artificial lures only. Extended season for whitefish and catch-and-release for trout open December 1 to third Saturday in May with aquatic insects, maggots and/or artificial lures only.

Florence Bridge to mouth of the Bitterroot: Catch-and-release for cutthroat trout. 3 rainbow or brown trout, 1 over 14 inches. Extended season for whitefish and catch-and-release for trout open December 1 to third Saturday in May with aquatic insects, maggots and/or artificial lures only.

Bitterroot Valley between U.S. 93 and the East Side Highway between Hamilton and Buckhouse Bridge (ditches, canals, and sloughs): Extended season for northern pike and whitefish and catch-and-release for trout December 1 to third Saturday in May with aquatic insects, maggots, and/or artificial lures only.