Crossing Montana off the List: Fishing the West Fork of the Bitterroot River

Sept 23 & 24 2025

Leaving another state in the rearview and heading closer to Yellowstone, I found myself exploring the wild beauty of the Bitterroot National Forest in western Montana. My target for this leg of the trip: trout on the West Fork of the Bitterroot River.

I took Highway 93 south from Darby, MT, then turned right onto West Fork Road, following the winding route toward Painted Rocks State Park. The road hugs the river most of the way, offering one scenic turnout after another—each one looking more tempting to cast a line. There are plenty of boondocking spots tucked in along the way, plus a few National Forest campgrounds that make great home bases.

I spent two days exploring and fishing along the West Fork. Late September meant the water was a little too low for floating, but that didn’t stop the anglers. I saw quite a few fly fishers wading the edges, mostly chasing brook and bull trout in the deeper runs.

Day 1 – Applebury Boat Launch

My first stop was Applebury Boat Launch, a peaceful little pull-off along the West Fork Road just north of Painted Rocks State Park. About a hundred feet upstream from the parking area, there’s a deep pool that looked too good to pass up—and it didn’t disappoint.

In the afternoon, I started with a dry fly, switched to a woolly bugger for a while (no luck), then went back to dries near dusk. That turned out to be the right move—plenty of surface action as the light faded and the bugs came out.

I boondocked right there for the night. The spot was quiet, with hardly any traffic. Just the sound of the river and the cool Montana air—perfect.

Day 2 – Exploring South Toward Painted Rocks

The next morning, I continued south on West Fork Road, heading toward Painted Rocks Reservoir. When I arrived, the water level was surprisingly low, so I decided not to fish it this time. Beyond the reservoir, the road turns to dirt and gets a bit rough, so I turned back north to hit a few other spots.

Top Row - Applebury Boat launch, West Fork of the Bitterroot near Applebury, West Fork near Rombo Campground

Second Row - Rombo Campground, Kona at Applebury, Marty's Bridge

My first stop was Rombo Creek Campground—a beautiful Forest Service site with well-spaced campsites right along the river. After that, I found a boondocking pullout with three or four old fire rings and a steep bank down to the water. The current was strong near a small waterfall, and I hooked a few fish but didn’t land any.

Further up, I came to Marty’s Bridge, where the river makes a bend and forms a deep pool. It’s a great place to cool off or cast a line. There’s one large boondocking spot nearby—big enough for a trailer—and I had some luck fishing under the bridge.

By evening, I rolled back to Applebury to spend another night. Two older gentlemen were already fishing the bend and doing well. After they packed up, I grabbed my rod, made a cup of coffee, and walked down to the river. A few bites, but nothing landed this time. Still, it was hard to complain—clear skies, a million stars overhead, and the sound of the Bitterroot flowing by.

The next morning, I packed up, brewed one last cup of coffee, and pointed the van south on Highway 93—next stop: Yellowstone.