Selway River

The Selway River defines wilderness fly fishing in the American West. Flowing 100 miles through the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness — one of the largest wilderness preserves in the lower 48 — the Selway is accessible only by trail, boat, or the seasonal road from Lowell to the put-in at Race Creek. There are no power lines, no cell service, and no motorized equipment permitted beyond Race Creek. What you get in exchange for that remoteness is some of the most pristine native trout habitat on the continent, with crystal-clear water, unspoiled riparian zones, and westslope cutthroat trout that have never seen a stocked fish or a degraded watershed.

Westslope cutthroat trout are the primary species throughout the Selway, and they are naive in the best possible way. Fish averaging 10 to 14 inches will rise to almost any attractor dry fly presented with reasonable accuracy. Larger cutthroat and bull trout inhabit the deepest pools and most remote sections of the upper river. Unlike most Western rivers where selectivity is a constant challenge, Selway cutthroat often seem grateful for the fly — though that is partly because the fishing pressure throughout the drainage is minimal.

Bull trout are present throughout the drainage and must be released immediately — do not remove them from the water under any circumstances. These apex piscivores, listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act, play a critical role in the Selway ecosystem and are an indicator of the river's exceptional health. Their presence in the Selway is a conservation success story worth protecting.

The primary access to the Selway is the seasonal road from Lowell to Race Creek, which typically opens in late May or early June after snowmelt. From Race Creek, a permitted outfitter float runs 47 miles to Selway Falls, where the boats are portaged. Below Selway Falls, the river is accessible by road from Lowell. Permit-required float trips through the wilderness section are managed by the Bitterroot National Forest and are extremely competitive — typically awarded by lottery in January for the upcoming summer season. Day-use anglers can access the lower river from Lowell, providing walk-wade access to the quality water near the confluence with the Lochsa.

Summer fly fishing is best from July through September, when runoff subsides, water clears, and cutthroat begin rising consistently. Caddis hatches on summer evenings are reliable and productive. Fall brings cooling temperatures and the opportunity for larger cutthroat in staging behavior before winter.