Stillwater River

Stillwater River, flowing north out of Montana's Beartooth mountains, is more a beautiful mountain stream than a river. And "Stillwater" is a misnomer, because it is anything but still, with a high gradient, lots of pocket water and riffles punctuated by some spectacular pools and exciting whitewater stretches. Indeed, Stillwater has less quiet water proportionally than any river in the state.

Surrounded by fabled trout waters such as the Bighorn, Yellowstone, and Madison Rivers, Stillwater River receives little national or state attention. Instead, it makes a popular destination for local anglers who know its beauty and excellent fishing.

Fishing

Despite the tainted beginnings of mining activity, a hallmark of Stillwater River is its clear water, exceptional for rivers east of the Continental Divide.

Below Lake Abundance, Stillwater cascades out of the high basin and charges through a narrow canyon, pausing only a couple of times in mountain meadows. Wounded Man and Flood Creeks add appreciably to the water volume.

Along the popular Woodbine-Stillwater hiking trail, the cascading water slows in pocket pools of deeper water where throngs of pan-sized brookies compete with the occasional rainbow and cutthroat. The river widens briefly at Sioux Charley Lake and then plunges by Woodbine Campground and into the prairie.

Near the community of Nye, the West Fork of Stillwater River adds extra water volume. The river warms up and picks up more minerals. Below Nye, the river no longer stair-steps its way in cascades but continues to act like a mountain stream. The gradient is still steep enough to make a very swift current and, with the constrictions in a riverbed of boulders, the river has rapids, and whitewater as well.

At Absarokee, the two Rosebud rivers add their water, but also some silt. Although more easy-going, Stillwater continues to feature an occasional swift section, especially a sharp drop-off over a ledge below the White Bird Fishing Access Site, just above the Beartooth Hereford Ranch bridge.

The lower river supports more large fish, due in part to a substantial interchange with the Yellowstone. Anglers could tie in to brown trout up to six pounds and more between Absarokee and the Yellowstone, while two to four pounders make up the vast majority of the top weight class in the river between the Mouat Mine and Beehive.

Key species:
Yellowstone cutthroat, rainbow trout, brown trout, brook trout, and whitefish.
Use:
The lower section from Nye to the Yellowstone ranks 29th statewide for fishing pressure, but the upper section is less fished.
Flies and lures:
Flies-Muddler Minnow, Black Matuka Sculpin, Yellow Humpies, Royal Wulffs, stonefly nymphs, Sofa Pillow, Bird's Stone, Elk Hair Caddis, Olive Stimulators, Light Cahill, Joe's Hopper, and Parachute Adams. Lures-gold-colored selections of Mepps, Thomas Cyclones, and Panther Martins. Bait-worms, grubs, and hoppers.

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