The Stillwater River
It is always interesting how rivers get their names. If a list were ever compiled of misnamed rivers, then surely the Stillwater would be near the top of the list. Despite its name, the Stillwater River has huge amounts of whitewater, large drops, tons or rocks and a very swift current. It is anything but still. Indeed, a fisherman or floater will have to look hard to find the calm stretches of this river.
River begins high in the mountains of the Absaroka-Beartooth
Wilderness Area. The river flows for more than twenty
miles through the wilderness area before leaving the
behind and spilling out into the rolling prairie and canyons
that lie outside the wilderness area. Once it leaves
area, the Stillwater River flows for another 45 miles through
a mix of canyons, prairie and forest until meeting up
River near the town of Columbus, Montana - which is
about 45 miles from Billings,
Stillwater River is an absolutely beautiful and wild river.
The Absaroka-Beartooth Mountains provide a stunning backdrop
to any fishing or float trip. Fishing pressure on the Stillwater
River is moderate - most out of state anglers venture to the
much more popular and well known nearby rivers such as the Yellowstone
Rive. That said, lots of locals ply the waters of the
Stillwater in search of the plentiful rainbow, brown and cutthroat
trout that are found in the river.
Since the first twenty miles of the Stillwater River are in the wilderness
area, access is excellent, although it requires a hike or
horseback ride in to reach it. Once the Stillwater River leaves
the wilderness, access for most of its length is good due
to numerous road, bridge and designated fishing access sites.
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