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The Blackfoot River Fishing Report

The Blackfoot River Fishing Report

Conditions At-a-glance

Our Report

Tip of the Week:

The Blackfoot has been on the drop for the past week but is still high and pushy! When river flows rise, fish often move out of their usual lies and into softer, slower-moving water where they can conserve energy. Focus your efforts on prime holding water and make multiple clean, drag-free drifts to maximize your chances.

7 Day Outlook: 

The Blackfoot River is running high due to continued spring runoff, a pattern likely to persist through the weekend. We have chances of showers following warmer weather coming through the weekend that may accelerate snowmelt. Fishing is still possible in slower water near the banks, but visibility is limited. Double nymph rigs with patterns like Pat’s Rubber Legs and San Juan Worms are your best bet, while dark streamers can be effective on cloudy days.

Best techniques:

Time to bobber up again.  With high dirty water double your chances of finding fish with a double nymph rig.  Go BIG on your flies until clarity is greater than 2 feet of visibility.  As clarity improves we may have the opportunity for good dry fly fishing on Caddis and Drakes.  If you’re fishing a dry dropper try running a foam salmonfly pattern or a chubby.  1) the fish might see the dry and move for a big meal, and 2) it’ll hold up a big dropper.  This is 6wt season!

Streamers: Dungeons of all sizes, Double and Baby Gongas, Kreelex, Lil Kim, Buggers and Sparkle Minnows.

Nymphs: Worms, Trina’s Squirm, Hot Bead Stone, TJ Hooker, Girdle Bugs, Jig Caddis Pupa, Duracell, Blowtorch, Jig Mini Bugger

Dries:

BWOs: On Point BWO, Purple Haze, BWO Cripple #18-20

March Brown: Brindlechute, Parachute PT, March Brown Cripple #12-14

Grey Drakes: Film Critic, Flash Cripple, Carnage Drake

Mothers Day Caddis: Elk Hair Caddis, Corn Fed Caddis, X-Caddis #12-14

*Traveling or in a hurry?  Let our knowledgeable staff pick a fly selection for you!

*The Online Store is updated daily!  Check it out!

*Call us for up to the minute updates at 406.542.7411 or if you are in the area stop in for all your Orvis gear and the right bugs. 

Local Forecast

Deer Lodge, MT, USA

The Hatch

Waiting for Salmonflies!

Featured Flies

Dries

Nymphs

Streamers
Griffith's Gnat
$2.95
$2.95
When midges are on the water think Griffith’s Gnat. While at first glance this fly doesn’t really appear to be a great imitation of one of the smallest insects on the water, when midges hatch hea...
Galloup's Goober Midge
$2.95
$2.95
A tilt wing midge that has a few subtle strands of flash. Small but mighty!
Parachute Adams
$2.95
$2.95
A variation of the Adams, this fly has been around for about a century now in various forms and recipes but the parachute iteration seems to be the most well loved. This fly is the fly you want p...
Spanish Bullet- Black
$2.95
$2.95
One of our guides favorite nymph patterns. The Spanish Bullet is the fly to match all your tiny Stonefly and Mayfly needs. Jigged with a tungsten bead.
TJ Hooker- Coffee
$2.95
$2.95
Whether the mottled tan or dark brown is better remains an ongoing guide debate.  Both work exceptionally well.  Our guess is trout mistake these for stonefly nymphs but they also resemble small cr...
Tungsten Jig Pheasant Tail- Flashback
$2.95
$2.95
Another classic pattern that imitates Mayfly nymphs perfectly. This fly has been around for a long time and it's not going anywhere. This version is jigged with a tungsten bead and flash back to ma...
Blowtorch Blowtorch
$2.95
$2.95
The Blowtorch is a staple! With its versatility and effectiveness in all seasons and water conditions. This reliable fly is a must-have in your fly box, providing great success for catching fish on...
TJ Hooker
$2.95
$2.95
Whether the mottled tan or dark brown is better remains an ongoing guide debate.  Both work exceptionally well.  Our guess is trout mistake these for stonefly nymphs but they also resemble small cr...
Sili Leg Stone Coffee/Black
$2.95
$2.95
The Trusted Classic Stonefly Nymph. This pattern is excellent for imitating  Stoneflies in their aquatic form. Before the hatch ramps up on the surface, Trout are sure to be feeding below. To dial ...
Hot Bead Power Worm Hot Bead Power Worm
$2.95
$2.95
Hot-bead worms are a mainstay in our rivers all year long but especially in late winter and early spring. For reasons unknown to us the hot bead and red color is always better in colder water.  Fis...
Jig Perdigon Jig Perdigon
$2.95
$2.95
Designed for optimal fly fishing performance, the Jig Perdigon features a tungsten bead for dense weight that ensures your flies get down quick in the water column. The eye-catching design and drop...
Jig Napoleon Jig Napoleon
$2.95
$2.95
As a highly versatile and efficient fly, the Jig Napoleon boasts a quill body and Its tungsten material adds extra weight for getting down quickly. These quill body perdigons are lethal on the wate...
Tungsten Jig Pheasant Tail Tungsten Jig Pheasant Tail
$2.95
$2.95
Another classic pattern that imitates Mayfly nymphs perfectly. This fly has been around for a long time and it's not going anywhere. This version is jigged with a tungsten bead and flash back to ma...
Coffey's Conehead Sparkle Minnow Coffey's Conehead Sparkle Minnow
$4.95
$4.95
We were fishing streamers long before fishing streamers was cool but we have to admit, Coffey’s sparkle minnow literally changed the game. There was a time when spring streamer action was limited t...
Kreelex Kreelex
$4.95
$4.95
Essentially a full flash Clouser Minnow, the Kreelex has proven its worth as a fish catching machine wherever predators eat small baitfish.  The slim profile and large dumbbell eyes allow it to sin...
Lil' Kim
$4.95
$4.95
It's the L-I-L to the K-I-M, baby. Cast and strip, or swing with a trout spey set up. No streamer box would be complete without the Lil' Kim. Get it in copper to keep things natural, silver for wat...
Beadhead Woolly Bugger Beadhead Woolly Bugger
$2.95
$2.95
Same as the Woolly Bugger but with a beadhead for added weight. Good for lakes and rivers everywhere, from winter to summer. Our undying love of the woolly bugger isn't going anywhere, this is on...
Thin Mint Bugger TB
$3.95
$3.95
If you've ever eaten a thin mint cookie, you know how good they are and how you can't just eat one. The Thin Mint Bugger comes with a tungsten bead and a tri colored marabou tail. Whether you swing...
Galloup's Mini Peanut Envy Galloup's Mini Peanut Envy
$6.95
$6.95
A Peanut Envy tied on smaller hooks but without losing any of the movement that this streamer is known for.
Galloup's Peanut Envy Galloup's Peanut Envy
$6.95
$6.95
A lighter version of the Circus Peanut with more movement. A versatile streamer that consistently works well on various styles of retrieves.
Baby Gonga Baby Gonga
$6.95
$6.95
Two and a half inches of pure trout candy, the Baby Gonga is articulated just like its Mama but tied on dual size eight hooks that reach out and grab them.  Easily cast and perfectly designed if I ...
Double Gonga Double Gonga
$8.95
$8.95
​It started as a Matuka meets Wooly Bugger. But the finished  Double Gonga has well thought out features: Bugger tail of dense marabou, but a fuller wrapping of schlappen for greater profile and mo...

USGS Water Charts

Specifics

Link to Water Flow Graph

http://on.doi.gov/1Tp3aKZ"

Visibility

High with decent visibility.

Water temperature at mid-day

48F

Water Condition

High with decent visibility.

Best time of day to fish

Mid-day to evening

Best stretch

The whole river is in play.

Best access point

Multiple access points along the river.

Fish Species

Rainbows, westslope cutthroats, cutbows, browns, bull trout, whitefish, and suckers.

Fishing Season

All Year - Winter can be tough.

Nearest airport

Missoula International Airport (MSO)

Recommended fly fishing leader

From a boat - 7.5' 3x-4x. Wading step it up to 9'

Recommended fly fishing tippet

3X, 4X and 5X will cover 90% of our fishing applications. 1-2X is great for punching out large, wind resistant dries in high dirty water. Don't drop lower than 10lb for streamers (we recommend a 4-5' 10lb tapered leader with a sink tip fly line). Leave the 6X at home.

Best fly fishing rod

The 9' 5WT is our do it all rod. Fast action rods will be best for most of our fishing; foam dries, dry-dropper fishing and nymphing. A fast action 6WT will be useful for large foam dries, small streamers, heavy nymph rigs and punching bugs through the afternoon wind. Bring a 7WT if you plan to fish large articulated streamers.

Best floating fly line

Scientific Anglers MPX or Rio Grand

Best sinking fly line

Scientific Anglers Trout Express or Rio Predator F/I/S3

About This Water

The Big Blackfoot River is everything it’s cracked up to be.  Bottomless emerald pools, boulder strewn pocket water and diamond chop riffles all shaded by moss covered cliffs and towering ponderosa pines combine to make this the epitome of Montana fly-fishing. Thanks to a diligent concerted effort between neighboring landowners, government agencies, conservation organizations and concerned anglers, restored spawning tributaries are continually enhancing trout populations – especially those native to the river. Combining such exceptional juvenile trout recruitment with restrictive creel limits results in a Blackfoot teeming with fish like biceps. Nymphing here is just plain deadly, especially from a boat. We aren't talking about spending the day untangling two pinhead size flies spun tight with 6X tippet around a stick of soft lead and a Don King indicator – this is no tailwater. 4X is as light as we go with 1X common place and bugs often the size of small rodents. Then imagine the same terminal tackle for dries! No stress, just fun. In spite of its familiarity as the inspiration for the big screen hit, "A River Runs Through It," compared to other world class destinations fishing pressure remains relatively light.