The Blackfoot River Fishing Report
Conditions At-a-glance
Our Report
Local Forecast
Deer Lodge, MT, USAThe Hatch
PMDs and CaddisFeatured Flies
Solitude Fly Company
Solitude Tungsten Jig Perdigon- PMD May
Price
$3.25
Solitude Fly Company
Solitude Tungsten Jig TNT- PMD
Price
$3.25
Solitude Fly Company
Solitude TJ Hooker- Tan/Brown
Price
$3.25
Montana Fly Company
Articulated Sparkle Yummy JJ
Price
$7.95
Montana Fly Company
Coffey's Conehead Sparkle Minnow
Price
$4.95
Montana Fly Company
MFC Jig Zirdle Bug- Brown over Brown/Black
Price
$3.25
Montana Fly Company
MFC Jig Zirdle Bug- Natural Over Coffee/Black
Price
$3.25
Specifics
Link to Water Flow Graph
Visibility
Clear
Water temperature at mid-day
69
Water Condition
Dropping and Clear
Best time of day to fish
Morning and the 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 Gold XP
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.- Choosing a selection results in a full page refresh.
!