The Blackfoot River Fishing Report

Tip of the Week:

While temps in our area are warming up, water temperatures have stayed relatively cold (sub 40F).  This is often due to melting snow and shelf ice lowering the water temperatures.  Be sure to bring a thermometer with you while fishing so you can monitor water temps.  This will help determine the best approach for fishing.

A Drought Closure (fishing prohibited 24 hours) is in effect for the North Fork Blackfoot River from USFS boundary downstream to Highway 200 starting September 10.

Streamflows were measured at the DNRC Ryan Bridge Gage 76F 03500 and have remained below critical threshold of 5 cfs since September 1st.

Beaver dams and braided channel morphology have combined with extremely low flows in the hydrologic-losing reach to create conditions that are expected to concentrate adult bull trout as they attempt downstream migrations to the Blackfoot River.

The closure criteria follows the Blackfoot Drought Response Plan.

7 Day Outlook: 

Up the Blackfoot corridor, expect slightly cooler conditions, with daytime highs hovering in the upper 30s before finally creeping into the 40s later in the week. Early week snow showers will give way to partly cloudy skies and manageable winds that should mostly stay under 10 mph. The river is running low and clear, but definitely keep an eye out for shelf ice on the banks, especially in those colder upper stretches near Ovando.

Best techniques:

Nymphing is going to be your fishiest technique on the Blackfoot for the foreseeable future.  Focus your efforts on the deeper and slower moving areas on the river.  

Streamers: Kreelex, Sparkle Minnow, Brown Town, Zonker, Chicago Overcoat

Nymphs: San Juan, Rubber Legs, Prince, Duracell, Spanish Bullet, Perdigon, Zebra Midge

Dries: Midges

Conditions change fast—call us at 406.542.7411 for the most recent updates on area rivers, fly selection, and gear recommendations. Local to Missoula? Swing through the shop to get dialed in with the best gear from Orvis, Patagonia, and Skwala, plus the exact bugs they're eating today.*