Montana ·
Blackfoot River Fly Fishing Report - August 16, 2026
BLACKFOOT RIVER
ReportAUG 16 — 23, 2026
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Flow
772CFS
Blackfoot River near Bonner MT
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Water Temp
62.6°F
Updated 2026-08-16
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Weather
49–85°F
Mostly Clear
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Clarity
Clear
Check post-storm
The Blackfoot is running 772 cfs at 2.35 ft on the Bonner gauge — low, clear, and technical — with water temps at 62.6°F; hoot owl restrictions are in effect, so all fishing must wrap up by 2:00 PM. Get on the water at first light and make every drift count before the heat builds.
What's Working — Hot Flies
Bionic Hopper - Tan #12
#12
Bionic Hopper - Purple #12
#12
Bionic Ant 2.0 - Black #16
#16
Bionic Ant 2.0 - Brown #12
#12
Corn-fed Caddis (CDC) Tan #20
#20
Corn-fed Caddis (CDC) Olive #20
#20
Parachute - Blue Wing Olive #22
#22
Tungsten Split Case Nymph - PMD #20
#20
Egan's Frenchie #12
#12
Soft Hackle Pheasant Tail Jig - Barbless #12
#12
Juju Baetis Tungsten #22
#22
Coffey's CH Sparkle Minnow Sculpin #6
#6
Hatch Chart
| Insect | Size | Activity | Prime Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grasshoppers / Terrestrials | #10-14 | Heavy | 7 AM - 1 PM |
| Ants | #14-18 | Moderate | 8 AM - 1 PM |
| Caddis | #18-20 | Moderate | 6 AM - 9 AM |
| PMD (Pale Morning Dun) | #18-20 | Light | 9 AM - 12 PM |
| Blue Wing Olive | #20-22 | Light | 10 AM - 1 PM |
Best Time Window
- 6:30 AM - 9:00 AM: Prime nymphing window in riffles and deeper buckets before the sun hits the water; fish are most active and least pressured.
- 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM: Terrestrial and dry fly action heats up as hoppers and ants become active; work shaded banks and foam lines.
- 12:00 PM - 1:30 PM: Final push before hoot owl restrictions kick in; focus on any remaining shaded water and be off the river by 2:00 PM.
Guide's Tip
From the benchWith hoot owl restrictions in place, you need to be on the water at first light — ideally by 6:30 AM — and fish hard through 1:30 PM. Work the shaded banks and oxygenated riffles first with a nymph, then switch to a hopper or ant pattern as the sun climbs and terrestrial activity picks up. In this low, clear water, long leaders (12-14 ft) and fine tippet (5X-6X) are essential — fish are spooky and will refuse a dragging fly. Wade slowly and stay low; a spooked pod of cutthroats in a shallow run will shut down the whole stretch.
Main Species
Westslope Cutthroat Trout
Brown Trout
Rainbow Trout
