the Blackfoot River

Famous For A Reason

Old Time Montana Fly Fishing

For me the Blackfoot has always been a quirky fishery. It produces action for beginner anglers who need to learn and succeed. Generally, rivers that do the smaller trout action game struggle to keep the advanced angler interested. However, the Blackfoot has the undercurrent of streamer fishing to true trophies. Plus, the upper 12 miles is as a good as big fish section as an angler could ask for. Some of the largest trout we take on big dry flies come from the Blackfoot. There are a great deal of layers to the river, and it has the added mystic of a deep connection to Old time Montana Fly Fishing. I think Norman Maclean would write another novel if he fished it today.

Joe Cummings

– Missoula River Lodge Outfitter

A River Runs Through It

Montana’s Blackfoot River starts deep in the Bob Marshall wilderness with the clear, cold North Fork spilling out of a narrow canyon to mix with the warmer main stem Blackfoot river coming out of the east near Lincoln, Montana. When those rivers meet at the River Junction boat ramp they form the water that drove Norman Maclain to write the novel “A River Runs Through it”. From that powerful cauldron the Blackfoot River is a lovely mix of rapids, long runs, and stunning pools below red rock cliffs. Charging to the southwest for 60 miles through its glacier carved path, it meets the Clark Fork river seven miles east of Missoula.

The Blackfoot River is a native West Slope Cutthroat trout factory, and the home of the native bull trout. Bull trout are our largest fish, not technically a trout but a species of char. The top end of the species is pushing 40 inches and weigh well over 15 lbs. They are extremely rare with an estimated population of adults over 30 inches at only 350 in our area. We are restricted from targeting them, but many a fly fishing angler has had his streamer rod ripped out of his hand fly fishing for brown trout by a massive bull or jarred by hooked west slop cutthroat sucked off the end of his line. Bull Trout are important, not because of the random fly fishing angler’s hookup, rather they represent old Montana before rainbows and browns were introduced in the early 20th century. Before settlers came it was the Cutthroat and Bull Trout on the Blackfoot River playing out their eternal struggle. That we still have that undertow playing out under our boats is valuable beyond description. The Blackfoot River is old time Montana fly fishing spilling over immoveable granite shelves and deep blue pools. Not much has changed here over the centuries, creating an allure for the angler who wants to step back in time.

Blackfoot River Sections

The Upper 12 Miles

The Box Canyon on the Blackfoot is the Hallmark card float trip and holds the biggest density of the largest browns, rainbows, and cutthroats in the system. As good as the fishing is in the “Canyon” as we call it, the scenery unrivaled. Beginning in July we like this trip as a Dawn Patrol itinerary with the start times earlier than our other rivers and chasing the sunrise. I would tell you we do this to take advantage of the top end predator fish that feed the best when the light is off the water, but half of the truth is the sunrise in the Canyon is worth more than a 20 inch rainbow. I recommend any day you can put a wading boot in the Blackfoot River on a guided fly fishing float trip you first pack your camera and then fishing gear.

The Lower 48

The Lower River oscillates between pondersoa pine lined banks and true whitewater chutes near Round Up rapids. The canyon walls of the upper Blackfoot fall back and giant granite promontories take over between long willow lined banks. The fishing is rooted in attractor dry style angling focused on riffle lines, large back eddies, and boulder lined pocket water. During the flows of early summer this can be some our most exciting water around.

Blackfoot River map.

The Upper 12 Miles

The Box Canyon on the Blackfoot is the Hallmark card float trip and holds the biggest density of the largest browns, rainbows, and cutthroats in the system. As good as the fishing is in the “Canyon” as we call it, the scenery unrivaled. Beginning in July we like this trip as a Dawn Patrol itinerary with the start times earlier than our other rivers and chasing the sunrise. I would tell you we do this to take advantage of the top end predator fish that feed the best when the light is off the water, but half of the truth is the sunrise in the Canyon is worth more than a 20 inch rainbow. I recommend any day you can put a wading boot in the Blackfoot River on a guided fly fishing float trip you first pack your camera and then fishing gear.

Blackfoot River map.

The Lower 48

The Lower River oscillates between pondersoa pine lined banks and true whitewater chutes near Round Up rapids. The canyon walls of the upper Blackfoot fall back and giant granite promontories take over between long willow lined banks. The fishing is rooted in attractor dry style angling focused on riffle lines, large back eddies, and boulder lined pocket water. During the flows of early summer this can be some our most exciting water around.

Blackfoot River Hatches – Big Flies, Big Trout, Big Smiles

June: Salmonflies, Golden Stones, Green Drakes

Some of the biggest trout in our area will come to the dry fly in June on the Blackfoot River. Salmonflies hatch sometime in mid June depending on flows and water temperature. The Blackfoot River salmon fly hatch is closely watched by the Missoula Fly fishing guide community, because we all know that timing the hatch will give us some of the top guided fly fishing days of the season. June fly fishing on the Blackfoot river is also blessed with thick hatches of Golden Stones and plentiful Green Drakes. June has plentiful big bug options for the fly angler looking to combine deep in the Rocky Mountains scenery with heavy trout.

July – August: Golden Stones, PMD’s, Spruce Moths, Ants, Nocturnal Stones

For a myriad of reasons we love to start our trips earlier in the mid summer. When the light is off the water the big trout on the Blackfoot are more confident in taking the streamer or large dry fly. That angling success coupled with sunrises streaking through the pines and canyon walls make mornings special. The Blackfoot’s strength is its dry fly action. We can count on trout coming to the fly regardless of angling skill set. Mainly the fly fishing here is with attractor/dropper rigs prospecting style, but for the advanced fly fishing angler the streamer fishing can be a highlight trip. We also have a great push of PMDs and Caddis lasting all summer and on the right day the angler with the smallest fly catches the biggest fish. The end of July brings a unique to the Northern Rockies hatch of Spruce Moths, which can be some of the most addictive terrestrial fishing on the Blackfoot.

Montana Weather – Highs in the 70s, Lows in the 40s

September – October: BWO, October Caddis

Into the fall the Blackfoot turns on for big fish. As we head into October Blue Wing Olives start to play a important roles and can produce reliable pods of rising trout. The emergence of October Caddis starts to get our fall fish locked into a plentiful food item and keeps the big dry fly bite going. The Blackfoot River has an outstanding forage base for our top end predator trout so the streamer angler is always in the game.

Montana Weather – Highs in the 60s, Lows in the 30s