Blackfoot River Fishing Report: April 27, 2026

Conditions at-a-glance: High and off-color · Visibility 2–3 ft · Water temp ~45°F · ~4,400 cfs at Bonner, dropping

The Blackfoot has been the steady freestone option this past week as flows ease off recent bumps and clarity slowly improves. Cold water keeps the surface game limited — this is still a sub-surface story, with dries staying spotty until temperatures climb. Upper sections above Ovando are fishing noticeably better than the lower river. Forecasted highs into the low 70s by Tuesday could trigger another snowmelt push, so take advantage of the current window.

Best techniques

• Heavy nymph rigs through soft inside bends, drop-offs, and back eddies; deep and methodical
• Streamers in dirty water with dark, high-contrast patterns; transition to white/gold as clarity improves
• Dry-dropper with a foam stonefly up top and a rubberlegs / PT / San Juan underneath
• Hang a small mayfly emerger like a Jig PT, Duracell, or On-Point Mayfly post-lunch for March Browns

Hatches & flies

• Midges, Nemoura, Capnia. BWOs and Callibaetis sporadic on warmer afternoons
• Stonefly nymphs: Pat's Rubber Legs (incl. TB Rubberlegs), TJ Hooker, Double Bead Stone
• Mayfly nymphs / emergers: Jig PT, Duracell, On-Point Mayfly
• Worms / attractor: San Juan Worm, Hot Bead Power Worm, Chubby Chernobyl
• Midges & dries: Galloup's Goober Midge, Griffith's Gnat, Bucky's Klinkhammer-Zebra, Olive Haze, On Point Para Wulff, Ms. Tickle, D&D Cripple, DL Cripple
• Streamers: Sparkle Minnow (Coffey's Conehead), Dungeon, Shake & Bake, Slick Willy, Jig Sculpins, Chicago Overcoat, Kreelex, Lil' Kim, Woolly Bugger

Outlook: Highs climb steadily through the weekend, peaking ~73°F Tuesday, before a Wednesday cold front drops things back to the 50s with rain and snow. Watch overnight lows — warm nights accelerate the snowmelt bump.