Blackfoot River Fishing Report: April 28, 2026

Western Montana is in classic late-April spring transition: high but generally fishable flows, water temps still cold (41–48F), and the dry-fly window opening up day-by-day on the Bitterroot, Clark Fork, and Rock Creek behind Skwalas, March Browns, and BWOs. The Blackfoot remains the coldest and pushiest of the four — nymphing and streamers are still the right call there. A warm-up early next week (highs into the 70s) is likely to bump flows again before a cold front and rain/snow Wednesday.

Conditions: High and off color · Visibility 2–3 ft · Mid-day water temp ~43–45F · Flows near Bonner ~4,000–4,400 cfs and dropping.

The Blackfoot is just starting to fish well as flows level off, but it remains the toughest of the four — high, cold, and pushy. Soft holding water has been pushed up tight to the willows along the banks; wade carefully and focus on extremely tight margins. Upper sections are fishing better than the lower river. Don't expect much in the way of dry-fly fishing for the next few weeks; the surface game on the Blackfoot is usually the last to arrive.

Best techniques

• Nymphing: deep and heavy, 4'–6'. Look for inside bends, slow drop-offs, back eddies, and protected seams. Bigger the better. Heavy stonefly rigs paired with worms or smaller dark nymphs.
• Streamers: the dirty water plays in your favor — slow, deep presentations against banks, structure, and slower buckets. Dark/high-contrast under overcast; switch to gold and white as clarity improves.
• Limited dries: keep March Brown and BWO patterns handy for warmer afternoons; Midges can move occasional fish.

Hatches: Skwalas (just trying), BWOs, March Browns starting, Nemoura, Capnia, Midges, occasional Callibaetis late afternoons.

Featured flies

• Nymphs: TJ Hooker, Double Bead Stone, Rubberlegs, Jig PT, Duracell, On-Point Mayfly, San Juan Worm, Hot Bead Power Worm (red/pink), MFC Trina's Squirm.
• Streamers: Dungeon, Shake & Bake, Slick Willy, Sparkle Minnow, Chicago Overcoat, Kreelex, Lil' Kim, Woolly Bugger.
• Dries (when they happen): On Point Para Wulff (BWO), Chubby Chernobyl, Bucky's Klinkhammer-Zebra, Carlson's Olive Haze, Galloup's Goober Midge, Griffith's Gnat, Ms. Tickle, D&D Cripple, DL Cripple.

Outlook: Highs climb into the upper-60s/low-70s by Tuesday — expect another bump in flows from snowmelt before a Wednesday cold front brings rain, snow, and 50s.