Blackfoot River Fishing Report, July 3, 2026
2026-07-03 (July 3, 2026)
Regional summary
Western Montana comes into the July 4th weekend on the back side of a cool, wet stretch. This week's rain bumped every river in the region (hardest on Rock Creek, gentlest on the Blackfoot), pushed the Clark Fork above its historical median, and softened clarity in spots, but everything remains fishable and the water is settling daily. Golden Stones are the headline bug on all four rivers now, with salmonflies reduced to stragglers on the upper Blackfoot canyon and high drainage water. PMDs, Green Drakes, Yellow Sallies, and caddis round out the "bug soup," and dry-dropper remains the dominant method everywhere. The forecast flips warm: a chance of afternoon thunderstorms Friday, then mostly sunny holiday weather Saturday and Sunday. The two things to plan around are post-rain clarity (check gauges before committing) and holiday crowds (fish early, expect busy accesses, and have a backup stretch in mind). One rule change to note: Rock Creek converted to wade fishing only on July 1.
At a glance: Fuller and pushier after the rain, still very fishable | clear to variable color by section | ~61°F midday (6/26 reading) | ~2,060 CFS near Bonner (6/28 reading) | GH rating: 5/5 | Best window: 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Float hazard (FWP floater advisory, 6/25). Unload and walk your boat through the "Strainer Tree Area" roughly one mile below Harry Morgan campground (near 46.98791, -113.11272). Numerous strainer accidents and hung-up boats have been reported in recent weeks. Separately, an obstruction below Harry Morgan on the North Fork has caused boat accidents; walk your boat around it or put in at River Junction instead. Keep your hands on the oars and stay vigilant.
The Blackfoot took some influence from the rain and is running a little fuller than during the recent low, clear stretch, with stronger current, more push along the banks, and potential color depending on the section. It still has plenty of water to keep fish comfortable, and if clarity holds the fishing should stay good to excellent. Salmonflies are done in most places, with leftovers concentrated in the canyon near Russell Gates and upstream. Golden Stones are the main big-bug focus, backed by PMDs, Yellow Sallies, caddis, and the occasional Green Drake. Fish are stacked in soft inside seams, bank edges, willow lines, buckets, slower riffle edges, and shelves below faster water. If it rains hard up high, watch for mud coming down Monture and downstream.
Best techniques
- Dry-dropper is the name of the game: a Golden Stone dry or foam fly in #8-12 (Chubby Chernobyl, Dancin' Ricky, Fool's Gold, True Wing Stone, Clark Fork Stone) with a stonefly nymph, caddis pupa, or PMD nymph (Jig TNT PMD, Pheasant Tail, Frenchie, Copper Top Duracell) 2 to 3 feet below. A smaller stonefly dry like a Plan B, Stimulator, or PMX in yellow or tan #12-16 has been deadly too.
- Big picky sippers show in the afternoon and evening: PMD duns #16-18 and caddis patterns like the Trans Emerger and X-Caddis for the tough fish; on cloudy windows switch to a Green Drake single like a Green Drake Flash Cripple, Extended Body Drake, or Trina's Carnage Drake.
- If they get shy to the big foam fly, strip a small flashy streamer (Sir Sticks-A-Lot, Space Invader, Sparkle Minnow, Goldie) through deep plunge pools, boulders, and riffles.
Hatches
Golden Stones dominant, salmonflies down to canyon and upper-river leftovers, PMDs on foam lines and slower water, Green Drakes on cloudy periods, Yellow Sallies active, and caddis in the evenings.
The Fly Box
Nymphs: Pat's Rubber Legs, TJ Hooker, Double Bead Stone, Zirdle, Twenty Incher, Prince Nymph, Copper Top Duracell, Shuck It, Hare's Ear, Jig PT, Frenchie, Jig TNT PMD, Split Case PMD, Green Drake Nymph, Perdigon
Emergers: Trans Emerger
Dries: Chubby Chernobyl, Water Walker, Dancin' Ricky, Fool's Gold, True Wing Stone, Clark Fork Stone, Plan B, Stimulator, PMX, Green Drake Flash Cripple, Extended Body Drake, Trina's Carnage Drake, On Point Para Wulff, Hi-Vis PMD Spinner, Rio's Film Critic, Purple Haze, Elk Hair Caddis, X-Caddis
Streamers: Sparkle Minnow, Swim Coach, Mini-Dungeon, Peanut Envy, Sculpzilla, Thin Mint, Woolly Bugger, JJ Special, Sir Sticks-A-Lot, Space Invader, Goldie
Outlook. Warm near Bonner heading into the weekend, with a chance of afternoon thundershowers Friday, mostly sunny weather Saturday and Sunday, and another spotty storm chance early next week. Holiday crowds: expect heavy tuber, rafter, and angler traffic through the weekend; fish early and be patient at accesses.
Sources and Thanks
| Shop | Report date | Coverage |
|---|---|---|
| Kingfisher Fly Shop | July 2, 2026 | All four rivers (freshest) |
| Blackfoot River Outfitters | June 26, 2026 | All four rivers |
| Grizzly Hackle | June 26, 2026 | Blackfoot |
| Lightweight Fly Shop | June 28, 2026 | All four rivers, consolidated weekly |
| The Missoulian Angler | June 23, 2026 | All four rivers, background |
