Blackfoot River Fishing Report, June 11, 2026
At a glance: High and off color, dropping hard | Clarity improving daily | Water temp 50-55°F (54 at midday) | ~5,000-5,090 CFS near Bonner | Grizzly Hackle: 3/5 | Missoulian Angler: 3/5 | Best window: 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
It's go time. Kingfisher (June 10) reports salmonflies starting to come off the Blackfoot, with the hatch expected to move up the system over the next week. The river is still flowing big and carrying color, but flows have dropped hard from last week and it becomes more fishable by the day, with the upper end clearing before the lower. The big stonefly nymphs are highly active along the bottom, so think big and fish the soft water: inside bends, slow bank seams, foam lines, back eddies, side channels, and the slower edges below heavy riffles. Fish are holding tight to the banks, so work the close water before stepping in.
Best techniques
- Deep nymphing is the most consistent producer. Run a heavy indicator rig with a TJ Hooker, Rubber Legs, Sili-Leg Stone, Jiggler, or Double Bead Stone up front, trailed by a Jig SJ Worm, Wire Worm, Chicago Overcoat, Jig Prince, Hare's Ear, Zirdle, Frenchie, or Pheasant Tail.
- Chubby dropper season is officially open: a Chubby or Water Walker over a heavy nymph covers banks, seams, buckets, and pocket water as the river settles.
- Streamers pull fish out of the off-color tint. Dead-drift or strip a Sparkle Minnow, Kreelex, Mini Dungeon, Woolly Bugger, Peanut Envy, Thin Mint, Sculpzilla, Barely Legal, Double Gonga, or JJ Special in olive, black, brown, or white.
Hatches
Salmonflies and Golden Stones are the main event, with Yellow Sallies, Green Drakes (watch the cool, rainy days), PMDs, and caddis (best toward evening) becoming more important. Salmonfly dries to stock: Fluttering Salmon, Fool's Gold, and Cat's Puke (#4-6). Other dries: Purple Haze, Parachute Adams, Corn Fed Caddis, Elk Hair Caddis, and X-Caddis. Blackfoot River Outfitters' per-river featured dries add Furminksy's Fluttering Foam Caddis, Goddard Caddis, the MFC Hot Spot Para-Wulff (Brindle and Green Drake), and Stranahan's Brindle Chute.
The Fly Box
Nymphs: TJ Hooker, Rubber Legs, Sili-Leg Stone, Jiggler, Double Bead Stone, Wire Worm, Hare's Ear, Zirdle, Frenchie, Pheasant Tail
Dries: Chubby, Water Walker, Fool's Gold, Purple Haze, Parachute Adams, Corn Fed Caddis, Elk Hair Caddis, X-Caddis, Furminksy's Fluttering Foam Caddis, Goddard Caddis, Hot Spot Para-Wulff, Brindle Chute
Streamers: Chicago Overcoat, Sparkle Minnow, Kreelex, Mini Dungeon, Woolly Bugger, Peanut Envy, Thin Mint, Sculpzilla, Barely Legal, Double Gonga, JJ Special
Outlook. Mixed but encouraging: thundershowers early, cooler and showery midweek, then a better stretch Thursday and Friday. Highs in the 50s and 60s near Ovando. If clarity keeps improving, fishing keeps getting better, and the famous Blackfoot salmonfly hatch is building now. Wade carefully, and remember the creeks and stillwaters are open if the main river is still too pushy.
Sources and Thanks
This report is synthesized from the latest published river reports of the fly shops below. They do the on-the-water work; go see them for flies and current intel.
- Kingfisher Fly Shop (June 10)
- Lightweight Fly Shop (week of June 7-13)
- Blackfoot River Outfitters (June 5)
- Grizzly Hackle (June 4)
- The Missoulian Angler (June 3)
Conditions change fast during runoff. Always check flows and confirm with a shop before you go.
