6/15/2026: Blackfoot River Fishing Report
Summary
Early summer has arrived and all four rivers keep dropping into shape. The story across the region is a hand-off: the salmonfly hatch is winding down and pushing into the upper drainages, while golden stones take over as the headline big bug river-wide. Green Drakes, PMDs, yellow sallies, and caddis are all filling in, so this is prime dry-dropper season. The Blackfoot and Rock Creek are the standouts (Grizzly Hackle rates both 5/5), the Bitterroot offers the best all-around odds, and the Clark Fork has turned the corner and is fishing well as clarity improves. Best regional window this week runs roughly 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. (Lightweight), and warm afternoons mean watching water temps and starting earlier when needed. Float anglers: fresh down trees and log jams are a real hazard on the Bitterroot and Rock Creek as flows drop fast, and Rock Creek is getting skinny for floating.
At a glance: Dropping and slightly off color, mid-day water temp around 54°F, running near 3,010 CFS at Bonner | GH 5/5 | Missoulian Angler 4/5 | Best window 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Dropping and slightly off color, mid-day water temp around 54°F, running near 3,010 CFS at Bonner. The mud is gone and the river is entering its famous prime-time window. Fish are looking up consistently along banks, soft seams, buckets, and slower edges.
Best techniques
A dry-dropper rig is the workhorse: a larger salmonfly or golden stone dry such as a Henry's Fork Foam Stone, a dark Chubby Chernobyl, or a Juicy Stone up top, with a Sili-Leg Stone, TJ Hooker, San Juan Worm, or Prince Nymph underneath. Fish tight to banks, willow lines, and eddies. Nymphing is most consistent early in the day or when the sun is high; streamers are worth fishing early, late, or through deeper buckets and shaded banks. This is big-tippet fishing, so leave the 5X and 6X at home.
Hatches
Salmonflies are the main event and coming off in Box Canyon, with Golden Stones becoming more important by the day. PMDs, Yellow Sallies, caddis, and Green Drakes add variety as the day goes on.
The Fly Box
Nymphs: Pat's Rubber Legs, TJ Hooker, Sili-Leg Stone, San Juan Worm, Prince Nymph, Yuk Bugs, Double Bead Stones, Frenchies, Psycho May, Split Case PMD, Jig PT, Duracells, Shuck Its, Hare's Ears, Zirdles
Dries: Chubby Chernobyl, Henry's Fork Foam Stone, Juicy Stone, Water Walkers, Dancin' Rickys, Fool's Golds, Emma's Stones, Elk Hair Caddis, X-Caddis, Furminksy's Fluttering Foam Caddis, Carlson's Purple Haze, Parachute Adams
Streamers: Sparkle Minnows, Swim Coach, Mini Dungeons, Peanut Envy, Sculpzilla, Thin Mints, Woolly Buggers, JJ Special, Kreelex Minnows
Outlook. Weekend temps in the 60s and 70s near Ovando, high 70s next week with a mix of sun and clouds. The salmonfly hatch keeps pushing upstream while golden stones grow in importance. Excellent dry-dropper fishing should hold for the next couple of weeks, so get out now if you want in on the salmonfly madness.
Sources and Thanks
| Shop | Report date | Coverage |
|---|---|---|
| Blackfoot River Outfitters | June 12, 2026 | Blackfoot River |
| Kingfisher Fly Shop | June 15, 2026 | Blackfoot River |
| Grizzly Hackle | June 13, 2026 | Blackfoot River |
| The Missoulian Angler | June 12, 2026 | Blackfoot River |
| Lightweight Fly Shop | June 14, 2026 | Blackfoot River |
