Blackfoot River Fishing Report, June 9, 2026
All four rivers are dropping out of last week's rain-driven blowout and the trend is positive everywhere. Rock Creek is the headline: salmonflies are on the water and Grizzly Hackle rates it 5/5. The Bitterroot is the best big-river option with salmonflies starting on the upper river and both forks. The Blackfoot is shaping up ahead of its famous hatch, and the Clark Fork remains the slowest to clear. Lightweight's best fishing window for the week is 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
At a glance: High and off color, dropping | Visibility improving daily | Water temp 50-55°F (54 at midday) | ~5,090 CFS near Bonner | Grizzly Hackle: 3/5 | Missoulian Angler: 3/5 | Best window: 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Still flowing big and carrying mud, but flows have dropped hard from last week and the river is becoming more fishable by the day. The upper end will clear before the lower end. No salmonflies flying yet, but they should pop any day, and they were out on the lower and middle river before the blowout. 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 slower edges below heavy riffles. Fish are holding tight to the banks.
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.
- Dry-dropper is opening up as flows settle: a Chubby or Water Walker over a heavy nymph covers banks, seams, and pocket water.
- Streamers pull fish out of the off-color tint. Dead-drift or strip a Sparkle Minnow, Kreelex, Mini Dungeon, 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 ahead, with Yellow Sallies, Green Drakes (watch the cloudy, rainy days), PMDs, and caddis (best toward evening) becoming more important. Dries to have ready: 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, 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 Tuesday, cooler and showery Wednesday, a better stretch Thursday and Friday. Highs in the 50s and 60s up near Ovando. If clarity keeps improving, fishing keeps getting better, and the salmonfly hatch is imminent. Wade carefully.
