Blackfoot River Fishing Report: May 10, 2026

Snowmelt v3 has the entire Missoula-area system high and off-color. Nymphing and streamers are the play across all four rivers; dry fly action is limited but improving on the Bitterroot, where fish are starting to look up in the evenings. Stay safe wading or floating — log jams and tree hazards remain a real concern, especially on the Bitterroot.

Conditions at-a-glance: Flows above 4,000 cfs on the lower river and another 500 cfs bump in the last two days · Water condition: high and off-color · Mid-day water temp: 52°F · Visibility: poor.

Fast water and high flows. The lower Blackfoot's holding water has been pushed to the eddy-and-bank seams and is boiling rather than slick. Wade carefully and watch float lines.

The Blackfoot lags the other area rivers in warming, so dry fly action is intermittent at best. On warmer afternoons there are sporadic March Browns, BWOs, and the occasional straggler Skwala; caddis are just starting to flutter in the evenings, and Grey Drakes are mixed in here and there. Most fish are still looking down.

Best techniques

• Nymph deep and heavy — 4–6 ft below an indicator, focusing on inside seams, tailouts, and slow drop-offs where fish are conserving energy.
• Hang a smaller mayfly emerger like a Jig PT, Duracell, or On-Point Mayfly off a stonefly anchor through the March Brown window post-lunch.
• Stick with high-contrast streamers — black or white in the mud, bigger is better. Get the fly in the zone fast and keep it there with a sink tip or split shot.

Featured flies

• Dries: MFC Hot Spot Para-Wulff (Brindle), MFC Hot Spot Para-Wulff (Green Drake), Carlson's Olive Haze, Stranahan's Brindle Chute, On Point Para Wulff (BWO), Chubby Chernobyl, Ms. Tickle, Hairwing Drake, D&D Cripple, DL Cripple.
• Nymphs: Pat's Rubber Legs, TJ Hookers, Double Bead Stones, Duracells, Hare's Ears, Jig PTs, San Juans, On-Point Mayfly.
• Streamers: Sparkle Minnows, Dungeon, Shake & Bake, Slick Willy, Woolly Buggers.

Outlook: A mix of cloudy and sunny conditions through the week, highs warming from 69°F today to 82°F by Thursday, with a 35% chance of light rain Wednesday. Expect another bump in flows as the warm-up melts more snow; the Blackfoot will trail the other rivers' return to fishability.