The weekend rain gave the Blackfoot a small drink, and the river is easing back down through a comfortable summer range with clear water and trout settled into their warm-weather addresses.

The Blackfoot has shed still more water and runs low and clear from Ovando through the canyon. Clean, drag-free drifts matter more than they did a month ago.

The Blackfoot has shed a lot of water in a hurry and now runs low and clear from Ovando down through the canyon to the Clark Fork confluence. That clarity is a gift and a warning at once: the fish can see everything, so clean drifts matter more than they did a month ago.

The Blackfoot has slid back into a genuine summer range, with the upper and middle river cleaning up fastest and Golden Stones anchoring a full summer menu.

The Blackfoot is running a little fuller after the week's rain, with stronger current and more push along the banks, but clarity is holding and the fishing should stay good to excellent. Golden Stones lead the way with PMDs, Yellow Sallies, caddis, and the occasional Green Drake behind.

The Blackfoot has dropped into prime fishing shape, with improved clarity and trout looking up along the banks as Golden Stones take over from the fading salmonflies.

In prime shape and fishing great. The river has dropped into a dependable early-summer range, slightly off-color at about 2,400 CFS near Bonner and 59°F midday.

The Blackfoot has dropped into prime fishing shape. Clarity is good and the fishing has been stellar throughout the river.

The Blackfoot is in prime time. Flows have dropped into a manageable range, clarity is good, and the fishing has been excellent.

The Blackfoot has come into prime time. The runoff mud is gone, flows have dropped into a realistic range, and the river is fishing very well.

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.

Dropping and slightly off color, mid-day water temp around 54°F, running near 5,000 CFS at Bonner. Entering prime time.

It’s go time: salmonflies are starting to come off and the Blackfoot gets more fishable by the day. Deep nymphing leads, chubby dropper season is open, and the famous hatch is building.

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.

Kingfisher’s verdict this morning: “muddy as all hell.” The Blackfoot took a big push of water and the salmonfly hatch has been delayed a few days, with lower-section water temps dipping to 50F as flows spiked.

Runoff is back across the region after another warm push. The Bitterroot is the most fishable mainstem; Salmonflies have arrived on lower Rock Creek but high, off-color water is throttling the dry-fly bite everywhere.

Western Montana is on the back side of a big runoff push. All four rivers crested last week and are dropping fast, clarity is improving daily, but flows are still high and off-color.

The whole Missoula-area system is in spring-runoff mode.

Runoff is in full swing across western Montana, with a cold, wet weekend pushing flows higher and snow showers in the forecast through Sunday before things dry out and warm into the 60s by midweek.

Regional headline: warm weather has pushed Western Montana into full runoff. All four rivers are high, off-color, and pushy.