!! Floating From Weigh Station Closed until October 31st

Treat Weigh Station as the Last Takeout!!

The Blackfoot is low, clear, and very much in fall shape. The Bonner gauge is around 593 cfs, down from the last report’s 612 cfs reading. That lower flow will concentrate fish in the best holding water, so anglers should slow down and spend more time on the right spots instead of rushing every bank. Look for water that has depth, shade, structure, and oxygen.

The lower river floating closure remains the major access note. From July 15 through October 31, you cannot put in at or float past the Weigh Station boat launch/takeout. The Blackfoot River is closed to floating from Weigh Station to the confluence of the Clark Fork, so Weigh Station should be treated as the final takeout above the closure. Plan floats carefully and do not continue downstream through the closed reach.

The most productive water will be willow-lined banks, deeper buckets, boulder pockets, riffle edges, inside seams, shaded shelves, and soft current breaks below heavier water. A Chubby-dropper, hopper-dropper, or October Caddis-dropper can still be a good way to cover likely water. In slower bank water, smaller ants and beetles may be more convincing than oversized foam. If fish are not looking up, small nymphs below a dry or indicator should stay productive.

The fall hatch mix is building. Terrestrials are still worth fishing, especially hoppers, ants, and beetles around grassy banks, willow shade, and undercut edges. BWOs should become more important when clouds, damp weather, or cooler afternoons line up. October Caddis are already showing, and Mahogany Duns and Hecubas are worth carrying as October begins.

The weekend outlook should keep the Blackfoot comfortable. Saturday is forecast to be sunny and pleasant, with Sunday warming into the upper 70s near Bonner. Cool nights should keep water temperatures in good shape, while warmer afternoons may keep fish willing to eat terrestrials and larger October Caddis-style dries.

Streamer fishing should be part of the plan now. Fall conditions can get better fish moving, especially early, late, or along shaded banks. Try olive, black, tan, or white streamers through buckets, boulder seams, bank edges, and soft inside water.

What's Working

Dry Flies

• Hoppers #8-12

• Ants #12-18

• Beetles #12-16

• Chubby Chernobyls #8-14

• Water Walkers #8-12

• BWO Dries #18-22

• Elk Hair Caddis #14-18

• X-Caddis #14-18

• October Caddis Adults #8-12

• Mahogany Duns #14-16

• Hecubas #10-12

• Purple Haze #14-20

• Parachute Adams #14-20

Nymphs

• Zirdles #8-10

• Pat’s Rubber Legs #8-10

• Frenchies #14-18

• Perdigons #14-20

• Pheasant Tails #14-20

• BWO Nymphs #18-22

• Caddis Pupa #12-18

• October Caddis Pupa #8-12

• Jigged Hare’s Ears #14-18

• Small jig nymphs #16-20

Streamers

• Sparkle Minnows

• Swim Coach

• Mini Dungeons

• Sculpzilla

• Thin Mint

• Woolly Buggers

• JJ Special

• Olive streamers

• Black streamers