!! Floating From Weigh Station Closed until October 31st

Treat Weigh Station as the Last Takeout!!

The Blackfoot is low, clear, and very much in its October groove. The Bonner gauge is around 593 cfs, about the same as the last report and still right in a productive fall range. Water temperatures are excellent for trout, with recent reports showing the river around 50 to 53 degrees. That is a strong improvement from late-summer warmth, and fish should be comfortable using banks, buckets, riffles, and boulder water when the light and presentation are right.

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 warm, dry weekend kept the river clear and stable. That means good visibility, but also fish that may be a little spooky in soft water. Focus on willow-lined banks, deeper buckets, boulder pockets, riffle edges, inside seams, shaded shelves, and current breaks below heavier water. A Chubby-dropper, hopper-dropper, or October Caddis-dropper is still a good way to search. In slower bank water, smaller ants and beetles may be more convincing than big foam.

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, cooler temperatures, or damp weather arrive. October Caddis are already showing, and Mahogany Duns and Hecubas are worth keeping in the box as October progresses.

Streamer fishing should be part of the plan now. Cooler water and shorter days can get bigger fish moving, especially in shaded water or during changing weather. Try olive, black, tan, or white streamers through buckets, boulder seams, bank edges, and soft inside water.

Weekend Outlook

The next weekend looks much cooler and breezier, with shower chances returning. That should help the Blackfoot feel more fall-like and could improve streamer fishing, especially if clouds hang around and the water gains a slight stain.

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