!! Floating From Weigh Station Closed until October 31st

Treat Weigh Station as the Last Takeout!!

The Blackfoot is in a strong early-fall transition after the weekend’s rain and cooler weather. The Bonner gauge is around 712 cfs, down from the larger bump after last week’s moisture, but still in a good range for September fishing. The river is dropping and clearing, and cooler water should make fish more comfortable than they were during the hot, low-water stretch.

The key access reminder remains the lower river floating closure. 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 from Weigh Station to the confluence of the Clark Fork for floating, so Weigh Station should be treated as the last takeout above the closure. Plan floats carefully and do not continue downstream through the closed reach.

For fishing, focus on willow-lined banks, riffle edges, buckets, boulder pockets, inside seams, soft shelves, and shaded current breaks. A hopper-dropper or Chubby-dropper is still a good searching rig, but in slower bank water, ants and beetles may be more convincing than a big foam fly. Fish are not everywhere, so spend time on the best oxygenated and protected water.

The Blackfoot is shifting from late summer into fall. Terrestrials are still a real option, especially hoppers, ants, and beetles along grassy banks and willow shade. BWOs should become more important during cool, cloudy, wet periods. Anglers are already seeing October Caddis, and Mahogany Duns and Hecubas are worth watching for as September moves along.

The cooler weekend weather helped the Blackfoot by lowering water temperatures and improving trout comfort. Bonner stays cool today, then gradually warms into the 60s and 70s this week, with another thunderstorm chance Thursday. That should keep the bite more forgiving than it was during the late-August heat.

Streamers are a smart option as fall approaches. Cloud cover, rain, and a touch of stain can move better fish. Work olive, black, tan, or white streamers along banks, boulder edges, buckets, and soft seams.

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 #6-12
• 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