!! Floating From Weigh Station Closed until October 31st

Treat Weigh Station as the Last Takeout!!

The Blackfoot is back in a lower, clearer September rhythm. The Bonner gauge is around 627 cfs, down from the last report’s 648 cfs reading. That is still fishable, but the river is getting more defined, and trout will be concentrated in the best holding water rather than spread across every likely-looking bank. The best approach is to slow down and pick apart the spots that offer depth, shade, structure, and oxygen.

The lower river floating closure remains important. 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 final takeout above the closure. Plan floats carefully and do not continue downstream through that closed reach.

For fishing, look for willow-lined banks, deeper buckets, boulder pockets, riffle edges, inside seams, shaded shelves, and soft current breaks below heavier water. A hopper-dropper or Chubby-dropper is still a good search rig, but in slower bank water, smaller ants and beetles can be more convincing than big foam. If fish are not looking up, small nymphs under an indicator or terrestrial dry should stay productive.

The Blackfoot is moving deeper into its fall hatch cycle. Terrestrials are still worth fishing, especially hoppers, ants, and beetles around grassy banks, willow shade, and undercut edges. BWOs should become more important during cool, cloudy, damp windows. Anglers are already seeing October Caddis, and Mahogany Duns and Hecubas are worth carrying as September pushes toward October.

The weekend cool-down should help the Blackfoot. Bonner drops from the mid-70s Friday into the upper 50s and low 60s Saturday and Sunday. Cooler water should improve trout comfort and may keep fish active through more of the day, especially if clouds hang around.

Streamer fishing should be part of the program now. As fall builds, bigger fish often respond better to movement. Try olive, black, tan, or white streamers through buckets, bank seams, boulder 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