Dry fly action has been fairly limited, especially with current river conditions. Like the Clark Fork, flows have come up and the water is now running fast, muddy, and with significantly reduced visibility. That said, on warmer afternoons you can still occasionally find pods of trout keying in on midges, and there have been some sightings of nemoura stoneflies and early blue-winged olives. Surface opportunities are sporadic, but when things line up, it can still make for some technical and rewarding fishing. Overall, though, most fish are staying subsurface in these off-color conditions.

Nymphing has remained the most consistent and productive approach, very similar to what we’re seeing on the Clark Fork. Heavier rigs are key right now to get down in the faster, dirtier water. Both indicator and tightline setups are working well as long as flies are in the zone. Stonefly nymphs paired with worms or small dark nymphs—like Pheasant Tails and perdigons—are all solid producers. Focus efforts on softer water: deeper runs, tailouts, and protected seams where fish are holding out of the main current.

Streamer fishing has also stayed consistent. The dirty water actually plays in your favor here, giving you a good chance to move fish with larger, high-contrast patterns. A slow, deep presentation is still critical—target structure, banks, and slower buckets with methodical casts. Sculpin patterns, Woolly Buggers, and other medium to large streamers in darker colors have been effective, especially under overcast skies.

One key note: the upper sections of the Blackfoot are currently fishing better than the lower river. As always, conditions can change quickly this time of year, so keep an eye on flows and clarity and adjust accordingly