The Blackfoot is currently at 1490 CFS and is fishing well at the moment. Earlier in the week we had a spike in flows that slowed the fishing down some, but conditions are improving with warming weather. Water clarity isn’t bad at the moment, very fishable conditions for early run off but the river can become blown out overnight with a surge of runoff.

The best reports on dry fly fishing have been mid-afternoon skwala hatches, which peak off with the peak of afternoon water temps about 2-6pm. BWOs and march browns come off about the same time and last a little later into the afternoon. A few consecutive days of warming weather can create some wonderful thick hatches, though a single frosty night or burst of icy runoff can shut down the hatch until it warms again.

If the dry fly fishing doesn’t shake out, nymphing is always the reliable move no matter the conditions. If you’re still hopeful the dry fly fishing could pick up “any second now”, running a small nymph as a dropper can break up the monotony without abandoning the dry bite. If the day’s being a real grind, running a double nymph rig under an indicator is about the most reliable approach there is. Tight line nymphing is also a thing you can choose to do. Our most reliable patterns have been the double bead stone, pats rubber legs, TJ hookers, and jigged duracells.

If staring at the indicator all day doesn’t seem too entertaining, the Blackfoot has plenty of options to both swing and strip streamers. Our recommendations are black Sculpzillas, Goldies, and Chicago Overcoats on the swing, or with slow deliberate strips back to you. The fish are searching for food as hard as you are trying to send it to them, so keep it low and slow so they have a chance at finding the fly. The Blackfoot also has a lot of boulder fields, so a slow sinking or floating pattern like a drunk and disorderly or kill whitey can be killer for checking the backsides of boulders for big fish. If the water is high and muddy we recommend using darker colors, clear and stained something flashy in color.