Happy June! The two, going on three, straight days of rain have turned the Blackfoot into a mud pumping canal of high flows and mud. Did I mention mud? Mud. 

It's safe to say the Salmon fly hatch has been delayed for a few days or so. Temps on the lower section have dropped to 50 degrees and flows have skyrocketed. If you are planning to fish the Blackfoot soon, target any and all soft water with a gigantic heavy stonefly and a gigantic worm fly. Be safe out there! 

It's a great time to drive all the way up the Blackfoot, far past Ovando, turn right into Wolf Creek and fish the Missouri!

The Blackfoot is running high, fast, and powerful right now. Flows are up from recent rain and runoff, and the river has plenty of push from bank to bank. This is not easy wade-fishing water, so anglers should be careful around the edges, avoid questionable crossings, and think hard before stepping into the current. Floating may be possible for experienced boaters, but the river demands attention and good judgment.

Fishing can still happen, but the best water is going to be slower and closer to the banks. Look for soft inside bends, foam lines, back eddies, current breaks, and any side water where trout can slide out of the heavy flow. In high water, fish do not need to be far from shore. Work the edges carefully before walking through them, because a lot of good fish will be tucked into surprisingly shallow, soft spots.

Nymphing is the most dependable approach. Stonefly nymphs, Pat’s Rubber Legs, San Juan Worms, Squirmies, jig-style attractors, and larger mayfly nymphs are all good choices. Use enough weight to get the fly down, but keep your drifts in slower lanes where fish can actually feed. Shorter, controlled drifts along the banks will usually beat long casts into the heavy middle current.

Streamers are also worth fishing, especially in softer buckets, along structure, and tight to the bank. Dark patterns, olive patterns, and flies with some flash can all get attention when the water has color. Move the fly slowly enough that fish can track it, and focus on water that gives trout a break from the main push.

Bug activity is building for the season, with stoneflies, caddis, PMDs, and smaller mayflies all becoming part of the mix. Dry-fly fishing is not the main program while the river is this high, but it is worth keeping a few bigger dries and caddis patterns handy in case you find calm edge water with fish looking up. If the weather settles and the river starts to drop, the Blackfoot could improve quickly.

For now, treat the Blackfoot as a high-water fishery. Stay safe, fish the margins, use heavier subsurface setups, and look for the slowest quality water you can find. Conditions can change quickly with rain and runoff, so check flows before heading out and be ready to adjust your plan. Give us a call with any questions!