!! Floating From Weigh Station Closed until October 31st

Treat Weigh Station as the Last Takeout!!

The Blackfoot is in a steady early-fall transition. The Bonner gauge is around 705 cfs, slightly down from the last report, and the river is continuing to drop and clear after the weekend moisture. Flows are not big, but they are still very fishable for September. Cooler water has helped trout comfort, and fish should be more willing to use banks, buckets, and riffle water than they were during the hotter late-August period.

The lower river access note 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 the closed reach.

For fishing, concentrate on willow-lined banks, riffle edges, boulder pockets, deeper buckets, inside seams, shaded shelves, and soft current breaks. Hopper-dropper rigs are still effective, but don’t overlook smaller ants and beetles in softer bank water. Fish may not be everywhere, so spend more time on the best water rather than rushing between average spots.

The fall hatch transition is underway. 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 keeping in the box as September progresses.

The cooler weather from the weekend helped the Blackfoot by lowering water temperatures and improving fish comfort. Bonner should stay mild, with highs in the upper 60s to mid-70s, a heavy thunderstorm chance Thursday, and showers possible Saturday.

Streamer fishing is a good idea as we move toward fall. Clouds, rain, and a little stain can get better fish moving. 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 #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