!! Floating From Weigh Station Closed until October 31st

Treat Weigh Station as the Last Takeout!!

The Blackfoot is lower than the last report but still fishing in a solid September window. The Bonner gauge is around 648 cfs, down from the previous 705 cfs reading. That drop means the river is clearing and becoming more technical again, but the cooler nights and recent rain have kept conditions more comfortable than the hot late-summer stretch. Fish will be concentrated in the best holding water, so slow down and pick apart the right spots.

The lower river floating closure remains the major access note. 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 closed stretch. Plan floats carefully and do not continue downstream through that reach.

Saturday’s rain helped cool the system, but the week starts warmer and drier around Bonner, with highs in the upper 70s to low 80s before cooler weather returns Friday into the weekend. That cooler late-week pattern should help trout comfort and may stretch the better fishing window later into the day.

For fishing, focus on willow-lined banks, boulder pockets, deeper buckets, riffle edges, inside seams, shaded shelves, and soft current breaks below heavier water. Hopper-dropper rigs are still a good search setup, but in slower bank water, smaller ants and beetles may be more convincing than big foam. Fish are not everywhere at this flow, so spend more time on the best buckets and oxygenated runs.

The fall hatch shift is becoming more obvious. Terrestrials are still a real option, especially hoppers, ants, and beetles around grassy banks, willows, and undercut shade. BWOs should become more important during gray, damp weather. October Caddis are already showing, and Mahogany Duns and Hecubas are worth keeping ready as September progresses.

Streamers are worth mixing in now. As fall builds, cloudy weather and cooler water can get better fish moving. Try olive, black, tan, or white streamers through buckets, bank edges, boulder seams, 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