!! Floating From Weigh Station Closed until October 31st

Treat Weigh Station as the Last Takeout!!

The Blackfoot is lower and more defined than it was earlier in September. The Bonner gauge is around 612 cfs, down from the last report’s 627 cfs. That is not a big drop, but it does mean fish are becoming more concentrated in the best holding water. The river is clear, stable, and very fishable, but anglers should spend more time on the right water instead of covering every bank quickly.

The main 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 to floating from Weigh Station to the confluence of the Clark Fork, so Weigh Station should be treated as the final takeout above the closure. Plan floats carefully and do not continue downstream through that closed reach.

For fishing, look for willow-lined banks, deeper buckets, boulder pockets, riffle edges, soft inside seams, shaded shelves, and current breaks below heavier water. A hopper-dropper or October Caddis-dropper can still cover water well, but in slower bank water, smaller ants and beetles may be more convincing than big foam. If fish are not looking up, small nymphs under a dry or indicator should stay productive.

The weekend’s cooler weather and colder nights should help trout comfort on the Blackfoot. With water cooling, expect the best window to shift more toward late morning and afternoon rather than first light. That should make the river feel more like fall and less like the pressured late-summer program.

Terrestrials are not done. Hoppers, ants, and beetles are still worth fishing around grassy banks, willow shade, and undercut edges. BWOs are the hatch to watch during gray, damp, or cooler periods. October Caddis are already showing, and Mahogany Duns and Hecubas are worth carrying as we move toward October.

Streamer fishing should be part of the plan now. Cooler water and lower light can get better fish moving. Try olive, black, tan, or white streamers through buckets, boulder seams, bank edges, 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