Bigfork Montana Fly Fishing – River Report

Clark Shark - Hopper Brown

General Outlook.  You can feel the dog days of summer trying to creep in but the extra water we have this year is keeping the fish happy. We are looking at a couple cooler days with some cloud cover so take advantage, it should be a pleasant week on the river.

Blackfoot River: The spruce moths are still kicking around but it is starting to taper off a bit. A hopper and a cdc spruce moth have been working well. Stick with it and you’ll get enough fish throughout the day to keep it entertaining.
Bugs / Fly Patterns: caddis, goldens, hoppers, ants, spruce moths / Pink Morrish, whitecloud hoppers, Red willies ant, chubbies, fuzzy wuzzies, fat franks, cripples, paracaddis, batman nymph, MT prince, Holo Prince, C-johns, PRLs

Lower Clark Fork River: Hoppers and foam attractors are still king. The faster riffles and heavier water in boulder gardens is where they be. A deep dropper in the turd variety is helpful in the heat of the day. Throw out to the middle sometimes. 
Bugs / Fly Patterns: pmds, caddis, sallies, goldens, hoppers, ants, / willies ant, chubbies, Peach White Cloud Hopper,  fuzzy wuzzies, fat franks, cripples, paracaddis, batman nymphs, MT princes, C-johns, para sallies, 20 inchers, PRL,

Flathead River: Still fishing well but the crowds on the Main Stem over the weekend were a little much. Smaller foamies with a caddis, or ant trailer produce. The turd and Holo Prince are still getting some nice fish too. Spruce moths are out on the middle fork and the fish are up for them. Still some nice fish getting tickled out there.  
Bugs / Fly Patterns: pmds, sallies, goldens, hoppers, ants, caddis / corn fed caddis, para caddis, purple haze, k-fish cripple, willies ant, chubbies, fuzzy wuzzies, fat franks, peach whitecloud hopper, golden turd, holo prince.

Swan River: Some hopper eats lately on the upper. Aaron Manuel got a couple 20+ on the big dry a couple days ago up there. Not fast and furious but a few big ones will keep it interesting. Happy hour is the last hour. Streamers too.
Bugs / Fly Patterns: willies ant, Pink morish, whitecloud hopper, chubbies, fuzzy wuzzies, fat franks,  black / olive / white streamers, PRLs in golden/salmon/black/brown, prince nymphs, SJWs in all flavors, tungsten 20 inchers, DB poxy rubberleg stones.