Bigfork Montana Fly Fishing – River Report

Bay Bow

General Outlook: Spring has sprung! We are looking at some great weather for the next several days. The weather is calling for 60s on the Mo and the Bitterroot.  The fishing has been good and should improve with the warmth. We will probably see a small spike in flows but nothing major hopefully. You might want to check the graphs before you head out.

Blackfoot River Report: Still cold and just had a big push of water come through. Once it settles you could nymph up some fish. Haven’t heard if you can get to RJ or not but that would be worth a float. The warm weather should help unless it sends a bunch more water down hill. Some of the big fish have got to be waking up and they certainly haven’t seen a San Juan worm in a while.
Bugs / Fly Patterns: Not many bugs / 20 incher stones, double bead stones, rubber legs, princes, glo bugs, San Juans, beadhead whatevers.

Lower Clark Fork River Report: This warm weather should provide a few skwala eats down there. Or not. It’s still early but highs in the 60s could get a few adults out on the water. If not, a turd and a worm sure will. Buggers on a slow retrieve with a sink tip……
Bugs / Fly Patterns: Midges, maybe skwalas / Rogue Skwalas, Silveys little olive, Fat Franks, 20 incher stones, double bead stones, rubber legs, princes, glo bugs, San Juans, beadhead whatevers, coffee minnows, urchin buggers, general streamers.

Flathead River Report: The main river has been fishing well with nymphs and some dry fly opportunities (midges). The fish are concentrated in winter spots. The Flathead system doesn’t get a bunch of skwalas but the fish will still eat’m on warm spring days. If you find rising fish try throwing a small skwala as your lead fly. It’s a good visual for trailing a midge and it’ll get eats. Nymphing with the usual suspects is productive in the spots.
Bugs / Fly Patterns: capnia stones &  midges / 20 incher stones, double bead stones, rubber legs, princes, glo bugs, San Juans, beadhead whatevers.

Swan River Report: Upper is closed. The lower and the Bay are starting to produce. Brent ran into the pretty gal pictured above today at the power house. First person to guess what bug she ate gets a FREE Bigfork Anglers hat. I heard a rumor of a huge beast of a rainbow landed near the Ferndale bridge last week but I’m still waiting for the picture.
Bugs / Fly Patterns: Not many bugs / 20 incher stones, double bead stones, rubber legs, princes, glo bugs, San Juans, beadhead whatevers.

Friday Sunny Hi 54 °F

Friday Night Partly Cloudy Lo 34 °F

Saturday Slight Chc Showers Hi 51 °F

Saturday Night Chance Rain Lo 35 °F

Sunday Rain Likely Hi 44 °F

Sunday Night Rain/Snow Likely Lo 29 °F

Monday Chance Snow Hi 41 °F