Bigfork Montana Fly Fishing - River Report

General Outlook: Warm weather and rain have all the rivers on the upswing. This trend will likely continue if the forecast is correct. Looks like a solid week of rain. We’ll see. With the exception of the Bitterroot and the Mo your river fishing will be slightly less than ideal for the next few days.

Blackfoot River Report: several days on the rise. Probably not a great option.
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: several days on the rise. Probably not a great option.
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 river more than doubled in the last few days due mostly to releases from Hungry Horse. The Middle and North Fork are coming up slightly too. The large volume change will probably displace some fish and change some holding water. The fish should acclimate quickly and return to the feed bag but it might take a few days. Or not…..it’s fishing. Had a decent report from the Middle Fork a couple days ago.
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 river and bay continue to produce fish and are a good local option right now. Been seeing fisher peeps testing their luck daily. Not great numbers but some nice fish have been showing up. Same old tactics……a stone and a bead head whatever or Juan off the back. Warmer water temps should move a few for a streamer. Local fly fisher Zack C. was in the shop with a few pics of bows over 20″ caught around Ferndale in the last couple weeks. I love it when people back up their 20 incher stories with photos.
Bugs / Fly Patterns: Not many bugs / 20 incher stones, double bead stones, rubber legs, princes, glo bugs, San Juans, beadhead whatevers.

Other Stuff: The Bitterroot is coming up slightly but still fishing decent with some dry fly action in the afternoons. The Thompson is on the rise but probably not enough to ruin your day.