Overnight

Clear
Clear

Lo 41 °F

Monday

Sunny
Sunny

Hi 79 °F

Monday
Night

Partly Cloudy
Partly
Cloudy
Lo 45 °F
Tuesday

Slight Chance Thunderstorms Chance for Measurable Precipitation 20%
Slight Chc
Tstms
Hi 87 °F
Tuesday
Night

Slight Chance Thunderstorms Chance for Measurable Precipitation 20%
Slight Chc
Tstms
Lo 52 °F
Wednesday

Chance Thunderstorms Chance for Measurable Precipitation 30%
Chance
Tstms
Hi 76 °F
Wednesday
Night

Chance Thunderstorms Chance for Measurable Precipitation 30%
Chance
Tstms
Lo 50 °F
Thursday

Chance Showers
Chance
Showers
Hi 69 °F
Thursday
Night

Slight Chance Thunderstorms
Slight Chc
Tstms
Lo 47 °F

 

Brent managed this decent double on the Lower Swan today.

 General outlook: The river graphs are all on a steep decline due to the overnight low in the 30’s we just had. 30’s??? Really??  The drop in flows will be short lived though and you can expect things to be back on the up swing  with the upper 80’s they are calling for in the next few days. The river flows are probably going to yoyo for the next week or so with the inconsistent weather we are getting. We are looking at highs in 60’s with rain in the extended forecast so who knows what will happen. We should start to see the rivers begin their long slow painful downward journey back to fishable levels after this week.  

The river fishing is still VERY limited. Rock Creek and the West Fork are fishing but they are still freak’n HUGE  big with limited holding water. One of our guides floated the West Fork yesterday and caught a few  fish on dries but mostly droppers. The main Bitterroot will fish when it’s big but you have to hit the side channels and slough areas as the main river will have limited holding water. Some of the Nine Pipe spring influenced / tail water streams might be worth a look as well as the Thompson and the Bull.   I’m tired of talking about pond fishing but there are plenty of lake options out there. Yes, Rodgers is still fishing but it is getting more difficult. You can’t go out there and yard 40 out in a couple hours anymore. The rivers are VERY dangerous at these levels so if you are floating be careful out there and make sure you go with a competent oarsman.  

Blackfoot River: It’s on the drop but that will likely stall with the 90 degree weather coming this week. It only needs a foot or so of vis to fish well so watch the graph. Give it a week or so on a steady drop and it will probably be worth a look.
Bugs / Fly Patterns: Helmets & life jackets

Lower Clark Fork River: Not for a couple more weeks at least.
Bugs / Fly Patterns:

Flathead River: Still a huge beast. It has been dropping hard for several days but the NOAA river forcast center is calling for flows to increase with the next heat wave. Look to the upper Middle Fork to come into play first. We floated the south fork a few days ago and forced a fish to eat a salmon fly. Other than that it wasn’t all that productive. It will be soon though. There were a few salmon flies, pmds, and caddis on the South Fork and a few splashy risers late in the day. They’re  probably done playing with the flows out of Hungry Horse now that the main river is’nt approaching flood stage. If you’re hitting the S.Fork slow troll some streamers off a tip. Stonefly nymphs and SJWs under a bobber are a good idea too. Throw an elk hair or purple haze at the risers if you see any.
Bugs / Fly Patterns: Rubber legs, epoxy db stones, SJWs in every color and style, huge buggers, flash fry, skiddish smolt, sculpzilla, sex dungeons, parachute caddis, purple haze chutes / c-duns, foam stone variations in golden and salmon.

Swan River: The upper river had a breif window before the last push. The warm weather this week will probably keep it out of shape but it shouldn’t be long. The Bay and lower river are still producing fish. Mostly lakers in the Bay lately but a few bows and cutts around. The lower is pretty big with this last push and the holding water is limited. Give it a few days on the drop and it should be worth it. There has been green drakes, pmds, and caddis out on the lower and when the flows drop you should be able to get some on top. Look for some golden stones with the warm weather too. The Hex hatch should get going soon on Swan lake.
Bugs / Fly Patterns: pat’s rubber legs in all colors, huge db stones, v-rib worms, SJWs in pink / red, streamers, huge black /olive buggers

Jason Lanier
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