Bigfork Montana Fly Fishing - River Report

Colonel Lujan displays a nice Blackfoot Brown.

General Outlook: Crappy weather day today but then back on track for the remainder of the week. We are starting to see those diurnal bumps in flow associated with early summer daytime heat. These have been on a slight upward trend the last few days but are starting to turn down today. The cool weather should put the rivers all on a steep drop for a couple days and hopefully that will bring the dry fly fishing back on the Blackfoot.

Blackfoot River Report: The Blackfoot is still producing good numbers and some quality fish. The preferred dry fly method has been benched the last couple days and bobbers and streamers are getting most of the play time. We have been mixing it up through out the day with patterns and depth but generally we are about 5ft to the lead fly. Certain banks in the afternoon are still producing dry fly action even if you don’t see actively feeding fish. Twitch it! Row your ass off and keep the boat tight in that heavy water so you can hit the smaller pockets. The lazy long easy going banks are easy to fish and not always the most productive. There has been lots of boats so go early or late if you don’t want to get caught up. Some salmon flies are still lingering but are fading out. There will probably be a few more decent dry fly days with the big bugs before the fish get fixed on the smaller green drakes, goldens, sallies, pmds, and caddis
Bugs / Fly Patterns: Salmon flies, golden stone, caddis, pmds, green drakes, yellow sallies, s / foam creatures, extendo drakes, huge cripples, Rouge Stones, flutter stones, 20 incher stones, double bead stones, rubber legs, prince variations, San Juans, sally nymphs, urchin buggers, flash fry, skiddish smolt, sparkle minnows, but monkeys, sex dungeons…

Lower Clark Fork River Report: Still not quite in the sweet spot yet but it’s fishable and producing some great dry fly fishing last light with caddis. A few days on the drop and this river should be fishing very well. Til then tandem nymph rigs will get you the best action.
Bugs / Fly Patterns: Caddis, pmds, green drakes, golden stones, sallies / foam creatures, extendo drakes, huge cripples, Rouge Stones, 20 incher stones, double bead stones, rubber legs, princes, San Juans, beadhead attractors, urchin buggers, flash fry, skiddish smolt, sparkle minnows

Flathead River Report: Still a POOOOO PIE! Still…
Bugs / Fly Patterns: 20 incher stones, double bead stones, rubber legs, princes, San Juans, beadhead whatevers, urchin buggers, flash fry, skiddish smolt, sparkle minnows…

Swan River Report: It looked big and brown yesterday morning. A couple days on the drop and it should fish. Nymphs and streamers are going to be the method up there for a while. Remember Lion Cr is now closed to fishing – 150yrds radius. Look out for new lumber and leave the kids and dog at home.
Bugs / Fly Patterns: salmon flies, Goldens, caddis, pmds, 20 incher stones, double bead stones, rubber legs, princes, San Juans, beadhead whatevers, urchin buggers, flash fry, skiddish smolt, sparkle minnows, but monkeys, sex dungeons…

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