Bigfork Montana Fly Fishing - River Report

Love’m & Leave’m

General Outlook: It’s all good…All the western freestones are fishing well (except the Flathead of course). Rain in the forecast tomorrow should get those green drakes going good and some great dry fly fishing is in the cards for the Blackfoot and Clark Fork. Excellent water conditions out there right now…Enjoy it while it’s easy.

Blackfoot River Report: Fishing good top to bottom. The trick is dodging traffic but it will start thinning out now that the Clark Fork and Bitterroot Main river are shaping up. Dry dropper rigs are all you need right now and double dries after lunch if you have someone who can throw. A large foamie with a deep beadhead whatever off the back is a great way to start. Switch it up to a mid sized golden with a green drake cripple, caddis, or yellow sallie off the back and put your feet up in the afternoon.
Bugs / Fly Patterns: Salmon flies, golden stones, caddis, pmds, green drakes, yellow sallies, / foam creatures, extendo drakes, 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: Gooooooood to go! Fished it yesterday with novice anglers and caught a ton of fish. Lots of fish crashing the BIG dry fly and the dropper just made it stupid. Nothing huge but a few 18/19″ fish with a bunch in the 12-16 range. The fish are fat and fired up….even a 14incher will crank the rod over.
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 big and not an option. It’s dropping fast and according to NOAA should be around the 20k mark by the 7th. It will fish when it’s big and green so don’t be afraid. The water has warmed up and the fish will be looking for the big dry once it greens up and gains a few feet of vis. The middle fork is dropping and should start to green and be an option but there are much better fishing conditions elsewhere right now.
Bugs / Fly Patterns: Golden stones, green drakes, sallies, caddis / 20 incher stones, double bead stones, rubber legs, princes, San Juans, beadhead whatevers, urchin buggers, flash fry, skiddish smolt, sparkle minnows…

Swan River Report: Green and coming into shape nice. It’s still high so be careful out there. Nymphs and streamers for a while…
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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