Bigfork Montana Fly Fishing – River Report

Matt and Corey from Colorado enjoying a day on the water with Bigfork Anglers.

General Outlook: WOW it’s HOT!! The fish don’t seam to mind so far but we hope it cools down a little. Good dry fly fishing to be had out there right now despite the 90+ degree weather so get out and enjoy it. Bring sun protection…..and bug spray if you are wade fishing.

Blackfoot River Report: Summer mode on the B-foot. Dry dropper rigs and lots of twinks with a few nice fish in the mix. Get out early and keep moving and you’ll be the first fly. Attractor stuff in a #10 will do and a smaller caddis, cripple, ant, or sally off the back for the double dry rig.
Bugs / Fly Patterns: golden stones, caddis, pmds, yellow sallies,  / foam variations, cripples, Rouge Stones, 20 incher stones, double bead stones, rubber legs, prince variations, San Juans, sally nymphs

Lower Clark Fork River Report: Good dry fly fishing all day long. If this heat continues it will surely slow things down in the afternoon, but not as of yet. Pmd and caddis activity with rising fish to target throughout the day. Foam and a dropper is great to search and most risers will eat one or the other. Cripples, para caddis, Purple C-duns, or any parachute mayfly is a great addition for the double dry rig. Put the bobbers away…
Bugs / Fly Patterns: Caddis, pmds, green drakes, golden stones, sallies / foam variations, purple cripples, Sparkle duns, Rouge golden Stones, Chuuby cherbs, fuzzy wuzzy, bugmeisters, pmx, fat franks, willies, 20 incher stones, double bead stones, rubber legs, princes, San Juans, holo princes, psycho prince

Flathead River Report: We had a few boats out today and all reported some fish willing to eat the dry fly. Look for slower moving water, soft eddies and seams, and side channels / back waters for risers. There are a few golden stones, caddis, sallies, and green drakes out so have some patterns that represent.
Bugs / Fly Patterns: Golden stones, pmds, 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:  It’s been a little tought out there with portages, traffic, and high water. The fish are there but not always wanting to cooperate. The upper river seams to be fishing the best up around piper but it’s also the most crowded. Not many nice fish up for dry flies yet. Portages are present below piper, fatty, point pleasant, and 10-1.
Bugs / Fly Patterns: Golden stones, caddis, pmds/ double bead stones, rubber legs, princes, beadhead whatevers, urchin buggers, flash fry, skiddish smolt, sparkle minnows, but monkeys, sex dungeons…