Bigfork Montana Fly Fishing – River Report

Wish you were here?

General Outlook: It looks like we will finally see a break from the Africa Hot weather by the weekend. They are even calling for some rain. Sounds like Clark Fork weather to me. We’ll see…Just keep pushing your foamie down the river.

Blackfoot River Report: Get out early before the sun hits the river and you should see a few nice fish. Shady banks in the afternoon. Twinks during the day. Maybe a few nice ones in the mix.  Dry dropper rigs.
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: The heat is starting to take it’s toll in the afternoon. Get out early and twitch the big bug. Still some risers to target here and there. Chubby Rubby is working well. Clouds in the future and a break from the heat will really help. The water is warming and faster riffs are seeing more fish.
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: Still high for this time of year but there are plenty of fish looking for the dry fly. Find the right water and they are there. You can’t just blind fish down the banks….look for softer water and side channels to produce. If you find them, catch them all before you leave.  A mid sized attractor with a pmd cripple, caddis, or green drake off the back is a good bet.
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:  Get out early to beat the heat and traffic. Bobber rigs with a stonefly and a beadhead attractor will work. Dry dropper is good in some spots. Mostly twinks looking for the dry. There is still plenty of water so the streamer will still give up a few.
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…