Bigfork Montana Fly Fishing – River Report

Guitar hold – nice bow

General Outlook: Hopper time is here with the hot weather. We are looking at 90’s again so the early morning will be the ticket on the Blackfoot and Clark Fork. The Flathead system remains cool with lots of water and the afternoons are still great fishing.

Blackfoot River Report: Spruce moths are getting the fish up for the first half of the day but the switch is flipped at about 1pm or so. Droppers will still get some fish but expect it to slow in the heat of the afternoon. Any type of cloud cover is welcomed and will extend the fishing later in the day. Fish are in the middle too.
Bugs / Fly Patterns: Spruce moths, caddis, pmds, yellow sallies,  / Para caddis &  spruce moths, Small Chubbies and willies, Fuzzie wuzzies, Hot leg hoppers, White Clouds, Pink Morrish Hoppers, Rainy’s ants,  Hippie stompers, Franks, Rogue goldens, Smaller foam variations, Para haze, Turds, Halo Prince, Da Worm

Lower Clark Fork River Report: The hot weather this weak won’t help the water temps or afternoon fishing. Good hopper eats early in the day but look for it to get slower in the afternoon sun. Deep droppers and tandem nymph rigs in the faster water should get a few in the afternoon heat but you’ll have to work for them later in the day. You might be able to find a few risers on pmds if you look. Smaller pmd cripples and little terrestrials will fool sippers.  Caddis are still going late night but the window should be shrinking.
Bugs / Fly Patterns: Hoppers, pmds, sallies, caddis / Small Chubbies and willies, Fuzzies, Hippie stomper, Franks, Rogue goldens, Smaller foam variations, Para haze, Quigs, Para caddis, C-duns, Turds, Halo Prince, Da worm

Flathead River Report: Getting some nice fish up for the foam bugs. Risers on pmds can be a little fussy about the foamie but a small parachute or ant will work. Evening hours are a great time to be out. Once the sun is off the water some good fish are on the prowl looking for big dry flies.
Bugs / Fly Patterns: Hoppers, Spruce moths,  golden stones, pmds, sallies, caddis / Small Chubbies and willies, Fuzzie wuzzies, Hot leg hoppers, White Clouds, Pink Morrish Hoppers, Rainy’s ants,  Hippie stompers, Franks, Rogue goldens, Smaller foam variations, Para haze, Quigs, Para caddis, C-duns, Turds, Halo Prince, Da Worm

Swan River Report:  Fishing good with the dry fly if you like catching twinks. Bobbers and dropper fishing with stonefly nymphs and beadheads for the nicer fish. We’re tired of the bobber and have been pushing the dry with minimal success for the big fish. Any day we hope to see some big chugs on the foam bugs. Soooo, bottom line is mediocre unless you’re a bobber fisherman.
Bugs / Fly Patterns: Hoppers, Spruce moths,  golden stones, pmds, sallies, caddis / Small Chubbies and willies, Fuzzie wuzzies, Hot leg hoppers, White Clouds, Pink Morrish Hoppers, Rainy’s ants,  Hippie stompers, Franks, Rogue goldens, Smaller foam variations, Para haze, Quigs, Para caddis, C-duns, Turds, Halo Prince, Da Worm