Bigfork Montana Fly Fishing – River Report

Blackfoot brown from today.

 

General Outlook.  Everything is finally fishing. You can pretty much go to any of the main rivers and catch some fish from a boat. Nymphing is still out producing the dry but this week should start to produce better results for the dry fly angler. Wade fishing on the Thompson and the Jocko should be coming into shape for those trying to do it on foot.

Blackfoot River: Lots of action on the Blackfoot today. Nymphing was good in the morning and the BIG dry dropper produced all afternoon. Quite a few eats on the dry too. Tanden nymphs including rubber legs, buggers, worms, and beadhead attractors all got fish. A turd (Pat’s rubber legs) hanging 3 feet from the foamie did well after lunch. We got a bunch of mid sized fish 14-16 and lots of dinks with a few fish over 17 thrown in.
Bugs / Fly Patterns: Salmon flies, goldens, sallies, PMDs, Green Drakes, Caddis, big black / white streamers and stone fly nymphs, SJWs all colors, caddis pupas, beadhead attractor nymphs, large p-tails

Lower Clark Fork River: Coming into shape nicely. Nymphing has been solid and the dry fishing should pick up over the next week. In the meantime a turd and a worm will get plenty for you. Tandem streamers off a tip should be entertaining too. A big dry with a deep turd dropper should be worth a try later in the day along the shady banks.  
Bugs / Fly Patterns: Stonefly Nymphs with rubber legs in black / brown / golden, SJWs in all colors,  big prince nymphs, big p-tails, buggers / streamers, large foam golden variations, yukbugs chubbies, rogues, foam golden variations.

Flathead River: Everyone is getting a few out there right now. It’s still high but greening up nice. Some dry fly eats too. 
Bugs / Fly Patterns: g-bugs & worms, prince nymphs, streamers, foam golden variations.

Swan River: All the tribs are running clear and the river is looking good although it’s still high. Find the softer holes and holding water and run some streamers and nymphs through. Stones, worms, and big streamers. Try running tandem streamers with one black and one white. Someone is slashing tires at Piper so heads up. .
Bugs / Fly Patterns: Big black / olive / white streamers, large g-bugs in golden/salmon/black/brown, large prince nymphs, SJWs in all flavors, tungsten 20 inchers, DB poxy rubberleg stones.