Bigfork Montana Fly Fishing – River Report

Sunday Mostly Sunny Hi 80 °F

Sunday Night Chance Showers Lo 45 °F

Monday Chance Showers Hi 65 °F

Monday Night Chance Showers Lo 44 °F

Tuesday Chance Showers Hi 60 °F

Tuesday Night Chance Showers Lo 47 °F

Wednesday Chance Showers Hi 69 °F

 

General Outlook. The waders finally made an appearance the other day in the rain but it was quickly back to sandals and 80s. The warm weather put the hopper bite back on and flying ants have had fish up in the afternoons and evenings to give you some targets to throw at. We have another day of summer before the weather cools down to more normal fall-like temps.  A slight chance of showers with some clouds this week should intensify the fall mayfly activity and get the mohoganys, bwo, and hecubas out.

Blackfoot River: Flying ants have provided some rising fish to target. October caddis and large mayfly patterns are getting decent action. The big foam flies have been getting good looks with the warm weather and will still produce for a bit longer. Smaller p-tail stuff off the big mayfly dry will pick up some fish too. Keep a mayfly rod handy for any rising fish you see in the flat water.
Bugs / Fly Patterns: hoppers, October Caddis, Hecubas, mohos, bwos / smaller fuzzies, Large parachute hazes, mayfly cripples from #18-#8,chubbies, morrish hoppers, fat franks, p-tails, micro mays, Red & Purple Holo Princes, Oct caddis, Oct caddis poopas, turds, and worms

Lower Clark Fork River: There is some GREAT Clark Fork weather in the forecast. The big bug with a dropper will still produce but by late morning an October caddis and a mayfly cripple should be a great combo. Beadhead mayfly droppers are a good choice if you can’t find enough fish to eat the dry fly rig. October caddis pooooopas will pick fish too.
Bugs / Fly Patterns:hoppers, beetles, ants, hecubas, mohos, oct caddis / smaller fuzzies, chubbies, morrish hoppers, fat franks, p-tails, micro mays, Oct caddis, Oct caddis poooopas, turds, and worms, purple haze, mayfly cripples all sizes

Flathead River: Good dry fly fishing in the warm weather the last several days. Fish are after the foam bug right out of the gate in the morning but that will change with the next cooling trend. You can get fish on a variety of dry fly patterns out there right now but why bother when they chug the foamie so hard. The weather this week might put a damper on the big bug action but parachute hazes, October caddis, and mayfly cripples should produce.
Bugs / Fly Patterns: Terrestrials, oct caddis, fall mayflies / small pink morrish, little purple franks, ants, small home brewed foam variations, purple holo prince, golden turd, para cripples, Purple c-duns, purple haze, Quigley hecuba cripples.

Swan River: Warm weather has had fish up late in the day on ants and the rising fish are more than willing to chug a foam bug.  Dropper fishing and nymphing tandem under a bobber will produce. A stonefly nymph with a bead head attractor off the back is all you need. Had a great hecuba and bwo hatch up there the other day with some fish up feeding late in the day.
Bugs / Fly Patterns: Terrestrials, October Caddis, Fall Drakes /  Large parachute hazes, big mayfly cripples, willies ant, Pink morish, whitecloud hopper, chubbies, fuzzy wuzzies, fat franks, PRLs in golden/salmon/black/brown, prince nymphs, SJWs in all flavors, tungsten 20 inchers, DB poxy rubberleg stones.