Blackfoot River Fly Fishing
Fly Fishing the River that Runs Through it
Blackfoot River Fly Fishing Trips
Blackfoot River fly fishing trips with our Montana fly fishing guides are a classic freestone experience, on one of Montana’s most scenic rivers. The Blackfoot River was the inspiration for Norman Maclean’s classic novella-turned-movie “A River Runs Through It” and it continues to inspire anglers to this day with its fantastic fly fishing for wild trout, rugged canyon walls, and thick hatches all season long.
The “Big” Blackfoot River runs west of the continental divide, just a short drive over Roger’s Pass from the Missouri River and Craig, MT and is a great contrast to the technical tailwater fly fishing found on the other side. The river courses through a high river valley from its headwaters in the Bob Marshall Wilderness, through Lincoln, and onto its eventual confluence with the Clark Fork River. Along its course the Blackfoot River is lined with tall Ponderosa Pines, cuts through deep canyons, and offers a truly unforgettable float trip experience, perfect for seasoned and beginner anglers alike.
Fly Fishing the Blackfoot River
Native westslope cutthroat trout thrive in the clear waters of the Blackfoot River and are seemingly always willing to rise for a well-presented dry fly throughout the fly fishing season. We consider these native fish to be the primary attraction for anglers fly fishing the Blackfoot River.
Large rainbow trout and brown trout also thrive in the Blackfoot River and tend to show themselves during the thick hatches of stoneflies in the Summer and when streamer fly fishing is great early and late in the season. Native Bull Trout are often caught as a by-product of streamer fly fishing, but are an endangered species that we do not target. These fish are a shadow of the past that are worth protecting.
We consider the Blackfoot River to be primarily a dry fly fishery, and our Montana fly fishing guides fish it accordingly. The cutthroat, rainbow, and brown trout in the Blackfoot River are seemingly always willing to rise for well-presented flies during our fly fishing season. Single-dry and dry-dropper are our preferred tactics but anglers hoping to catch the largest of trout often times will change over to streamers. The swift waters and rocky banks make for often non-stop action.
Several tributaries of the Blackfoot River, including the North Fork of the Blackfoot, offer equally great fly fishing and are an important part of many trips. We primarily fish the Blackfoot River from specialized fly fishing rafts and drift boats, and often incorporate floating and fishing these tributaries into our floats. We consider the float through the Box Canyon of the Blackfoot River to be one of Montana’s greatest treasures, as the scenery alone will impress even the most seasoned of anglers.
The fly fishing season on the Blackfoot River runs from April-October. We consider primetime to be mid-June through mid-September. Anglers can expect consistent hatches of stoneflies, mayflies, caddisflies, and terrestrials throughout the season. The annual salmonfly hatch on the Blackfoot River begins in mid-late June shortly after spring run-off subsides and is some of the most exciting fly fishing of the year.
Book Your Next Montana Fly Fishing Trip
Plan Your Trip
Prime Season:
June 15th-September 15th
Notable Hatches:
Salmonflies and Golden Stones
Nearby Towns:
Craig, MT; Helena, MT; and Missoula, MT
Nearby Rivers:
Missouri River, Dearborn River, and Land of the Giants