The Blackfoot River is not recommended at this time

Date
Monday, 1 Feb, 2016
Report
The Blackfoot is not fishing well right now and other river options are recommended. It is still iced up and is not floatable.
 
Fishing Water Report
 (1)
The Blackfoot may not be the world’s longest or most majestic river, but it is certainly well known. First made famous by Norman Maclean’s moving story, it became a permanent part ... moreof the American imagination with the 1992 release of Robert Redford’s legendary movie. A favorite for floaters, the river offers scenic diversity and variation in flows from placid meandering to white water rapids. Filled with large populations of Montana’s only two truly indigenous salmonids, the Cutthroats and Bull trout, it is also host to Rainbows, Cutbows, Browns and Mountain Whitefish throughout its entire length. The Blackfoot Valley is regarded as a fully intact ecosystem, still thought to contain every species of fauna present before the first Europeans arrived – one of only 12 such remaining ecosystems on earth.

Starting out a leisurely pace, the upper portion of the river runs slow and easy through narrow channels and dense forest. From there it flows into a large, open plain, and the first of many intermediate rapids start a few miles above the Scoot Brown Bridge. As it enters the Blackfoot River Recreation area, the speed picks up, but it is from Sperry Grade, five miles down from the Scotty Brown Bridge, that white water appears. For the next seven miles floaters are challenged with Class III rapids and sizeable waves that eventually ease off as you approach Bonner Dam.

The initial 22 miles of the river down to Lincoln, offer little to entice fly fishers. Best fished waded, the appearance of Brown trout begins to pick up on the stretch from Lincoln to Mineral Hill. While the section of river from Mineral Hill to Cedar Meadows looks short on a map, it actually consists of 18 miles of rugged twists and turns. The water is slow through here so inflatable kayaks and canoes are highly recommended. At about the halfway point of the river, the Barefoot gains velocity and continues with quick to moderate flows all the way down to Clark Fork. Wildlife is abundant here, home to grizzlies, elk, bighorn sheep, cougar, lynx, wolf and deer.
Reporting Outfitter
WOLF CREEK ANGLER. YOUR FIRST CHOICE. The Missouri River has long been considered one of, if not the, best tailwater fisheries in the country, and Wolf Creek Angler is the perfect ... morelocation from which to launch your Montana fly fishing adventure. We’re located just a few casts from Craig, Montana—roughly halfway between Helena and Great Falls. We offer the very best of Missouri River fly fishing with an acclaimed guide staff, a first-rate Missouri River fly shop, drift boat and equipment rentals, shuttle service and lodging. We’re close to the Holter Dam and Wolf Creek put ins—closer than any other fly shop – because we think you should spend your time fishing, not driving.

THE FISH ARE HERE. WHERE ARE YOU?
The waters of Montana hold a special place in the hearts of anglers around the world. The Missouri River is a place where unmatched scenery meets water that is home to some of the most prolific insect hatches in the west. The sheer number of fish, along with the incredible average size, make the Missouri River a destination fishery the likes of which you won’t find anywhere else. Wolf Creek Angler offers the kind of fly fishing adventure that’s on your bucket list. This year, bring it to life.
Reported Trip
  • Expert guide
At Wolf Creek Angler we pride ourselves on having the hardest working guides you will find anywhere in Montana. We know that a guided fishing trip on the Blackfoot River is a dream ... morefor many and you should expect your guide to treat it that way. Our guides have spent their entire careers fishing the Missouri and other legendary waters of the West. And it shows. They understand every current and riffle on the water from Holter Dam to Cascade and beyond and they are experts at tailoring your trip to fit your expectations and skill level. Whether making your first-ever cast, or you are a seasoned angler, our guides will work with you to create amazing memories. We know you’ll have a great time on the water with our guides that goes way beyond the number of fish you catch.
Destination:
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Find out about the latest fishing action with our Blackfoot River Fishing Report
Fishing Water Reports:
Size:
18 acres
Elevation:
3,458 ft
Activities:
Fishing, Group Use, Boating - non-motorized, Horseshoes, Volley Ball
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