Conditions At-a-glance
bad
Our Report
BRO’s tips of the week:
The Blackfoot is still blown out. If you go up high, there might be a handful of soft seams to nymph, but visibility is poor, and it’s better to hit a tailwater or lake this weekend.
7 day outlook:
The next couple of days look beautiful around the Missoula area – high 80s and mid-70s next week. It will take some time for the Blackfoot to clear up.
Our recommendations for techniques and patterns:
For nymphs, try a Rubber Legs, 20 Incher, TJ Hooker, or San Juans with a smaller option like a Jig PT or Prince under some weight above Monture Creek. A streamer fished tight to the bank or stripped deep might produce a fish here or there. Go for darker variants of a Dungeon, Bugger, Thin Mint, Lil Kim, Baby Gonga, Sparkle Minnow, or Precious Metals.
See our staff pick fly selection here!
Goings on at World Headquarters in Missoula:
The Online Store updates daily! Check it out!
Call or email us for up to the minute updates at 406.542.7411, or if you are in the area, stop in for all your Orvis gear and the right bugs.
USGS Water Charts
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Conditions
Conditions are cold and off-color. The river is ripping and will be blown out for at least another week.
Fly Patterns
DRIES - March Brown #12-14, BWO #18-20.
NYMPHS - TJ Hooker, Girdle Bug, Rubber Legs, San Juan #08-#12. Perdigon, Spanish Bullet, Frenchie, Brillon’s Mean Machine, Duracell, Prince Nymph, Jig PT #14-18, Zebra Midge #18-20.
STREAMERS - Double Gonga #08, Zonkers #06 & #08 in Natural, Olive, or Yellow. Lil Kims. Buggers #06-12, Dungeon in Brown, Olive, and Black.
Specifics
Water Flow
7820cfs (above average for this time of year)
Visibility
8"
Water temperature at mid-day
46 degrees
Water Condition
The river is muddy.
Best time of day to fish
Afternoon.
Best stretch
Wading is open on the lower and upper river.
Best access point
Multiple access points all along river.
Fish species
Rainbows, westslope cutthroats, cutbows, browns, bull trout and whitefish.
Fishing season
All Year - Winter can be tough.
Nearest airport
Missoula International Airport (MSO)
Recommended fly fishing leader
From a boat - 7.5' 3x-4x. Wading step it up to 9'
Recommended fly fishing tippet
2x top bug and 3x for second or 3x to 4x for smaller rigs. We use 0x and 1x for streamers.
Best fly fishing rod
9ft 5 or 6 weights for nymphing and dries - 7wt for streamers
Best floating fly line
WF 5wt or 6wt
Best sinking fly line
3ips
