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Blackfoot River near Milltown Montana
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Blackfoot River

Photo: PinchyCC Opens in a new tab. · CC BY 4.0

Should I go fishing?

Yes — worth going.

No single best way to fish. Wading and Floating have the same top score. Use current access, footing, weather, and local rules to choose.

Rating updatedRiver local time:

Why this recommendation?

USGS shows 749 cfs. The flow has been stable over about 6 hours. USGS marks this reading provisional and may revise it. USGS records for this date (1898-2025, 93 readings) show a median near 643 cfs and the upper quartile near 758 cfs; today's flow is on the high side for the date. This is near the high side of normal, so be careful about wading, clarity, and pushy current before calling it good.

Available live dataHighHow much of the live flow, weather, and alert data came back.
Confidence in this recommendationHighCurrent flow, weather, alerts, and trip-critical signals support this decision.
Usually checks again about every 45 minutes

Restrictions and advisories

Check Blackfoot River before fishing.

These notices match this river report. No notice here does not mean the river is open. Always check the agency before you fish.

Last known active — check nowOfficial restrictionAccess restriction

Construction-related floating restriction on the Blackfoot River

Area
Weigh Station Fishing Access Site downstream to where the river crosses under Interstate 90
Link checked
Link status
Check the agency now
Check again by
Starts
What to know about this notice

This is a floating restriction caused by construction, not a fishing or heat closure; it applies only to the named reach.

The report includes lower Blackfoot water, but the construction restriction closes floating only on the named Weigh Station-to-I-90 reach.

Open the official notice: Montana FWP current waterbody closures and restrictions Opens in a new tab.

If you go

Check first
Use the Bonner gauge for the lower-river trend and do not wade heavy mid-channel current during runoff.
Try
Fish banks and inside seams first after runoff. Trout often avoid the heaviest current.
Leave when
Skip or pivot when FWP restrictions are active for your timing, water temperature is unsafe, runoff is pushy, area access or camping rules are unclear, or native-fish handling would be poor.

Flow and weather

Showing server-checked river conditions while current readings refresh.
Flow
749 cfs
From the latest stored river check. Open the official source for the newest reading.Water 59.4°F · 24h high 61.5°F · USGS provisional
Air forecast
40°F
Next 24h high
66.0°F

NWS air forecast near

Rain chance
1%
Latest stored weather check

Mostly Cloudy

Wind
3 mph
Weather checked
More forecast and source details

Mostly Cloudy

National Weather Service

Blackfoot River near Bonner

The National Weather Service forecast is temporarily unavailable.

Live data

Where these readings come from

RiverReports gauge: Blackfoot River near Bonner

Water 59.4°F · provisional · 24h high 61.5°F provisionalWater observed · high observed
Official USGS station Opens in a new tab.RiverReports gauge Opens in a new tab.Official NWS forecast Opens in a new tab.

Flies for this time of year

Seasonal starting points, not a live hatch report. Match what you see on the water.

See flies for every season
SeasonWhat to look forFlies to try

Each fly name opens its matching Fly Box guide.

More fishing tips

Methods, fish species and trip notes

How to fish Blackfoot River today.

The best Blackfoot windows are stable post-runoff flows, cool mornings, and enough clarity for fish to use banks, riffles, and softer seams. Rising, muddy, hot, or restricted water should change the plan.

Post-runoff green

Fish stonefly dries, rubberlegs, and streamers tight to banks and soft current.

Clear summer flow

Use hoppers, ants, caddis, and dry-droppers around shade and riffle edges.

High or muddy

Stay near soft edges only if safe, or wait for the river to drop and clear.

Warm low water

Check FWP restrictions and fish early, or move to colder water if trout are stressed.

Wading, bank fishing or floating?
Access choicesNo single best option

Wading and Floating have the same top score. Use current access, footing, weather, and local rules to choose.

Wading72/100

Wading is in play only where your chosen access has clear footing, legal entry, and no forced crossings.

Bank fishingNot recommended

This report does not recommend bank fishing on this reach.

Floating72/100

A float is in play where this report supports boat access and wind, releases, and shuttle logistics are manageable.

Full river report

Is Blackfoot River worth the trip today? Check flow, weather, hatches, access, and rules for Montana before you go.

The Blackfoot can be a great freestone trout day, but it is also fast, cold, and sensitive. Use the Bonner gauge, check current FWP restrictions, and match your plan to access rules before fishing.

Fishing words used on this page
U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) gauge
A USGS gauge is an official river station that measures flow or water height.
Cubic feet per second (cfs)
Cubic feet per second, or cfs, shows how much water passes the gauge each second.
Nymph
A nymph is a young water insect. Anglers also use the word for a fly that copies it.
Riffle
A riffle is shallow, fast water broken by rocks.
Seam
A seam is the line where fast and slow water meet.
Blue-winged olive (BWO)
Blue-winged olives, or BWOs, are small mayflies that often hatch in cool or cloudy weather.
Caddis
Caddis are small water insects. The adults look a little like tiny moths.
Dry-dropper
A dry-dropper rig has a floating fly with an underwater fly tied below it.
Emerger
An emerger copies an insect as it rises from below the water toward the surface.
Midge
Midges are tiny flies and a common trout food, especially in cold water.
Why this call

Why this score

FlowUse caution

USGS shows 749 cfs. The flow has been stable over about 6 hours. USGS marks this reading provisional and may revise it. USGS records for this date (1898-2025, 93 readings) show a median near 643 cfs and the upper quartile near 758 cfs; today's flow is on the high side for the date. This is near the high side of normal, so be careful about wading, clarity, and pushy current before calling it good.

SeasonHelps

Mid to late summer: Hoppers, ants, beetles, and early starts matter; watch temperature closures.

Water temperatureHelps

USGS water temperature is about 59.4F, and the rolling 24-hour high did not trigger a heat caution. USGS marks the temperature data provisional and may revise it.

Public alertsHelps

No active NWS alert was returned for this forecast point.

Fishing usefulnessHelps

Skip or pivot when FWP restrictions are active for your timing, water temperature is unsafe, runoff is pushy, corridor access or camping rules are unclear, or native-fish handling would be poor.

Trip notes

Check these before you choose a reach.

Best flows

Use RiverReports and USGS 12340000 near Bonner together. Dropping post-runoff water and cool stable mornings are the cleanest windows. High, muddy, or hot low water should move the plan to safer edges or a different river.

When to leave

Skip or pivot when FWP restrictions are active for your timing, water temperature is unsafe, runoff is pushy, area access or camping rules are unclear, or native-fish handling would be poor.

Local plan

Start with the Bonner gauge and the recreation-area plan. Then decide whether the day is a bank-focused dry-dropper float, a roadside wade session, or a short streamer window around clouds and clarity.

Backup water

If the Blackfoot is high, warm, crowded, or restricted, compare Rock Creek for a wade-focused creek plan, the Clark Fork for larger Missoula water, or the Bitterroot for another freestone option.

Blackfoot River access and rules.

Use these places as starting points. Open the access link below and check posted signs before you park or enter.

Before you go

Montana FWP rules and current waterbody restrictions control seasons, harvest, methods, protected species, and heat-related closures. Check the current FWP pages before fishing.

Where to access the river

Russell Gates to Johnsrud area

FWP identifies this as the managed Blackfoot River recreation area with special planning rules.

Bonner gauge reach

Primary flow reference for the lower Blackfoot and Missoula-area fishing plans.

Upper valley access

Use official sites and posted public land. Private ranch banks require permission.

  • Montana stream access does not let you cross posted private land to reach the water.
  • FWP area camping is limited to designated or permitted sites, so do not improvise camps on gravel bars.
  • Check current closures, hoot-owl restrictions, and fire or road conditions before committing to a float.

If this water does not fit the day, check another report before you start the drive.

MontanaClark Fork River fishing reportA Missoula-area option when you want bigger water and urban access.MontanaRock Creek fishing reportA wade-focused blue-ribbon creek with strong stonefly and access planning.MontanaBitterroot River fishing reportAnother western Montana freestone with Skwalas, hoppers, and FWP restriction checks.
See all Montana fly fishing reports

Sources and report details

Official agencies and primary river operators come first. Secondary tools are labeled so you know what carries the most weight.

Rules and closures

Check what is allowed, where the rule applies, and whether the river is open.

Flow and weather

Check the latest river reading and forecast before you leave.

Access and land

Check public entry points, land rules, and seasonal access changes.

More helpful links

Use these links for stocking, safety, and other local details.

See all 7 checked sources

Rules and closures

Check what is allowed, where the rule applies, and whether the river is open.

Flow and weather

Check the latest river reading and forecast before you leave.

Access and land

Check public entry points, land rules, and seasonal access changes.

More helpful links

Use these links for stocking, safety, and other local details.

Source check is old. Last checked . Open the official links now and check for changes.

See something wrong? Report a source problem. Please do not send private spots or private access notes.

How this report was checked

How this report was checked

Trip guidance checked

What was checked: This Blackfoot River report is maintained from RiverReports and USGS Bonner flow data, Montana FWP fishing regulations, current closure and restriction sources, stream-access law, Blackfoot recreation-corridor information, weather, media-credit, and freestone trout planning sources.

Live measurements and forecasts keep their provider timestamps. Rules, access, and trip guidance use the source-review date shown here. BlueStreamFly planning advice is editorial interpretation, not an agency notice.

First-hand experience: BlueStreamFly does not claim a first-hand visit or local field test for this report unless a real contributor is explicitly named and linked.

Quick questions

What should I check first before fishing the Blackfoot River?

Check the Bonner gauge, FWP current restrictions, water temperature, weather, and the area access plan.

Are there special fishing rules on the Blackfoot River?

Yes. Blackfoot rules include native-trout protections and section-by-section limits, so read the current FWP rules.

What flies should I bring for the Blackfoot River?

Bring the hatch-chart flies, a few confidence nymphs, and a streamer box. Then adjust for water temperature, clarity, and the insects you actually see.

Can I wade the Blackfoot River?

Yes in many places, but flows are pushy and access is not continuous. Use official sites and stay within Montana stream-access rules.

When should I skip the Blackfoot River?

Skip it when flows are unsafe, temperatures stress trout, wildfire or emergency closures are active, or legal access for the reach is not clear.