The Blackfoot had a high temperature of 66 degrees yesterday – the same as the Missouri below Holter Dam. Not bad. The cool nights have been making for big swings in water temps these days and that means it’s taking the rivers awhile to wake up. No longer can you hit the water at 5:30 or 6:00 a.m. and have fish lining up to take your dries. The fish aren’t really looking up with any consistency until around 9:30 or 10 at this point. Once they do, though, the fishing’s been very good with a variety of dryfly offerings. The lower river is still seeing quite a bit of inner tube traffic, so unless you do head out early, you’ll be better off hitting sections of the Blackfoot above Whittaker Bridge. Spruce moths are still the go-to bug at this point and giving these critters some motion will up your odds considerably. Hopper/ant dropper rigs have also been very effective, especially on the mid river sections between about County Line and River Bend.
1/2 OFF Fridays. 50% Off your 1st dozen nymphs and dries! Every Friday – Every Week
HATCHES: caddis, PMDs, yellow sallies, hoppers and spruce moths – terrestrials in general
PATTERNS: golden stones in sizes 12 to 14. Attractor stuff in a size 8 or 10, elk hair or other caddis in a 12 or 14. Batman/ p-tail or red San Juan nymph rigs.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: If you’re heading up the Blackfoot, you’ll have company these days, even hitting the water at daybreak.