The lower Blackfoot has only seen a rise of about 100 cfs in the past 24 hours, 100 cfs short of the mark we feel changes the fishing dramatically.  The North Fork, though, has seen a near doubling in size during the same time-frame, so there’s definitely a push on the way.  This will impact the upper sections big time today.  If you’re heading to the Blackfoot, you’ll do well to stay below River Bend.  Wind is going to be your biggest issue if you manage to stay ahead of flow increases.  Gusts into the 30 + mph range don’t help your prospects much.  On the other hand, there’s been very good caddis and March brown activity up here and the water temp is 49 around Bonner as of this morning – that’s HUGE!  Caddis dries in dramatically over sized representations (like a size 8 or 10 yellow stimi), big button emergers or para Adams will work too.  As always, we’re big in streamers.  Dark bodied junk in the clouds fished close to the bottom.

HATCHES: Caddis, nemouras, March Browns, BWOs, a skwala or two on the lower river.

PATTERNS: Size 12 elk hairs, parachute Adams or size 14 royal Wulffs, Powell’s bunny sculpins, whitlock sculpines in black. Red or pink San Jaun worms in tandem with size 12 or 14 hare’s ear nymphs.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: You know we’ll refill your Kingfisher label gink bottles for a buck dontcha?
BLACKFOOT RIVER FLOW AT BONNER