Ovando to Bonner, Montana

Blackfoot River Fishing Report

Updated Apr 24, 2026, 7:45 AM MDT

Expect a nymph-and-streamer day more than a hatch day unless you catch a softer weather window.

Current Conditions
  • Flow: The Blackfoot can change quickly in spring, so clarity and side-channel volume matter as much as raw flow.
  • Water Temperature: Cold spring water usually keeps fish near softer edges and deeper buckets until the afternoon.
  • Weather: A stable, cool day helps. Sudden heat pushes the river toward runoff behavior fast.
  • Overall Rating: 5/10
Today's Read

Blackfoot trout in late April are usually opportunistic rather than selective. Fish hold close to soft banks, side seams, and woody structure where current breaks give them a stable lie. If the river is clear enough, nymphing remains the highest-percentage play, but a stripped streamer can move fish along undercut banks and darker slots.

What Fish Are Doing
  • Start by checking clarity. If you cannot get away with a standard nymph rig, fish bigger profiles or streamers with slower strips.
  • Target the inside bend, the protected edge below structure, and any slower side seam beside the main tongue.
  • If you find a clear, buggy stretch in the afternoon, swap to a mayfly dry only after you see actual rises.
Best Flies In The Current Report
  • Pat's Rubber Legs, size 6-8, nymph
  • Hare's Ear, size 14-16, nymph
  • Prince Nymph, size 12-16, nymph
  • Zirdle Bug olive or black, size 6-8, streamer
  • Parachute Adams, size 14-18, dry
What Is Driving The Feed
  • Blue-winged olives, size 18-20, sporadic midday
  • March Browns, size 12-14, warmer afternoons
  • Midges, size 18-22, slower water in the morning