Ovando to Bonner, Montana

Blackfoot River Fishing Report

Blackfoot River | Ovando to Bonner, Montana | Updated Apr 24, 2026, 7:45 AM MDT | Station: Blackfoot River near Bonner

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

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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.

Bugs & Best Matches

What's active
Fish this
Blue-winged olives, size 18-20, sporadic midday
BWO Comparadun, size 18-20, dry; Zirdle Bug olive or black, size 6-8, streamer
March Browns, size 12-14, warmer afternoons
Pat's Rubber Legs, size 6-8, nymph
Midges, size 18-22, slower water in the morning
Hare's Ear, size 14-16, nymph
General subsurface
Prince Nymph, size 12-16, nymph; 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

Current Conditions

FlowThe Blackfoot can change quickly in spring, so clarity and side-channel volume matter as much as raw flow.
Water TempCold spring water usually keeps fish near softer edges and deeper buckets until the afternoon.
WeatherA stable, cool day helps. Sudden heat pushes the river toward runoff behavior fast.
Rating5/10