Blackfoot River Fishing Report
Best Flies for July
Top patterns for the Blackfoot's biggest hatches this month — shop and add to cart.
The Blackfoot River is one of Montana's most iconic fly fishing destinations, flowing west through a broad valley before joining the Clark Fork River just east of Missoula. Made famous by Norman Maclean's A River Runs Through It, the Blackfoot offers excellent fishing for wild rainbow and westslope cutthroat trout. Conditions can change quickly with snowmelt and rain, so checking this report before heading out is always a good idea.
This Blackfoot River fly fishing report is updated regularly by our guides and staff to reflect current conditions, hatches, and techniques that are producing fish. Whether you're planning a wade trip or a float, this report will help you know what to expect on the water.
Last Updated: July 16, 2026
How's the Fishing?: 4/5
The fly fishing on the Blackfoot has been good lately. We're still seeing decent numbers of golden stones, yellow sallies, and PMDs, but we're slowly transitioning into the terrestrial time of year. Start changing your mindset from stoneflies to hoppers, ants, and beetles.
We've also seen a few spruce moths starting to hatch, though not in any big numbers quite yet. We'll keep you posted as those numbers pick up.
Water temperatures are still decent. Thankfully, late June brought snow to the higher elevations followed by rain, which bumped flows up and has the Blackfoot sitting at decent levels for this time of year.
That said, with warm weather coming in the next few weeks, keep an eye on water temperatures. Focus on the first half of the day. On the water early and off the water early is becoming the way to go as we hit mid July.
Gear Up for the Blackfoot
July Hatches on the Blackfoot River
July brings incredible dry fly fishing with a variety of hatches and terrestrials. Here are the top fly patterns to have in your box this month.
Important Resources
Fishing Reports for Other Rivers Near Missoula
Fish With The Best Fly Fishing Guides in Missoula Montana
