Blackfoot River fishing conditions · Montana

Sit it outno rainbow trout window clears the bar in 36 hours

Water is 43°, below the 45–68° rainbow trout like.

Right now: 53 for rainbow trout, sit it outTap or drag along the water to move through the next 36 hours

Rainbow trout, hour by hour

Each float is an hour. The deeper it rides, the better the bite. The strip underneath runs daylight, dusk and dark; the red rule marks the best window. Click any hour to read it.

531 am
53
53
534 am
39
39
397 am
39
39
3910 am
39
39
391 pm
31
31
314 pm
26
19
217 pm
36
36
3910 pm
39
39Tue
391 am
36
36
394 am
39
39
397 am
39
39
3910 am
39
39

Go, 85+Worth the trip, 70+Marginal, 55+Sit it out

Water: 43°F
Wind: 7 mph
Flow: 690 cfs
Light: Dark
Sky: Mostly Cloudy
Air: 37°F
Barometer: Falling
Moon: 100% lit

What’s biting

Each species is scored against its own water-temperature range and tide preference, then wind, weather and warnings. The rules are Montana Western District regulations for these waters.

Rainbow trout

Oncorhynchus mykiss

53Sit it outNo window clears the bar

Water

43°

35°45–68° · ideal 55°78°

Why

Sharp 3-hour fall — fish feed hard ahead of a front. Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. Settled river level — clearer water, easier wading. Holds 3–20 ft down.

Keep

3 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Western District rivers and streams: 3 brown, rainbow and golden trout and grayling a day combined, only 1 over 14". Western District rivers and streams are open the third Saturday in May (May 16 in 2026) through Nov 30 unless an exception says otherwise.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Montana Western District

Season here: Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct, from this spot’s water-temperature record, 2023–2025. More on rainbow trout

Brown trout

Salmo trutta

45Sit it outNo window clears the bar

Water

43°

35°45–68° · ideal 55°78°

Why

Sharp 3-hour fall — fish feed hard ahead of a front. Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. Settled river level — clearer water, easier wading. Holds 3–25 ft down.

Keep

3 a day

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Montana Western District

Season here: Apr–Oct, from this spot’s water-temperature record, 2023–2025. More on brown trout

The water

Water temperature43°F
River690 cfs · steady · -3% in 24 h
Barometer30.12 inHg, falling

Sun, moon & solunar

Sunrise today8:08 am
Sunset today6:29 pm
MoonFull, 100% lit
Major solunarToday 12:20 am–2:20 am
Minor solunarToday 8:30 am–9:30 am
Major solunarToday 12:40 pm–2:40 pm

Solunar tables are a popular heuristic. A peer-reviewed test found they don’t predict catch on their own, so here they only nudge the score when the tide or moon already agree. How the score works

Fishing report

No current report covers these waters.

We only show reports an agency has published, with their date. Montana FWP has the state’s fishing pages.

Licenses and rules: Montana FWP · fish-consumption advisories

About this spot

The river of Norman Maclean’s “A River Runs Through It,” flowing west out of the Continental Divide to meet the Clark Fork near Bonner. A freestone fishery for wild rainbow and brown trout and native westslope cutthroat and bull trout (both release-only), restored over decades from mining damage into a centerpiece of Montana fly fishing.

General season (third Saturday in May–Nov 30): 3 trout a day, only 1 rainbow over 14", browns any size; cutthroat, brook and bull trout are released. Dec 1 to the third Saturday in May the mainstem is catch-and-release with artificial lures or maggots, and the tributaries are closed.

WaterRiver
AccessPier, shore and ramp
RulesMontana Western District
WhereMissoula County · 46.8994, -113.7563

Nearby

Public spots within 40 miles, with the same 36 hours of floats.

Bitterroot River36 mi · MontanaBest now until 5 am

78Worth the trip

Questions people ask

Do I need a fishing license to fish at Blackfoot River?

Yes (anglers age 16 and older). To fish at Blackfoot River you need the appropriate state fishing license. See the agency's current rules: the state agency website

What fish are commonly targeted at Blackfoot River?

Blackfoot River is listed on this site for 2 commonly-targeted species: Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout. Which species is currently in season and which is scoring highest today is shown in the per-species ranking on this page.

When is the best time to fish at Blackfoot River?

It depends more on the species and the day's conditions than on a fixed "best hour." Water temperature, weather, and — at tidal locations — the stage of the tide drive activity most. The per-species ranking on this page scores every target species at Blackfoot River against today's live conditions, so the fish near the top are your best bets right now; check back as conditions change through the day.

What kind of access does Blackfoot River have?

Blackfoot River has multiple access types — pier, shoreline, and at least one public boat ramp. General season (third Saturday in May–Nov 30): 3 trout a day, only 1 rainbow over 14", browns any size; cutthroat, brook and bull trout are released. Dec 1 to the third Saturday in May the mainstem is catch-and-release with artificial lures or maggots, and the tributaries are closed.

Which state's fishing regulations apply at Blackfoot River?

state agency regulations apply at Blackfoot River. Size limits, creel limits, and seasonal closures are listed per species on each species page. Always confirm against the agency source linked from each regulation block — emergency closures can take effect mid-season.

Is Blackfoot River tidal water?

No. Blackfoot River is non-tidal — water level varies with rainfall, seasonal flow, and (where applicable) upstream dam releases rather than tidal exchange.