Blackfoot River

About Blackfoot River

The Blackfoot River, immortalized in "A River Runs Through It," offers a classic Montana fly fishing experience with diverse trout species including rainbow, brown, and Westslope cutthroat trout, along with occasional bull trout. This wide, deep, and swift river winds through dramatic canyon walls and ponderosa forests, presenting opportunities for both wading and floating anglers, though wade fishing can be challenging at times. Anglers can anticipate significant hatches, particularly salmon flies and grasshoppers, with caddis and mayflies also contributing to well-fed trout throughout the year. Dry fly fishing is exceptionally effective here, and the river also provides excellent streamer fishing for larger trout, with rainbows and browns reaching over 25 inches and the possibility of encountering bull trout exceeding 30 inches. Convenient access points, such as the Russell Gates Memorial Fishing Access Site, and its proximity to Missoula make the Blackfoot River an accessible yet challenging destination for world-class trout fishing.