Blackfoot River - Little

About Blackfoot River - Little

The Little Blackfoot River, a 40-mile waterway in Southwest Montana, offers excellent fly fishing opportunities for brown trout, brook trout, cutthroat trout, and whitefish. This relatively narrow and shallow river, often overlooked for its larger namesake, flows from the Boulder Mountains to its confluence with the Clark Fork near Garrison. Above Elliston, the river is more creek-like, with good access through public lands and along a Forest Service Road, and is home to brook and cutthroat trout. Below Elliston, the river enters a scenic valley, primarily flowing through private property with limited access points, but holds good numbers of larger brown trout. Anglers will find productive nymphing year-round, with small nymphs like midges, Hare's Ear, and Pheasant Tail patterns working well during winter catch-and-release season. Beginning in April, dry fly fishing can be effective with early caddis hatches. Following spring runoff, excellent mayfly and caddis hatches, including Pale Morning Dun and Elk Hair Caddis, provide ample dry fly opportunities through July. Late summer through early fall brings success with grasshopper imitations. Fall also presents the best chance to target large brown trout, which move from cover to spawn, making them more accessible with large streamers. Due to its size and the prevalence of brush and downed timber, wade fishing is the preferred method on the Little Blackfoot River, with its shallow depth and moderate current making it easy to navigate once runoff subsides.