Little Blackfoot River : Fly Fishing.gif)
A
full flex fly rod is an ideal fly rod for the Little Blackfoot
River. The Orvis
Superfine Series Fly Rods have unchallenged full-flex
action that helps protect light tippets. 25 year unconditional
guarantee.
Orvis
Superfine Series Fly Rods
 The
Little Blackfoot River is a delightful river that anglers
visiting Montana generally just drive right by on their way
to the bigger and better-known waters nearby. Which is probably
a good thing, since this river is aptly named - it is little
compared to its bigger cousin to the west, the Blackfoot
River.
The Little Blackfoot
River begins its life in the Boulder Mountains south of the
town of Elliston, Montana, and travels for 40 miles to its
confluence with the Clark
Fork in the town of Garrison. The river starts out more
as a creek than a river, tumbling down through wooded terrain
with much downfall in the river. Access on this section of
the Little Blackfoot (between its origin and the town of Elliston)
is excellent, as it primarily flows through public lands and
is closely followed by a Forest Service Road.
Just outside of
Elliston, the Little Blackfoot River enters a narrow and scenic
valley where it remains for the remainder of its length down
to the Clark Fork. It flows exclusively through private property,
limiting access to the handful of county and highway road
crossings that are found. Its banks are fairly heavily forested
near Elliston with the forest thinning out a bit as the river
loses elevation on its way to the Clark Fork. Extensive brush
is found all along the Little Blackfoot River too.
The fly fishing
on the Little Blackfoot River is excellent. Brown trout are
found in good numbers and large sizes below Elliston. Brook
and cutthroat trout are found above Elliston. Whitefish can
be found throughout the length of the river.
Thankfully, its
size and somewhat isolated location keeps fly fishing pressure
on the Little Blackfoot relatively low. The river, while floatable
in the lower sections in the right conditions and the right
boat, is not a float-fishing river, thus keeping recreational
floaters and most fishermen away. The Little Blackfoot River
is generally too narrow to allow productive float fishing
- large rafts would clog up almost the entire width of the
river in some places.
Since float fishing
the Little Blackfoot River is out, wade fishing is the best
way to get to the river. Happily, once spring run-off ends,
the river is easy to wade as it is generally shallow, quite
narrow and has only a moderate current. The river also twists
and turns extensively, except where local ranchers have attempted
to "straighten" the river for irrigation or flood
control purposes.
 The
Little Blackfoot River, besides receiving flows from a number
of small tributary streams, also has a number of year round
springs. These springs do two things. First, in the summer,
the cool water from these springs keep the Little Blackfoot
temperatures productive for fly fishing on the hottest days
in summer. Secondly, these pools also warm up the rivers temperature
during the winter, allowing for productive fly fishing during
the winter months.
The Little Blackfoot
River, during the winter months, is open to catch and release
fishing for trout. Small nymphs work best for winter angling.
Popular nymph patterns include midges (sizes 18-22), Hare's
Ear Nymph, Pheasant Tail Nymph and the Parachute Adams (sizes
16-20).
Beginning in April
and lasting up until spring-run off, dry fly fishing on the
Little Blackfoot River can be productive as the first caddis
hatches of the season occur. Effective flies include the X-Caddis,
the Tan Elk Hair Caddis and Dark Elk Hair Caddis all work
well, in sizes 14-18.
The Little Blackfoot
River can get really blown out by spring run-off, as it drains
a sizeable drainage. If snowpack is high, the river can get
swollen in a hurry and cause a lot of flooding. Depending
on the vagaries of the weather and the amount of snowpack,
run-off can begin anytime in April, but usually hits full
force in late April and runs up until late-May. Fly fishing
is blown out at this time, as the river turns into a mass
of moving chocolate mud.
Once spring run-off
ends and lasting through July, the Little Blackfoot River
has excellent mayfly and caddisfly hatches, offering excellent
dry fly fishing. Effective dry flies for this hatch include
the Pale Morning Dun, Light Cahill, Elk Hair Caddis, the X-Caddis
and the Parachute Adams, in sizes 12-16.
Beginning in late
July and lasting until the first heavy frosts sometime in
late September, grasshoppers, not surprisingly, become an
excellent fly choice. Grasshoppers are found extensively along
the river and the trout rise readily to hopper imitations.
Next
Page 1 | 2
Top
of Page
|
