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Fishing Blackfoot River: what the data says
The Blackfoot east of Missoula. the 'A River Runs Through It' freestone, with wild rainbow, brown and cutthroat trout. The river tops out around 8 ft. The contours are modeled from the water's real shoreline and maximum depth. Treat them as a rough guide, and never use them for navigation. Below is the species-by-species picture, pulled from the same data the map uses.
Rainbow Trout fishing at Blackfoot River
In spring, rainbow trout run shallow here, mostly 2 to 8 ft. Summer fish stay in 2 to 8 ft, and winter fish hold in 2 to 8 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Current seam (mile 6.2): a current seam around 4 ft that scores prime in spring. Best bite is early morning and the evening. Summer baits: a dodger + spoon (deep troll) or a flutter spoon gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 8 ft | dawn & dusk | Inline spinner (silver), Small spoon |
| Summer | 2 to 8 ft | dawn & dusk | Dodger + spoon (deep troll), Flutter spoon |
| Fall | 2 to 8 ft | dawn & dusk | Casting spoon, Jerkbait over shoals |
| Winter | 2 to 8 ft | dawn | Jigging spoon, Tube jig (white) |
Brown Trout fishing at Blackfoot River
Spring brown trout on Blackfoot River hold shallow, usually 1 to 8 ft. Summer fish stay in 2 to 8 ft, and winter fish hold in 1 to 8 ft. The spot to know is Current seam (mile 6.2), a current seam in about 4 ft of water that rates prime for brown trout in summer. Plan around after dark and early morning in the warm months. Summer baits: a spoon at the thermocline or a deep stickbait (night) gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 1 to 8 ft | dawn & dusk | Stickbait off planer boards (shallow), Small spoon along mud lines |
| Summer | 2 to 8 ft | night & dawn | Spoon at the thermocline, Deep stickbait (night) |
| Fall | 1 to 8 ft | dusk & dawn | Jerkbait over gravel, Casting spoon |
| Winter | 1 to 8 ft | dawn | Jigging spoon, Small stickbait (slow) |
Cutthroat Trout fishing at Blackfoot River
Spring cutthroat trout on Blackfoot River hold shallow, usually 2 to 8 ft. Summer fish stay in 2 to 8 ft, and winter fish hold in 2 to 8 ft. The spot to know is Current seam (mile 6.2), a current seam in about 4 ft of water that rates prime for cutthroat trout in spring. Best bite is early morning and the evening. Tie on a trolled spoon (small) or a inline spinner and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 8 ft | dawn & dusk | Inline spinner (silver/gold), Small spoon |
| Summer | 2 to 8 ft | dawn & dusk | Trolled spoon (small), Inline spinner |
| Fall | 2 to 8 ft | dawn & dusk | Casting spoon, Inline spinner |
| Winter | 2 to 8 ft | dawn | Small jigging spoon, Marabou jig |
Lake Whitefish fishing at Blackfoot River
In spring, lake whitefish run shallow here, mostly 2 to 8 ft. Summer fish stay in 2 to 8 ft, and winter fish hold in 2 to 8 ft. Riffle & run (mile 0.6) is the standout, a rock pile at roughly 3 ft, rated prime for fall lake whitefish. Best bite is early morning. Tie on a blade bait vertical or a small jigging spoon and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 8 ft | midday & dawn | Small jig + waxworm, Blade bait (small) |
| Summer | 2 to 8 ft | dawn | Blade bait vertical, Small jigging spoon |
| Fall | 2 to 8 ft | dusk | Small spoon (gold), Jig + plastic larva |
| Winter | 2 to 8 ft | midday & dawn | Jigging spoon + bead chain, Tungsten jig + waxie |
Notable structure
- Raymond Number 2 Dam tailrace: dam tailrace, around 7 ft
- Dam tailrace: dam tailrace, around 7 ft
- Raymond Number 3 Dam tailrace: dam tailrace, around 7 ft
- Dam tailrace: dam tailrace, around 7 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 2.5): creek channel, around 6 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 4.3): creek channel, around 6 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 8.4): creek channel, around 6 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 10.2): creek channel, around 6 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 12.4): creek channel, around 6 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 14.6): creek channel, around 6 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 16.8): creek channel, around 6 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 21.4): creek channel, around 6 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 23.9): creek channel, around 6 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 30.1): creek channel, around 6 ft
Common questions
How deep is Blackfoot River?
Blackfoot River is about 8 ft at its deepest point. The contours here are modeled from the water's real shape and maximum depth, so treat them as a rough guide.
What fish are in Blackfoot River?
Anglers target rainbow trout, brown trout, lake whitefish, cutthroat trout on Blackfoot River.
Where is the best fishing spot on Blackfoot River?
Current seam (mile 6.2) is the top-rated area: a current seam in about 4 ft of water that rates prime for rainbow trout in spring. Open the map above to see every rated spot for each species and season.
When is the best time to fish Blackfoot River?
For rainbow trout, the summer bite is best in early morning and the evening. Each species page section below lists the seasonal windows, and the map shows a live NOW badge when you're inside one.
Nearby waters
Browns Lake · Upsata Lake · Otatsy, Lake · Camp Lake (Lewis and Clark) · Coopers Lake · Harpers Lake
See how Blackfoot River stacks up: best rainbow trout lakes in Montana · best brown trout lakes in Montana · best lake whitefish lakes in Montana · best cutthroat trout lakes in Montana
Browse all Montana fishing maps or every water on DepthScout. How we build these maps. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.