The Blackfoot River, one of twelve renowned "Blue Ribbon" rivers in Montana and a major tributary of the Clark Fork of the Columbia River, begins at the junction of Beartrap and Anaconda creeks near the Continental Divide. The river flows west 132 miles to its mouth at Bonner, Montana. From its headwaters to Mineral Hill near the junction of MT 200 and MT 141, the Blackfoot drops through glaciated high-alpine meadows and runs between steep, forested slopes. Above Lincoln, Montana, the river almost annually goes underground. Below Lincoln it reappears and meanders through conifer forests and wetlands to Nevada Creek. About 4 miles downstream the river falls sharply toward the North Fork of the Blackfoot, and cover becomes instream rocks and boulders, bank grasses and brush. For its remaining 52 miles, the Blackfoot levels out, and moves through open ranch and timbered areas. It steepens again from the Roundup Fishing Access Site to Johnsrud Park, 13 miles from the mouth, passing mostly through a timbered and somewhat narrow canyon with high walls. From the North Fork downstream, the Blackfoot lends itself gradually to floating, swimming, and wading. A free flowing river, the Blackfoot is affected by Milltown Dam, which has blocked fish passage on the Clark Fork River since 1907. The Blackfoot River Trout Restoration Initiative focuses on the recovery of native fish species, and depends on cooperating agencies, watershed groups, and landowners to protect the river's many resources and uses.
Blackfoot River
Special Notices & Closures
Hoot Owl Restriction - prohibits angling from 2 p.m. to midnight
From mile: 0.0 To 64.4
Cedar Meadow FAS to the confluence with the Clark Fork River
Water temperatures were measured at USGS gage 12340000 near Bonner. Water temperatures exceeded 71 degrees starting on July 22nd. Fishing restriction criteria identified in the Blackfoot Drought Response Plan were met as of July 24th.
Special Notices & Closures
Blackfoot River closure
From mile: 0.0 To 2.0
The Blackfoot River, from Weigh Station Fishing Access Site downstream to the point where the river crosses under Interstate 90
The Blackfoot River, from Weigh Station Fishing Access Site downstream to the point where the river crosses under Interstate 90, will be closed to floating beginning Wednesday, July 15 due to construction on a railway bridge. The BNSF Railway Company (BNSF) project includes building a temporary work bridge, and the construction equipment and work will impact enough of the river to make passage through the area unsafe. The closure will last until October 31 or until construction work has been completed and no longer presents a risk. Small boats and tubes can still be carried in at the Milltown State Park Confluence Area as usual, just downstream of the closure. The first public access site with a full boat launch downstream of the closure on the Clark Fork River is Sha-Ron Fishing Access Site (FAS). Upstream on the Blackfoot River, Weigh Station FAS is the last takeout above the closed area. The project has also closed a portion of the Gateway Trail that connects the state park?s Gateway and Confluence areas. The trail is closed from the Gateway area but is open from the Confluence area upstream until it reaches the construction area. The trail closure is signed on-site. Visitors to the Gateway area can still park and use the pedestrian bridge that crosses over the Blackfoot River. Signs will be posted at access sites along the river immediately upstream of the section of river closed to floating. Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks notes that there may also be a temporary floating closure on this same stretch of river for a portion of the year in 2027 for projected Interstate 90 bridge work over the same stretch of river.
| Mile Upper: | 127.319 |
| Mile Lower: | 0.0 |
| Mouth Latitude/Longitude: | 46.87132 -113.88776 |
| Status of the Fishery: | |
| FWP Region: | Region 2 |
| County: | Lewis & Clark • Missoula • Powell |
| Fishing District: | Western |
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| Waterbody | Section | Field Form Type | Date | Purpose | Species |
|---|
To see this data, first select one or more rows from the Collection Info tab.
For Comparative analysis all Length Units are millimeters : all Weights are grams
| Species | Count | Avg | StdDev | Min | Max | AvgWgt | StdDevWgt | MinWeight | S/L | Sects | Surveys | Waterbody |
|---|
To see this data, first select one or more rows from the Collection Info tab.
For Comparative analysis all Length Units are millimeters : all Weights are grams
| Waterbody | Section | Species | Count | AveLength | StdDevLength | MinLength | MaxLength | AveWeight | StdDevWeight | MinWeight | MaxWeight |
|---|
To see this data, first select one or more rows from the Collection Info tab.
For Comparative analysis all Length Units are millimeters : all Weights are grams
| Waterbody | Year | Section | Species | Count | AveLength | StdDevLength | MinLength | MaxLength | AveWeight | StdDevWeight | MinWeight | MaxWeight |
|---|
To see this data, first select one or more rows from the Collection Info tab.
This is a preview, all fields will be visible by selecting a download option. For Comparative analysis all Length Units are millimeters : all Weights are grams.
| Year | Species Abbrv | Length | Weight | M/C | Count | Sex | Mort | Hook Scar | Disease | Scales | Otolith | Fin Clip | Tag | Comment | Genetics | Age | Stomach | Intercept | Slope | Gear | Equipment | Trip | Date | Pass/Run | Water | Section | Lat/Down | Lon/Down | Lat/Up | Lon/Up | Agency | Start Depth | End Depth |
|---|
| Year | River Mile | Angler Days | Std. Error |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 0 to 33.55 | 38370 | 6228 |
| 2020 | 0 to 33.55 | 42136 | 5519 |
| 2017 | 0 to 33.55 | 26365 | 4484 |
| 2021 | 33.55 to 52.52 | 32761 | 4566 |
| 2020 | 33.55 to 52.52 | 26525 | 3320 |
| 2019 | 33.55 to 52.52 | 20777 | 3423 |
| 2017 | 33.55 to 52.52 | 18275 | 3742 |
| 2021 | 52.52 to 86.14 | 11284 | 2434 |
| 2020 | 52.52 to 86.14 | 11846 | 2391 |
| 2019 | 52.52 to 86.14 | 10930 | 3404 |
| 2017 | 52.52 to 86.14 | 11072 | 3118 |
| 2021 | 86.14 to 127.32 | 7443 | 1708 |
| 2020 | 86.14 to 127.32 | 14924 | 3103 |
| 2019 | 86.14 to 127.32 | 6562 | 1914 |
| 2017 | 86.14 to 127.32 | 10598 | 4244 |
This waterbody has a fish consumption advisory. Please see the link for guidelines.
Fish Consumption Guidelines (PDF)
