Flathead River Fishing Report | July 14, 2025
The report at a glance
Presentation
Anchor the drift boat and make multiple casts into the head of a riffle with a single dry fly. On the Clark Fork, run a dry dropper rig and fish early when the water is coldest.
Lures and baits
Flathead: size 16 Rusty Spinner PMD (best fish), Purple Haze, Parachute Adams
Clark Fork: Pat's Rubber Legs dropper, size 16 pheasant tail bead jig, Spanish Bullet, Purple Chubby Chernobyl
Best time
Early, when the water is coldest
Water level
Low flows, kept cool by rain
Weather
A recent cool down brought lots of rain; temps dropped below 50 degrees before climbing back into the 70s and high 80s, with more rain forecast
Advice for this week
Take care of the fish in warm summer conditions. Go early when the water is cold, keep them wet, and release them in the net without much handling.
What is changing
The strategic rain is keeping the water cool despite low flows, and it has the dry fly fishing prime.
Next week
With more rain in the forecast next week to keep the water cool, both rivers should stay prime. The dry fly window has been about perfect this summer.
The Flathead River is fishing strong for westslope cutthroat in mid-July 2025, with above-average dry fly action helped by a recent cool-down and rain. Anchor the drift boat and cast a size 16 Rusty Spinner PMD at the heads of riffles. Purple Haze and Parachute Adams also produced the best fish. Strategic summer rain is keeping this fishery prime.
What is biting on the Flathead River right now?
Westslope cutthroat trout are on a strong dry fly bite. Ryan Stultz reports the dry fly fishing was above average, with most fish coming on mayfly patterns. A recent cool-down and rain dropped temps and kept the river in prime shape. Some bigger fish came from riffle heads.
What flies are working on the Flathead River?
Mayfly stuff is the ticket: Purple Haze and Parachute Adams for most fish, and a size 16 Rusty Spinner PMD for the best fish from riffle heads. These are fly patterns rather than products we carry, so match the mayfly hatch from your own box or a local fly shop.
How should I fish the Flathead River now?
Anchor the drift boat and cast multiple times into the head of the riffles with a size 16 Rusty Spinner PMD. That approach produced the best fish for Ryan. Focus on mayfly patterns during the above-average dry fly windows and keep the fish wet on release.
What are the water conditions on the Flathead River?
A recent cool-down and rain improved conditions, with river temps favorable despite fluctuating summer heat. It dipped under 50 degrees one day, then back into the 70s and high 80s. The river runs a little low but the strategic rain keeps it cool. Exact flows were not specified in this report.
What is the outlook for the Flathead River?
Prime, with more rain in the forecast to keep water cool. Ryan says northwest Montana is all about strategic rain right now. The Clark Fork is also still fishing great with scrappy trout, best early when water is coldest. Longer-term outlook was not specified in this report.
Watch the full report
Flathead River July 14, 2025 FAQ
Yes. Dry fly fishing is above average for westslope cutthroat, helped by a recent cool-down and rain.
Purple Haze, Parachute Adams, and a size 16 Rusty Spinner PMD at the heads of riffles.
Anchor the drift boat and make multiple casts into the head of the riffles with a size 16 Rusty Spinner PMD.
Native westslope cutthroat trout, unique to northwest Montana, are the main catch.
Strategic rain and cool-downs are keeping the water cool and the dry fly fishing prime.
Yes. It is still fishing great with scrappy trout, best early in the morning when the water is coldest.
