Flathead River Fishing Report | July 7, 2025
The report at a glance
Depth
Surface. This is a topwater dry fly bite. When the sun climbs, fish drop to a dropper below the dry.
Presentation
Fish dry flies early while shade sits on the water. As the sun rises, a dropper becomes king. On the Blackfoot, big topwater patterns during peak salmonfly feeding let you cut the dropper entirely.
Lures and baits
Foam bugs up top on the Flathead. Droppers like San Juans, Pat's Rubber Legs, and Pheasant Tail jigs on the Clark Fork. A big Water Walker on the Blackfoot. These are angler patterns, not house lures.
Best time
Early, while shade sits on the water.
Water temperature
Water temps held in good shape on the Clark Fork, warm spells balanced by cool downs.
Weather
Warm spells balanced by cool downs.
Advice for this week
Watch for nocturnal stoneflies becoming active on the Clark Fork. When salmonflies are up and fish are chugging, skip the dropper and fish pure dry fly during peak feeding. The fish are looking up, so lead with topwater.
Next week
Beginning of July, everything still looks good. The salmonfly hatch on the Blackfoot is dwindling and will get hit or miss, but surface fishing should stay strong across the region. Get out and enjoy it.
Notable catch
One guide netted 40 fish in a day on the Flathead throwing dry flies.
Dry-fly fishing on the main stem of the Flathead River is exceptional in early July 2025. Ryan Stultz of Bent Fly Fishing had a guide net 40 fish in a day on a foam bug fished up top, with bright orange-bellied native westslope cutthroat rising to big dries. The nearby Clark Fork is chugging dry flies in the morning shade, then droppers like Pat's Rubber Legs when the sun rises. On the Blackfoot, salmonflies are dwindling but a big Water Walker still produces.
How is the Flathead River dry-fly fishing?
Exceptional right now, which Ryan Stultz says he does not get to claim often. A guide who fishes for him netted 40 fish in a day on dry flies, throwing a foam bug up top. The fish are looking up, and native westslope cutthroat are rising well to big dries.
What fly is working on the Flathead?
A foam bug fished on top. Ryan's guide uses a homebrew foam pattern, but you do not need the exact bug. Plenty of fish are looking up and will eat a big dry. Expect bright orange-bellied native westslope cutthroat to rise to it.
How is the Clark Fork River fishing?
Still exceptional. When shade is on the water in the morning, the dry fly gets chugged. As the sun climbs, switch to a dropper. San Juans, Pat's Rubber Legs, and Pheasant Tail jigs are all producing, with Pat's Rubber Legs the go-to as nocturnal stoneflies appear.
How is the Blackfoot River fishing?
Recently good on salmonflies, though the hatch is dwindling and turning hit or miss. Ryan floated the canyon and hit it right, throwing a big Water Walker up top and cutting the dropper off entirely for a few hours while the fish chugged dries during peak feeding.
What is the summer dry-fly plan?
Lead with dry flies early, especially in morning shade on the rivers. Add a dropper like Pat's Rubber Legs or a Pheasant Tail jig once the sun is high. On the Blackfoot, fish a big topwater Water Walker and skip the dropper when salmonflies are active.
What is the outlook for early July?
Strong. Ryan calls it a great week with everything still looking good at the beginning of July across the Flathead, Clark Fork, and Blackfoot. Get out and enjoy the dry-fly window. Exact water temperatures were not specified in this report.
Watch the full report
Flathead River July 7, 2025 FAQ
A foam bug fished up top. A guide netted 40 fish in a day on dry flies, and any big dry will move the looking-up westslope cutthroat.
San Juans, Pat's Rubber Legs, and Pheasant Tail jigs, with Pat's Rubber Legs the go-to as nocturnal stoneflies show up.
The hatch is dwindling and hit or miss. When active, throw a big Water Walker and cut the dropper for pure dry-fly action.
Native westslope cutthroat with bright orange bellies, eating big dry flies on the surface.
Fish dries early in the morning shade, then add a dropper as the sun climbs higher in the sky.
The Flathead main stem, the Clark Fork, and the Blackfoot are all producing in early July 2025.
Ryan Stultz of Bent Fly Fishing in Northwest Montana.
