blackfoot-river

Blackfoot River is a river in Montana.

It ranks #12 among the 17 waters of Montana in the registry, and is of national prominence.

Also called The Blackfoot, Big Blackfoot and The Big Blackfoot.

Fished for trout (inferred from the species listed).

Species: rainbow trout, brown trout, cutthroat trout and bull trout.

USGS GNIS record: 800475.

Stretches: Blackfoot River Recreation Corridor.

Access points: Johnsrud.

Upper Canyon (stretch). It is fishable and floatable. GHF: 'The famous Blackfoot Canyon is arguably the most popular stretch in the Missoula area'; largely float-only; a box canyon. Position relative to the Recreation Corridor not stated, so left unordered. Also called The Canyon and Blackfoot Canyon.

Lower Blackfoot (stretch). It is fishable and floatable. GHF: Johnsrud Park is 'the unofficial starting point of the lower Blackfoot River'. Also called Lower Blackfoot River.

It is downstream of Blackfoot River Recreation Corridor.

Russell Gates (access). It is fishable and launchable. FWF: upstream end of the Recreation Corridor. Also called Russell Gates Fishing Access Site.

It is upstream of Johnsrud.

Cedar Meadow (access). It is fishable. FWF: hoot-owl restrictions apply from the Clark Fork confluence upstream to Cedar Meadow FAS.

It is upstream of Clark Fork confluence.

Clark Fork confluence (confluence). It is fishable. Blackfoot meets the Clark Fork near Bonner (GHF nearest town: Bonner). Shared with the Clark Fork River.

Landers Fork (confluence). It is fishable. Tributary named as joining above Lincoln (GHF).

Landers Fork to Lincoln (stretch). It is fishable. Upper river; remote, wade-friendly, little pressure (GHF).

It is upstream of Lincoln to River Junction.

Lincoln to River Junction (stretch). It is fishable. GHF: leaves Lincoln into cottonwood and agricultural land; still too skinny to float consistently.

It is upstream of Blackfoot River Recreation Corridor.

It is downstream of Landers Fork to Lincoln.

North Fork Blackfoot (confluence). It is fishable. Small stream joining the Blackfoot; convergence location not stated in the text read. Also called North Fork of the Blackfoot.

Whitaker Bridge (access). It is fishable. GHF: upstream of Johnsrud boat launch; campgrounds and accesses in between.

It is upstream of Johnsrud.

Float: Blackfoot River Recreation Corridor, from Russell Gates to Johnsrud.

Sourced from 0 independent fly sites.

Sources: Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, The Grizzly Hackle (retrieved 2026-10-20) and huntthewest.com.