Blackfoot River, July 23, 2009

Fishing on the upper Blackfoot River was amazing this last week! We had four fisherman in our party and netted 50+ fish, with the majority being in the 12-18" range. I lost a couple 20+ inchers and my brother landed a beautiful 24" cutthroat. My dad also caught a couple 20+ inchers. Overall, it was an amazing day. One for the memories!

Flies of the Day: Bead Headed Hares Ear (Sizes 14-18); Parahopper - cream colored hopper (Sizes 10-14).

Bead Head Prince Nymph

BEAD HEAD PRINCE NYMPH

The bead head Prince nymph is an effective attractor or searching nymph. Especially effective as a dropper off a terrestrial fly. The para hopper/bead head Prince nymph is an especially effective combo in Southeast Idaho streams and rivers. The hopper dropper combo listed above is especially effective on the Blackfoot River.

MATERIALS NEEDED:

Hook: Nymph Hook (Sizes 10-18) - any brand

Weight: Tungsten bead and lead wire

Thread: Brown

Tail: Tan goose biots (rubber hackle is a neat alternative)

Ribbing: fine gold oval tinsel and fine monofilament

Body: Peacock

Wing: White goose biots

Throat: Brown Pullet (optional)

Collar: Fox Squirrel Dubbing (Optional)

Parahopper - Fly pattern for the summer months

Para Hopper

Hook: 3x long, sizes 10, 12, 14, 16
Parachute post: white poly yarn (alternate = white calf tail)
Body: Tan antron/hare’s ear blend (grey also works well)
Wing: Turkey Tail fibers
Legs: Pheasant Tail fibers, knotted
Parachute Hackle: Grizzly



This pattern is a cutthroat magnet in the summer months. Body color variations include tan, brown, gray (my favorite), and yellow. Afternoon fishing is outstanding with this pattern. Use a bead headed prince nymph/hares ear for extra action. You may even hook two at a time!

Upper Blackfoot River - July 2, 2009

The upper Blackfoot is still high and off color. With the recent thunderstorms, expect the river to start clearing this week and into next week. There were no fly hatches of note, except a few dragon flies were beginning to hatch. There were a few caddis flies but with the water off color and unusually high there was no dry fly activity. We caught 12-15 fish. All the fish we caught were cutthroats, and mine were all > 12", with one 16" and one 20". My father landed a 20". All the bigger fish were caught on bead headed brown woolly worms; Size 4-6.

In a few weeks the hoppers will be hot and with a lot of water in the Upper Blackfoot, the big fish may hold in the river. Good luck.