The North Fork Blackfoot River is a freestone river in Montana, listed as Among the state's most-fished waters (agency angler survey) by Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks.
The nearest USGS gauge on the same stream system is shown, labelled. 1 guide and 2 shops nearby are listed here.
North Fork Blackfoot River is a freestone river in Montana.
Pick one of its USGS gauges and hear from us when the flow moves into or out of its usual range for the date, or crosses a flow you set. We check the public USGS reading every 2 hours and email only when it crosses, at most once every 6 hours. Flow alone is not a fishing forecast or a safety call.
Signed in: one step. Otherwise we email a confirmation link first. Every alert has one-click links to stop it.
Start from the agency's public access map. Nothing on this page grants or implies access: check the agency map, posted signs and landowner permission before you fish.
Nothing on this page grants or implies access.
Gauges, shops and guides within 40 miles
Map of North Fork Blackfoot River: gauges, shops and guides
Map of North Fork Blackfoot River with 1 USGS gauge.
Restrooms within 2 miles of North Fork Blackfoot River in a straight line, nearest first, with what anglers found when they went. The map says a restroom is there, not whether it is clean or open today.
No restroom mapped within 2 mi yet — add one you know.
Campgrounds, fishing access sites and boat ramps often have one that isn't on the map yet.
Restroom locations and map details: © OpenStreetMap contributors, Open Database License, read Oct 24, 2026. Ratings, answers and photos are members' own; who shared them is never shown, and every photo is reviewed before it appears. Visits older than 18 months no longer count. Distances are straight-line miles, not driving. Nothing here grants access to private land. Community guidelines.
Among the state's most-fished waters (agency angler survey)Representative photo · not Browns LakeEnnis Lake, Montana, in March, with the Madison Range beyond. Photo: Gloria Cabada-Leman, CC BY 2.0, via Flickr Not Browns Lake.
Montana · about 13 mi
Among the state's most-fished waters (agency angler survey)Representative photo · not Harpers LakeHenrys Lake from Henrys Lake State Park, Idaho. Photo: James Postema, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Harpers Lake.
Montana · about 21 mi
Among the state's most-fished waters (agency angler survey)Representative photo · not Wood LakeLake Billy Chinook, Oregon. Photo: icetsarina, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Wood Lake.
Montana · about 22 mi
Among the state's most-fished waters (agency angler survey)Representative photo · not Nevada CreekRock Creek on the Missoula Ranger District, Lolo National Forest. Photo: USDA Forest Service, Northern Region, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons Not Nevada Creek.
Montana · about 23 mi
Among the state's most-fished waters (agency angler survey)Representative photo · not Clearwater RiverThe lower Blackfoot River east of Missoula. Photo: Bureau of Land Management, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons Not Clearwater River.
Montana · about 26 mi
Among the state's most-fished waters (agency angler survey)Representative photo · not Seeley LakeEagle Lake, Lassen County, California, with dry Horse Lake in the foreground (aerial). Photo: Ken Lund from Reno, Nevada, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Seeley Lake.
Montana · about 26 mi
Seasons, limits, special regulations and closures for each reach are on the agency pages below. Read them before you go.
Each comes from the agency's own published list; where the list names a reach it is quoted. A designation applies to the listed reach, not necessarily the whole water. Listed in the finder under trout.
On the Montana's most-fished waters (FWP statewide angling pressure estimates, 2023 license year, top 250 by state rank) list (Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, read 2026-11-05). All waters with this designation
On the District Exceptions to Standard Regulations (trout / gear rules) list (Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, read 2026-11-05). All waters with this designation
Measured from the NHDPlus High Resolution (flowlines and waterbodies) (U.S. Geological Survey, read 2026-11-05) for this water’s own mapped feature. Rounded figures; they describe the channel, not today’s conditions.
Areas the Protected Areas Database of the United States (PAD-US), public access (U.S. Geological Survey, Gap Analysis Project, read 2026-11-05) lists as owned or held in easement and open to the public, crossed by the mapped channel. Boundaries are mapped, not surveyed. Nothing on this page grants or implies access: check the agency map, posted signs and landowner permission before you fish.
2.8 of 38.2 mi on public land
Nothing on this page grants or implies access.
Listings marked Unclaimed are built from open map records and the business's own website: confirm licensing, rates, dates and hours directly.
What 1 nearby guide website mention: what guides advertise, not a survey or a promise of what you will catch.
Named on 1 nearby guide website
5 hatches charted for the region, not measured on this water. From Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks.
Mother's Day caddis (Grannom) (May) · Salmonfly (May to June) · Salmonfly (May to July) · Salmonfly (July) · Trico (August to September)
None of our destination hubs is within 40 miles in a straight line. The trip planner builds a trip around the water itself: the guides and shops listed within 40 miles of it, its gauges and its nearest towns and airports.
No hub within 40 miles
A wade-fishing checklist for big western trout rivers: a 9 ft 5–6 weight outfit, nymph, dry and streamer setups, waders, boots and a wading staff, with estimated prices by tier and where to buy.
9′ rod, 5–6 weight, floating line · Rainbow and brown trout, whitefish
Open the checklistSeams, shelves and soft water, shown on real rivers.
Public YouTube videos from established channels, chosen by us to support this page. Not sponsored; the creators are not affiliated with Legendary Fly Gear.
Not sponsored All videos on reading water
Indicator rigs, depth and detecting the take.
Public YouTube videos from established channels, chosen by us to support this page. Not sponsored; the creators are not affiliated with Legendary Fly Gear.
Not sponsored All videos on nymphing
Trip stories anglers chose to share publicly and tagged with North Fork Blackfoot River.
No stories from here yet.
Not a statement of access, fish presence or conditions.
A water page organises discovery. It does not assert public access, legal access, current fish presence, guide availability or fishing conditions.
Flows, gauge statistics and flood stages come from USGS and the National Weather Service when the page is shown. Regulations, stocking, species and season statements link to the agency that publishes them; this page copies only the species names and the quoted sentences. Guide and shop listings come from the Legendary directories. Position: a point on the mapped channel of “North Fork Blackfoot River”, halfway along its length in Montana, from the USGS high-resolution hydrography (NHDPlus HR), read 5 Nov 2026. It marks the water, not a particular access or reach. Water type is our own classification.
Limited data: Normal flow for the date: no water temperature here
No water temperature here.
At NF Blackfoot R ab Dry Gulch nr Ovando MT (USGS 12338300). No gauge on North Fork Blackfoot River. Nearest: NF Blackfoot R ab Dry Gulch nr Ovando MT (12.5 mi away), on the river it flows into. North Fork Blackfoot River's own flow is not measured. Provisional USGS data
USGS 12338300
No gauge on North Fork Blackfoot River. Nearest: NF Blackfoot R ab Dry Gulch nr Ovando MT (12.5 mi away), on the river it flows into. North Fork Blackfoot River's own flow is not measured.
What the agencies suggest
Carry a pocket thermometer to monitor water temperatureNational Park Service
General guidance from the readings and the published lines named above, not a fishing forecast. Local rules and closures come first.
Reading Nov 5, 4:00 PM MST · provisional USGS data
Normal for Nov 5 Steady · 24 h
Discharge, last 7 days: 169 readings from Oct 29, 5:00 PM MDT to Nov 5, 4:00 PM MST; ranging 163 to 175 ft³/s; latest 166 ft³/s.
USGS provisional data may be revised. Source: USGS instantaneous values.
| Time | Discharge (ft³/s) | Gauge height (ft) |
|---|---|---|
| Nov 5, 4:00 PM MST | 166 | 4.39 |
| Nov 5, 3:00 PM MST | 166 | 4.39 |
| Nov 5, 2:00 PM MST | 166 | 4.39 |
| Nov 5, 1:00 PM MST | 166 | 4.39 |
| Nov 5, 12:00 PM MST | 166 | 4.39 |
| Nov 5, 11:00 AM MST | 166 | 4.39 |
| Nov 5, 10:00 AM MST | 166 | 4.39 |
| Nov 5, 9:00 AM MST | 166 | 4.39 |
| Nov 5, 8:00 AM MST | 166 | 4.39 |
| Nov 5, 7:00 AM MST | 163 | 4.38 |
| Nov 5, 6:00 AM MST | 163 | 4.38 |
| Nov 5, 5:00 AM MST | 163 | 4.38 |
| Nov 5, 4:00 AM MST | 163 | 4.38 |
| Nov 5, 3:00 AM MST | 163 | 4.38 |
| Nov 5, 2:00 AM MST | 166 | 4.39 |
| Nov 5, 1:00 AM MST | 166 | 4.39 |
| Nov 5, 12:00 AM MST | 166 | 4.39 |
| Nov 4, 11:00 PM MST | 166 | 4.39 |
| Nov 4, 10:00 PM MST | 166 | 4.39 |
| Nov 4, 9:00 PM MST | 166 | 4.39 |
| Nov 4, 8:00 PM MST | 163 | 4.38 |
| Nov 4, 7:00 PM MST | 166 | 4.39 |
| Nov 4, 6:00 PM MST | 166 | 4.39 |
| Nov 4, 5:00 PM MST | 166 | 4.39 |
| Nov 4, 4:00 PM MST | 166 | 4.39 |
| Nov 4, 3:00 PM MST | 166 | 4.39 |
| Nov 4, 2:00 PM MST | 166 | 4.39 |
| Nov 4, 1:00 PM MST | 166 | 4.39 |
| Nov 4, 12:00 PM MST | 166 | 4.39 |
| Nov 4, 11:00 AM MST | 166 | 4.39 |
| Nov 4, 10:00 AM MST | 166 | 4.39 |
| Nov 4, 9:00 AM MST | 166 | 4.39 |
| Nov 4, 8:00 AM MST | 166 | 4.39 |
| Nov 4, 7:00 AM MST | 166 | 4.39 |
| Nov 4, 6:00 AM MST | 166 | 4.39 |
| Nov 4, 5:00 AM MST | 163 | 4.38 |
| Nov 4, 4:00 AM MST | 163 | 4.38 |
| Nov 4, 3:00 AM MST | 163 | 4.38 |
| Nov 4, 2:00 AM MST | 163 | 4.38 |
| Nov 4, 1:00 AM MST | 163 | 4.38 |
| Nov 4, 12:00 AM MST | 166 | 4.39 |
| Nov 3, 11:00 PM MST | 166 | 4.39 |
| Nov 3, 10:00 PM MST | 166 | 4.39 |
| Nov 3, 9:00 PM MST | 166 | 4.39 |
| Nov 3, 8:00 PM MST | 166 | 4.39 |
| Nov 3, 7:00 PM MST | 166 | 4.39 |
| Nov 3, 6:00 PM MST | 166 | 4.39 |
| Nov 3, 5:00 PM MST | 166 | 4.39 |
| Nov 3, 4:00 PM MST | 169 | 4.4 |
| Nov 3, 3:00 PM MST | 169 | 4.4 |
| Nov 3, 2:00 PM MST | 169 | 4.4 |
| Nov 3, 1:00 PM MST | 169 | 4.4 |
| Nov 3, 12:00 PM MST | 169 | 4.4 |
| Nov 3, 11:00 AM MST | 169 | 4.4 |
| Nov 3, 10:00 AM MST | 169 | 4.4 |
| Nov 3, 9:00 AM MST | 166 | 4.39 |
| Nov 3, 8:00 AM MST | 166 | 4.39 |
| Nov 3, 7:00 AM MST | 166 | 4.39 |
| Nov 3, 6:00 AM MST | 166 | 4.39 |
| Nov 3, 5:00 AM MST | 166 | 4.39 |
| Nov 3, 4:00 AM MST | 166 | 4.39 |
| Nov 3, 3:00 AM MST | 166 | 4.39 |
| Nov 3, 2:00 AM MST | 166 | 4.39 |
| Nov 3, 1:00 AM MST | 166 | 4.39 |
| Nov 3, 12:00 AM MST | 166 | 4.39 |
| Nov 2, 11:00 PM MST | 166 | 4.39 |
| Nov 2, 10:00 PM MST | 166 | 4.39 |
| Nov 2, 9:00 PM MST | 166 | 4.39 |
| Nov 2, 8:00 PM MST | 166 | 4.39 |
| Nov 2, 7:00 PM MST | 166 | 4.39 |
| Nov 2, 6:00 PM MST | 166 | 4.39 |
| Nov 2, 5:00 PM MST | 169 | 4.4 |
| Nov 2, 4:00 PM MST | 169 | 4.4 |
| Nov 2, 3:00 PM MST | 169 | 4.4 |
| Nov 2, 2:00 PM MST | 169 | 4.4 |
| Nov 2, 1:00 PM MST | 169 | 4.4 |
| Nov 2, 12:00 PM MST | 169 | 4.4 |
| Nov 2, 11:00 AM MST | 169 | 4.4 |
| Nov 2, 10:00 AM MST | 169 | 4.4 |
| Nov 2, 9:00 AM MST | 169 | 4.4 |
| Nov 2, 8:00 AM MST | 169 | 4.4 |
| Nov 2, 7:00 AM MST | 169 | 4.4 |
| Nov 2, 6:00 AM MST | 169 | 4.4 |
| Nov 2, 5:00 AM MST | 169 | 4.4 |
| Nov 2, 4:00 AM MST | 169 | 4.4 |
| Nov 2, 3:00 AM MST | 169 | 4.4 |
| Nov 2, 2:00 AM MST | 169 | 4.4 |
| Nov 2, 1:00 AM MST | 169 | 4.4 |
| Nov 2, 12:00 AM MST | 169 | 4.4 |
| Nov 1, 11:00 PM MST | 169 | 4.4 |
| Nov 1, 10:00 PM MST | 169 | 4.4 |
| Nov 1, 9:00 PM MST | 169 | 4.4 |
| Nov 1, 8:00 PM MST | 169 | 4.4 |
| Nov 1, 7:00 PM MST | 172 | 4.41 |
| Nov 1, 6:00 PM MST | 172 | 4.41 |
| Nov 1, 5:00 PM MST | 172 | 4.41 |
| Nov 1, 4:00 PM MST | 172 | 4.41 |
| Nov 1, 3:00 PM MST | 175 | 4.42 |
| Nov 1, 2:00 PM MST | 175 | 4.42 |
| Nov 1, 1:00 PM MST | 175 | 4.42 |
| Nov 1, 12:00 PM MST | 175 | 4.42 |
| Nov 1, 11:00 AM MST | 175 | 4.42 |
| Nov 1, 10:00 AM MST | 172 | 4.41 |
| Nov 1, 9:00 AM MST | 169 | 4.4 |
| Nov 1, 8:00 AM MST | 169 | 4.4 |
| Nov 1, 7:00 AM MST | 166 | 4.39 |
| Nov 1, 6:00 AM MST | 166 | 4.39 |
| Nov 1, 5:00 AM MST | 166 | 4.39 |
| Nov 1, 4:00 AM MST | 166 | 4.39 |
| Nov 1, 3:00 AM MST | 166 | 4.39 |
| Nov 1, 2:00 AM MST | 166 | 4.39 |
| Nov 1, 1:00 AM MST | 166 | 4.39 |
| Nov 1, 1:00 AM MDT | 166 | 4.39 |
| Nov 1, 12:00 AM MDT | 166 | 4.39 |
| Oct 31, 11:00 PM MDT | 166 | 4.39 |
| Oct 31, 10:00 PM MDT | 166 | 4.39 |
| Oct 31, 9:00 PM MDT | 166 | 4.39 |
| Oct 31, 8:00 PM MDT | 166 | 4.39 |
| Oct 31, 7:00 PM MDT | 166 | 4.39 |
| Oct 31, 6:00 PM MDT | 169 | 4.4 |
| Oct 31, 5:00 PM MDT | 169 | 4.4 |
| Oct 31, 4:00 PM MDT | 169 | 4.4 |
| Oct 31, 3:00 PM MDT | 169 | 4.4 |
| Oct 31, 2:00 PM MDT | 169 | 4.4 |
| Oct 31, 1:00 PM MDT | 169 | 4.4 |
| Oct 31, 12:00 PM MDT | 169 | 4.4 |
| Oct 31, 11:00 AM MDT | 166 | 4.39 |
| Oct 31, 10:00 AM MDT | 166 | 4.39 |
| Oct 31, 9:00 AM MDT | 166 | 4.39 |
| Oct 31, 8:00 AM MDT | 166 | 4.39 |
| Oct 31, 7:00 AM MDT | 166 | 4.39 |
| Oct 31, 6:00 AM MDT | 166 | 4.39 |
| Oct 31, 5:00 AM MDT | 166 | 4.39 |
| Oct 31, 4:00 AM MDT | 169 | 4.4 |
| Oct 31, 3:00 AM MDT | 166 | 4.39 |
| Oct 31, 2:00 AM MDT | 166 | 4.39 |
| Oct 31, 1:00 AM MDT | 169 | 4.4 |
| Oct 31, 12:00 AM MDT | 166 | 4.39 |
| Oct 30, 11:00 PM MDT | 169 | 4.4 |
| Oct 30, 10:00 PM MDT | 169 | 4.4 |
| Oct 30, 9:00 PM MDT | 169 | 4.4 |
| Oct 30, 8:00 PM MDT | 169 | 4.4 |
| Oct 30, 7:00 PM MDT | 169 | 4.4 |
| Oct 30, 6:00 PM MDT | 169 | 4.4 |
| Oct 30, 5:00 PM MDT | 169 | 4.4 |
| Oct 30, 4:00 PM MDT | 169 | 4.4 |
| Oct 30, 3:00 PM MDT | 169 | 4.4 |
| Oct 30, 2:00 PM MDT | 169 | 4.4 |
| Oct 30, 1:00 PM MDT | 169 | 4.4 |
| Oct 30, 12:00 PM MDT | 169 | 4.4 |
| Oct 30, 11:00 AM MDT | 169 | 4.4 |
| Oct 30, 10:00 AM MDT | 169 | 4.4 |
| Oct 30, 9:00 AM MDT | 169 | 4.4 |
| Oct 30, 8:00 AM MDT | 169 | 4.4 |
| Oct 30, 7:00 AM MDT | 169 | 4.4 |
| Oct 30, 6:00 AM MDT | 169 | 4.4 |
| Oct 30, 5:00 AM MDT | 169 | 4.4 |
| Oct 30, 4:00 AM MDT | 169 | 4.4 |
| Oct 30, 3:00 AM MDT | 169 | 4.4 |
| Oct 30, 2:00 AM MDT | 169 | 4.4 |
| Oct 30, 1:00 AM MDT | 169 | 4.4 |
| Oct 30, 12:00 AM MDT | 169 | 4.4 |
| Oct 29, 11:00 PM MDT | 169 | 4.4 |
| Oct 29, 10:00 PM MDT | 169 | 4.4 |
| Oct 29, 9:00 PM MDT | 169 | 4.4 |
| Oct 29, 8:00 PM MDT | 169 | 4.4 |
| Oct 29, 7:00 PM MDT | 169 | 4.4 |
| Oct 29, 6:00 PM MDT | 172 | 4.41 |
| Oct 29, 5:00 PM MDT | 172 | 4.41 |
Normal for Nov 5: 130–166 ft³/s (middle half of 28 years of record). Now: 166 ft³/s, normal.
Normal for this date. 166 ft³/s is between the 25th and 75th percentiles of daily mean flow for Nov 5 at this gauge over 28 years of record (1998–2026): 10th 120, 25th 130, median 140, 75th 166, 90th 181 ft³/s.
Daily means on record for Nov 5: lowest 107 ft³/s, highest 214 ft³/s.
Classes as USGS labels them (hyswap: flow categories (WDFN_stats schema) (U.S. Geological Survey) ); percentiles from the USGS daily statistics (U.S. Geological Survey) (approved daily means; the reading is provisional and instantaneous).
Steady over 24 hours (+0% discharge). Rising or falling means a change of more than 10% in discharge (or 0.2 ft of gauge height) over 24 hours; our rule of thumb, not a USGS class.
The National Weather Service has no flood-stage gauge here, so no official flood category is shown.
No current water-temperature reading at this gauge, so no temperature guidance is given. Take a stream thermometer: the trout lines Montana FWP uses are 66°F, 68°F and 73°F.
This gauge is on our page for North Fork Blackfoot River, but no agency page we read lists its species.
Turn Around Don't Drown. “A mere 6 inches of fast-moving flood water can knock over an adult.” No flow number makes a crossing safe; if in doubt, stay out.
Turn Around Don't Drown (National Weather Service)Guidance from the readings above and the published thresholds named with each line; not a fishing forecast, a safety guarantee or a statement about access. Local rules and closures come first.
Checked Nov 5, 4:20 PM MST; readings refresh at most every 15 minutes and statistics daily. Provisional USGS data can be revised. Conditions change: re-check before you go. This is general guidance, not a fishing forecast, a safety guarantee or a statement about access.
Among the state's most-fished waters (agency angler survey)Representative photo · not Browns LakeEnnis Lake, Montana, in March, with the Madison Range beyond. Photo: Gloria Cabada-Leman, CC BY 2.0, via Flickr Not Browns Lake.
Montana · about 13 mi
Among the state's most-fished waters (agency angler survey)Representative photo · not Harpers LakeHenrys Lake from Henrys Lake State Park, Idaho. Photo: James Postema, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Harpers Lake.
Montana · about 21 mi
Among the state's most-fished waters (agency angler survey)Representative photo · not Wood LakeLake Billy Chinook, Oregon. Photo: icetsarina, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Wood Lake.
Montana · about 22 mi
Among the state's most-fished waters (agency angler survey)Representative photo · not Nevada CreekRock Creek on the Missoula Ranger District, Lolo National Forest. Photo: USDA Forest Service, Northern Region, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons Not Nevada Creek.
Montana · about 23 mi
Among the state's most-fished waters (agency angler survey)Representative photo · not Clearwater RiverThe lower Blackfoot River east of Missoula. Photo: Bureau of Land Management, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons Not Clearwater River.
Montana · about 26 mi
Among the state's most-fished waters (agency angler survey)Representative photo · not Seeley LakeEagle Lake, Lassen County, California, with dry Horse Lake in the foreground (aerial). Photo: Ken Lund from Reno, Nevada, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Seeley Lake.
Montana · about 26 mi
