Montana Fishing Reports ยท Northwest Region
Below the forks near Columbia Falls, the Flathead is a big, clear river with westslope cutthroat, rainbows and protected bull trout, close to Glacier National Park.
Looking for the latest Flathead River report? This page is updated by the AvidMax fly shop team with live flows, current conditions, hatches and the flies working now on the Flathead River โ Columbia Falls.
Current flows
Wind forecast
Flathead River fishing report
Updated November 7, 2026.
The gauge at Columbia Falls reads around 3,600 cfs and clear.
Nymph the seams and drop-offs with small mayflies and midges.
Load your fly box
Before you head to Columbia Falls, bring: Pheasant Tail Nymph #14-16, Zebra Midge #18-20, Parachute Adams #14-18, Woolly Bugger #6-8, RS2 Emerger #18-22, JuJu Baetis #18-22, Black Beauty #20-24, Egg #14-16, Squirmy Wormie #12-14.
Flies working right now
The flies above that we have in stock right now.
Flathead River details
| Access | Fishing access sites near Columbia Falls, Kalispell and the forks. |
|---|---|
| Elevation | About 3,000 ft |
| Nearest town | Columbia Falls, Montana |
| Best season | Summer and fall |
| Fish | Westslope cutthroat and rainbow trout, plus bull trout |
| Regulations | Bull trout must be released. Check Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks regulations for the current rules. A Montana fishing license is required for anglers 12 and older. |
| Leaders and tippet | 9 ft leaders, 4X to 5X tippet |
| Camping | Camping near Columbia Falls and Glacier National Park |
| Kids | Partly. |
| Good to know | Very clear water. Fish are spooky. |
Fishing by season
Winter
Cold.
Spring
Runoff.
Summer
Dries and cutthroat.
Fall
Low water.
How to get there
From Kalispell, take US-2 east to Columbia Falls.