Right after Whitaker, look for the Blackfoot's best-known piece of whitewater, Thibodeau Rapids. Watch for several other frisky rapids in the next few miles below Whitaker and Johnsrud Park. At high flows, even the 10-mile section between Johnsrud Park and the weigh station at Bonner can be exciting. It's mostly Class II or less, but high waves can develop and the current is very fast. Fishing is good on the Blackfoot.
Insect carapaces on the cliff walls tell the story of a significant salmon-fly hatch.
Salmon flies are a species of giant stonefly that generally hatch in mid-June. In most years this hatch coincides with high water, making fishing difficult. The lower river is predominately a rainbow trout fishery. A pamphlet which details regulations and provides a floating map is available from the Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Missoula office. Be sure to follow regulations, as it's only through the good will of the various landowners and corporations that this outstanding section of the river has been protected and made available to floaters.