!! Weigh Station to Sha-Ron float is closed until October 31st !!

The Clark Fork above Missoula is sitting around 1,320 to 1,360 cfs, down from the last report’s 1,350 to 1,460 cfs range depending on the gauge source. The river is continuing to settle and clear, which makes it technical but very fishable. Water temperatures are in a good fall range, with recent readings around the low 50s, and fish should be comfortable in riffles, current tongues, foam lines, and soft banks.

The warm, dry weekend kept the Clark Fork stable. That is good for clarity and predictability, but it also means fish in slow flats may be selective. The best water will be riffle edges, inside bends, tailouts, side-channel seams, foam lines, soft buckets, current tongues, and deeper green lanes. This is a good time of year to watch before casting. If fish are working the surface, match the lane and pace of the rise. If nothing is showing, nymphing a small mayfly, caddis pupa, October Caddis pupa, or jig pattern under a terrestrial or indicator should be more consistent.

The hatch menu is fully fall-focused now. Terrestrials are still in play, especially hoppers, ants, and beetles along grassy banks, islands, and soft edges, but their window is slowly shrinking as nights cool. BWOs are the next major hatch to watch when clouds, drizzle, or cooler afternoon temperatures arrive. October Caddis are already being seen, and Mahogany Duns and Hecubas should become more common through October. Bigger fall dries can be especially useful in choppy runs, bank seams, and two-foot riffles.

Streamer fishing deserves a serious look. Cooler water and fall behavior can make trout more willing to chase, especially around shade, shelves, and structure. Try small to medium sculpins, Sparkle Minnows, Thin Mints, Kreelexes, and compact articulated patterns along banks, shelves, drop-offs, and soft inside seams.

Weekend Outlook

This coming weekend should bring a real pattern change, with cooler, breezier weather and a chance of showers. That should improve BWO conditions, make streamer fishing more appealing, and may move fish out of the pickiest bright-water behavior.

What's Working

Dry Flies

• Hoppers #8-12

• Ants #12-18

• Beetles #12-16

• Chubby Chernobyls #8-14

• Water Walkers #8-12

• BWO Dries #18-22

• Elk Hair Caddis #14-18

• X-Caddis #14-18

• Corn Fed Caddis #12-18

• October Caddis Adults #8-12

• Mahogany Duns #14-16

• Hecubas #10-12

• Parachute Adams #14-20

Nymphs

• Frenchies #14-18

• Pheasant Tails #14-20

• Perdigons #14-20

• BWO Nymphs #18-22

• Prince Nymphs #12-16

• Caddis Pupa #12-18

• October Caddis Pupa #8-12

• Jigged Hare’s Ears #14-18

• Small jig nymphs #16-20

Streamers

• Sparkle Minnows

• Mini Dungeons

• Peanut Envy

• Sculpzilla

• Thin Mint

• Woolly Buggers

• Kreelex

• Barely Legal

• Small sculpin patterns