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

The Clark Fork above Missoula has dropped again and is sitting around 1,350 cfs. That is down from the last report’s 1,460 cfs reading, so the river is continuing to settle and clear after September’s rain bumps. It remains in a good early-fall range, but slower flats and slicks will be technical. Fish should be comfortable in riffles, foam lines, current tongues, and soft banks, but they may be picky in clear, even-paced water.

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 to watch before casting. If fish are working the surface, match the lane and pace of the rise instead of rushing the cast. If nothing is showing, nymphing a small mayfly, caddis pupa, October Caddis pupa, or jig pattern under a terrestrial or indicator will usually be more consistent.

Clouds and a few showers today should help the Clark Fork fish more like fall. The weekend looks sunnier and warmer, with Missoula highs in the low-to-mid 70s after cool nights. That should keep fish comfortable and give anglers a good late-morning through afternoon window as the water warms.

The hatch menu is turning fall-like. Terrestrials are still in play, especially hoppers, ants, and beetles along grassy banks, islands, and soft edges. BWOs are the next major hatch to watch when clouds, drizzle, or cooler afternoon temperatures line up. October Caddis are already being seen, and Mahogany Duns and Hecubas should become more common in the coming weeks. Bigger fall dries can be especially useful in choppy runs and two-foot riffles.

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

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