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

The Clark Fork above Missoula has come up from the last report and is now around 1,260 cfs. That is still a low late-summer flow, but the small bump, cooler water, and cloudier forecast should help the river fish better than it did during the hot, bright stretches of August. The river remains technical, so expect fish to be selective in slow water and more approachable in broken riffles and foam lines.

Look for trout on riffle edges, soft banks, current tongues, deeper green seams, inside bends, tailouts, side channels, and foam lines that gather food. The Clark Fork can reward patient dry-fly anglers right now, but only if you take time to watch the water. If fish are not up, nymphing with small mayfly and caddis patterns will be more reliable.

The prolific late spring and early summer hatches have wrapped up, and the Clark Fork is now in a mid-to-late summer hatch mix. Hoppers, ants, and beetles are still key along grassy banks, islands, and soft edges. Late-stage PMD spinners can bring fish up early, especially in slicks, flats, and tailouts. Tricos are still possible in the right slow water, and caddis should remain part of the evening program when the sun starts to drop.

The upcoming weather is favorable for the Clark Fork. Missoula is looking at highs in the upper 60s Saturday, upper 60s Sunday, and upper 50s Monday, with showers and thundershowers in the mix. Cooler, cloudier weather should help trout feel more comfortable and may improve surface feeding.

Do not overlook streamers this weekend. If clouds stick around or rain bumps turbidity, small sculpins, Thin Mints, Sparkle Minnows, and compact articulated patterns could move better fish along banks, shelves, and soft current seams.

What's Working

Dry Flies

• Hoppers #8-12
• Ants #12-18
• Beetles #12-16
• Chubby Chernobyls #8-14
• Water Walkers #8-12
• PMD Spinners #14-18
• Tricos #18-22
• Elk Hair Caddis #14-18
• X-Caddis #14-18
• Corn Fed Caddis #12-18
• Purple Haze #14-20
• Parachute Adams #14-20
• Small attractors #12-16

Nymphs

• Frenchies #14-18
• Split Case PMDs #14-18
• Psycho May #14-18
• Perdigons #14-20
• Pheasant Tails #14-20
• Prince Nymphs #12-16
• Caddis Pupa #12-18
• 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