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

The Clark Fork above Missoula is sitting around 1,511 to 1,525 cfs, down from the last report’s 1,650 cfs reading. That drop has the river clearing and settling, but it is still in a solid early-fall range. The Clark Fork remains technical in slow, flat water, but the current flows give fish enough comfort to use riffles, foam lines, soft banks, and current tongues.

The best water will be riffle edges, inside bends, tailouts, side-channel seams, foam lines, soft buckets, current tongues, and deeper green lanes. The Clark Fork rewards patience this time of year. Take a minute to watch the water before casting. If fish are up, match the feeding lane and drift carefully. If they are not showing, nymphing a small mayfly, caddis pupa, or jig pattern under a terrestrial or indicator will usually be more consistent.

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. Anglers are already seeing October Caddis, and Mahogany Duns and Hecubas should become more common in the coming weeks. Bigger fall dries can bring fish up in choppier runs that anglers may have skipped earlier in the summer.

The weekend weather should be good for the Clark Fork. Missoula is mild Friday, then cools into the low 60s Saturday and around 60 on Sunday. That cooler air should help water temperatures and may improve dry-fly fishing during the day, especially if clouds stick around.

Streamer fishing deserves a serious look now. Cooler water and fall conditions can make trout more responsive to movement. 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