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

The Clark Fork above Missoula is sitting around 1,360 cfs, down from the last report’s 1,460 cfs. The river is continuing to settle and clear, which puts it in a technical but very fishable early-October range. Fish should be comfortable in riffles, current tongues, foam lines, and soft banks, but slower flats and slicks will require patience, longer leaders, and accurate drifts.

Look for trout on 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 turning fully fall-like. Terrestrials are still in play, especially hoppers, ants, and beetles along grassy banks, islands, and soft edges, but their role will start shrinking as colder nights continue. BWOs are the next major hatch to watch when clouds, drizzle, or cooler afternoon temperatures show up. 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, two-foot riffles, and bank seams.

The weekend outlook is mild and mostly sunny. Missoula is forecast to be around the low 70s Saturday and upper 70s Sunday, with cool mornings and pleasant afternoons. That should keep fish comfortable while shifting the best dry-fly activity later in the morning and into the afternoon.

Streamer fishing deserves a serious look now. 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.

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