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

The Clark Fork above Missoula is settling after last week’s rain bump. The latest USGS reading available shows the river around 1,510 cfs, down from the larger post-storm rise but still in better shape than the lowest late-summer flows. That extra water, combined with cooler weather, gives the Clark Fork a much more promising early-fall feel.

The river is still technical in flat, slow water, so it pays to watch before casting. Look for fish on riffle edges, foam lines, soft banks, inside bends, current tongues, tailouts, side-channel seams, and deeper green lanes. If fish are rising, take the time to match the pace and lane of the rise. If not, small nymphs under a terrestrial or indicator should be more consistent.

The hatch menu is shifting. Terrestrials are still in the game, especially hoppers, ants, and beetles along grassy banks, islands, and soft edges. But the Clark Fork is starting to feel like fall. BWOs are the big hatch to watch when clouds, drizzle, or cooler afternoons line up. Anglers are already seeing October Caddis, and Mahogany Duns and Hecubas should become more important over the next few weeks.

The weekend weather helped this river a lot. Cooler temperatures and widespread rain improved water conditions, and Missoula stays cool today with a shower chance before warming gradually into the 60s and 70s later in the week. Cloud cover should help the dry-fly bite and may give anglers more opportunity outside the earliest morning hours.

Streamer fishing deserves a place in the rotation now. As fall approaches, browns and better rainbows can get more responsive to movement, especially under clouds or after rain. Try small to medium sculpins, Sparkle Minnows, Thin Mints, Kreelexes, and compact articulated patterns along banks, shelves, 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