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

The Clark Fork is still in a late-summer pattern, but it has a little more water than the last report. The current USGS page above Missoula was not updating cleanly when checked, but the latest local report has the Clark Fork around 1,236 cfs above Missoula, up from the last report’s 1,140 cfs. That is still a low summer flow, but the slight bump and cooler weather ahead should help. No stretches of this river are under hoot owl restrictions, but anglers should still pay attention to afternoon water temperatures.

The best fishing will be early in the day, during cloud cover, near shaded banks, and anywhere trout have access to oxygenated riffles or cooler water. Focus on riffle edges, foam lines, deeper green seams, soft banks, tailouts, inside bends, side channels, and current tongues that collect food. Lower flows make the river easier to read, but fish will still be sensitive to wading pressure, boat traffic, and sloppy drifts.

The prolific late spring and early summer hatches have ended, and the Clark Fork has shifted into its mid-to-late summer mix. Terrestrials are a major part of the program, especially hoppers, ants, and beetles along grassy banks, islands, side channels, and soft edges. Late-stage PMD spinners and Tricos can bring fish up in the morning on slicks, flats, foam lines, and slow tailouts. Caddis fishing remains a good late-day option when the sun starts to set, especially around riffle edges and soft current tongues.

During brighter conditions, nymphing with small mayfly nymphs, caddis pupa, Perdigons, and Frenchies will usually be more consistent. Streamers are best early, late, or during cloudy weather.

Missoula will be warm today and Tuesday, with highs in the low 80s and upper 80s. Cooler weather arrives Wednesday through Friday, with highs in the upper 60s, cloud cover, and some showers. That cooler stretch should help the Clark Fork and could make the fishing feel a little less restricted to the first few hours of daylight.

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
• Spruce Moths #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