The Clark Fork bumped with last weekend’s rain, but flows are already coming back down around Missoula. The river is still carrying more water than it had before the storm, but conditions are improving as clarity settles. The rain helped freshen things up, and if the river keeps dropping, fishing should be good through the week.

Look for trout along grassy banks, inside bends, foam lines, side channels, drop-offs, soft seams, and slower shelves near heavier current. The Clark Fork is a big river, so dry-dropper rigs are still one of the best ways to search. A Golden Stone, Chubby, or Water Walker on top with a PMD, caddis, or jig nymph underneath should fish well along banks and softer edges.

Golden Stones are the main focus, with PMDs, Green Drakes, Yellow Sallies, and caddis also active. Cloudy windows can help the mayfly bite, and evening caddis should become more important when the weather warms. If the river has a touch of color, streamers are worth fishing along shaded banks, deeper buckets, and structure.

Weather around Missoula looks mixed today with a shower or thunderstorm chance, then warmer Tuesday and Wednesday. Thursday looks mostly sunny, and Friday is forecast to be very warm. Fish earlier as the week heats up, and watch afternoon water temps if the sun gets strong.

What's Working

Dry Flies

• Golden Stones #6-10
• Chubby Chernobyls #6-12
• Water Walkers #6-10
• PMDs #14-18
• Green Drakes #10-12
• Yellow Sallies #14-16
• Elk Hair Caddis #14-16
• X-Caddis #14-16
• Corn Fed Caddis #12-14
• Purple Haze #14-18
• Parachute Adams #14-18

Nymphs

• Pat's Rubber Legs #6-8
• TJ Hooker #6-8
• Zirdles #6-10
• Frenchies #14-16
• Split Case PMDs #14-18
• Psycho May #14-18
• Caddis Pupa #12-16
• Perdigons #14-18
• Pheasant Tails #14-18
• Prince Nymphs #12-16

Streamers

• Sparkle Minnows
• Mini Dungeons
• Peanut Envy
• Sculpzilla
• Thin Mint
• Woolly Buggers
• Kreelex
• Barely Legal
• Small sculpin patterns