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

The Clark Fork above Missoula is sitting around 1,140 cfs, about the same as the last report, and the latest verified water temperature was about 68 degrees late in the day. That means the river is low, clear, and technical, with warm afternoon water still worth watching. No stretches of this river are under hoot owl restrictions, but the Clark Fork should still be treated like a late-summer river: fish early, fish late, and be smart with trout handling.

The best fishing will be early in the morning, during cloud cover, near shaded banks, and anywhere fish have access to oxygenated riffles or cooler water. Focus on riffle edges, foam lines, deeper green seams, soft banks, tailouts, inside bends, and current tongues that collect food. Lower flows make the river easier to read, but they also make fish more 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 now a major part of the program, especially hoppers, ants, and beetles along grassy banks, islands, side channels, and soft edges. Late-stage PMD spinners, Tricos, and caddis are the key aquatic hatches.

PMD spinner action can be good early in the morning in slicks, flats, foam lines, and slow tailouts. Tricos may bring fish up in slower lanes as the morning develops. During brighter conditions, nymphing with small mayfly nymphs, caddis pupa, Perdigons, and Frenchies will usually be more consistent. Evening caddis fishing can still be one of the better dry-fly windows when the sun starts to set and water temperatures are safe.

Missoula will be warm today and Thursday, with highs around 90 and the upper 80s. Cooler weather arrives Friday through Sunday, with highs dropping into the 70s, which should help the Clark Fork and make fish more comfortable through the morning.

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

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