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

The Clark Fork above Missoula is around 1,460 cfs, down from the last report’s 1,511 to 1,525 cfs range. The river is still in a solid early-fall flow range, but it is clearing and settling as the September rain bump fades. That means fish should be comfortable in riffles, foam lines, current tongues, soft banks, and side-channel seams, but they may be selective in slow, flat water.

This is a good time to slow down and watch the river before casting. Look for trout on riffle edges, inside bends, tailouts, foam lines, deeper green lanes, current tongues, and soft buckets. If fish are rising, match the lane and pace of the rise rather than blind casting. If nothing is showing, nymphing a small mayfly, caddis pupa, or jig pattern under a terrestrial or October Caddis-style dry should be more consistent.

The cooler weather over the weekend should help the Clark Fork fish more like fall. Cold mornings may delay surface activity, but once the water warms a bit, the bite can improve. Cloud cover or light showers should make BWOs and streamers more important.

The hatch mix is shifting quickly. There is still a good chance to find fish on terrestrials, especially hoppers, ants, and beetles along grassy banks, islands, and soft edges. BWOs are the next major hatch to watch during cloudy or damp windows. Anglers are already seeing October Caddis, and Mahogany Duns and Hecubas should become increasingly important as September gives way to October. Bigger fall dries can be especially useful in choppy runs and two-foot riffles.

Streamer fishing deserves a serious look now. Cooler water and fall conditions can make trout more willing to chase, especially under clouds or wind. 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