Clark Fork River Fishing Report
Our Clark Fork River fishing report comes to you straight from our boats on the river. We are on the Clark Fork River fly fishing daily during the season and know what’s happening. For the most successful tips, techniques, and fly selections, check back often for our up-to-date Clark Fork River fishing report.
QUALITY RATING
Full details below
October 3, 2026
CURRENT REPORT
Fall on the Clark Fork is special! Tricos rocking and rolling between 8am and noon most days still. Still fishing lots of terrestrial patterns on the CF. Lots of BWOs and psuedo mayflies, with a few mahoganies in the mix.
Dry fly fishing has been productive with little mayflies. Trico and BWO hatches have brought a lot of nice trout to the surface. But this is tricky fishing. Long leaders, light tippet and drag-free drifts are required to fool these fish. Our favorite patterns for this kind of fishing include GT Adults, Twiggies, Trico Spinners, LC Cripples and Flash Cripples. Have some Purple Hazes, Adams and Brindlechutes in different sizes handy in sizes #16-20.
Cooler nighttime temps have delayed the trico action to about midday. Fish are still looking for the hopper in spots in the afternoon. Most anglers fishing with dry-dropper rigs on the Clark Fork. Chubby Chernobyls, Water Walkesr, Sweetgrass Hoppers, Henneberrys and Juicy Hoppers are our go-to's. Think sizes #08-12. Tan and yellow are the standbys. They'll be looking for the hopper as long as this nice weather persists.
Subsurface, first focus on stonefly nymphs like Pat's RLs, Explosion Stones, Twenty Inchers, TJ Hookers and Zirdles first thing. Blowtorches, Shuck Its, Frenchies, Jig PTs and Prince nymphs all producing, too, especially as the day goes on. Start your dropper deep in the 3-5' range and adjust as the bugs start to move around. Focus on the eddies, riffles and buckets to find fish keyed in on nymphs.
Great streamer fishing on the CF right now. Last week's conditions were great for the streamer buffs. Lots of actions on yellow, olive and white streamers. Flashy streamers fished deep have proved productive. We like the Sir-Sticks-A-Lots, Mason's Juniors, Sparkle Minnows and Kreelex Minnows.
Looking Forward
This week will be sunny. That will make the dry fly fishing difficult in spots. Not impossible, but tricky. Make your first cast your best cast!
FEATURED FLIES
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Clark Fork RIVER Flows & Conditions
Know before you go! Understand current Blackfoot River flows and conditions before hitting the water.
Clark Fork River Flows @ Gold Creek, MT
Clark Fork River Flows @ Drummond, MT
Clark Fork River Flows @ Above Missoula, MT
Clark Fork River Flows @ BELOW Missoula, MT
Clark Fork River Flows @ Superior, MT
Clark Fork River Flows @ Plains, MT
Clark Fork Valley WEATHER
See the Clark Fork River fishing reports weather forecast for the next 7-days. For more information on the forecast or detailed weather data, please visit NOAA Weather Data - Missoula, Montana.
