Clark Fork RIVER FLY FISHING — Angler's Guide

The Clark Fork River begins at the confluence of Warm Springs Creek and Silverbow Creek near Anaconda. Here, the Clark Fork is nothing more than an unassuming irrigation ditch. It grows in volume through the small towns of Deer Lodge and Drummond, before entering Bearmouth Canyon, where it begins to grow in size. This stretch is known to turn heads along I-90, but unfortunately boasts some of the lowest fish counts in the state. This, coupled with irrigation demands in the summer and water quality issues, leaves variable water and fishing conditions on this stretch. Still, some great fish can be found when conditions permit. Rainbows and cutthroat inhabit this stretch, yet anglers will catch predominantly brown trout in this stretch.

Downstream of Beavertail State Park, Rock Creek’s convergence with the Clark Fork significantly increases the productivity of the otherwise inconsistent upper river. Although wading is difficult here due to flow and volume, float anglers know that this section of the Clark Fork can boast great fishing. This swift section of the Clark Fork is known to braid out and create tantalizing structure where big rainbows and browns lurk. Streamer, dry fly and nymph fishing all excel here. Anglers floating from the Turah FAS will notice the confluence with the mighty Blackfoot River near Milltown– once again, changing the characteristics and volume of the Clark Fork River.

Affectionately known as the “Town Stretch,” this section of the Clark Fork is held close to the hearts of all Missoulians! It’s often the backdrop of many Missoula’s classic events, including concerts, farmers markets and community gatherings. Needless to say, Missoula is extremely proud of this river! Unknown by many, however, is the caliber of fishing found in the “Town Stretch.” Great dry-dry dropper, streamer and nymph fishing can be had in Missoula. Whether you’re wading or floating, don’t overlook the productive water found in Missoula.

The Bitterroot River dumps into the Clark Fork at Kelly Island on the west side of Missoula. The result is a large, public area with many braided channels to explore. From there, the Clark Fork becomes wide and slow, with large runs and flats that create excellent dry fly water. Although not conducive to wade anglers, these wide flats are loved by many recreationists for the easy float, and by anglers for the excellent and accessible float fishing. We often refer new or learning oarsmen to this stretch of river because it is generally flat and wide open. For anglers looking to cast to big trout eating mayflies, keep this stretch in mind. Popular among many local anglers, some of our best dry fly fishing of the year is found here. All species are found in this stretch, yet the “Lower” is known mostly for its larger than average rainbows that fight disproportionately harder than other fish in our area! Additionally, anglers will encounter browns, cutthroat, whitefish and northern pike.

The Alberton Gorge is known by many as a whitewater enthusiast’s paradise, with numerous rapids of various levels in a picturesque part of the Clark Fork. The fishing, on the other hand, is not as well known. For many, the structure created by the intense rapids is too good to pass up. Fishing with big dry flies, nymphs or streamers in this fast water can be very productive, with many small tributaries also dumping into the river. While not extremely technical, those looking to float the Alberton Gorge should be on the lookout for strong hydraulics and large waves. The difficulty of these rapids fluctuates with river flows.

The great fishing found on the lower Clark Fork continues downstream of the Alberton Gorge. Popular boat launches like Forest Grove and Dry Creek are frequented by anglers looking to have productive floats on big water. The Clark Fork begins to slow down and widen against this point. It continues as such, with deep pools and long sprawling dry fly flats, until Cascade Rapid. Beginners should take note of this point.

The Flathead River dumps into the Clark Fork near the small town of Paradise, creating the largest river by volume in the state. While the trout fishing can be good here, it’s not as good as the stretches further upstream. More pike and smallmouth bass begin to inhabit the Clark Fork in this stretch. Fly fishing for both species can be a thrill using large streamers and topwater flies from the boat.

The Clark Fork can boast amazing spring fishing prior to runoff. In March and April we see great hatches of skwalas, BWOs, march browns and grey drakes. April is a great time of year to target rising trout with stonefly and mayfly patterns. It is also a great time of year to target pike.

• MARCH: There will be some midge fishing early in March, but the Clark Fork really starts to fish well late in the month and into April.
• APRIL: Skwalas will motivate the opportunistic feeders, and Drakes and Blue-wings will have the pods of trout looking up especially on overcast days. Late April into May is when this river really shines.
• MAY: These hatches aren’t fishable every year, but when conditions allow for it this is some of the most incredible dry fly fishing you will ever see. Hordes of flying Skwalas akin to a Salmonfly hatch descend on the lower river and you can see fish busting dries from hundreds of yards away. Mother’s Day caddis will come off in great numbers on both the lower and upper river, and fish will key on these hatches especially toward the evening.

The Clark Fork is typically the last river to clear up following spring runoff, as it’s the river near Missoula that all streams end up in. When it does, however, great summer stonefly hatches, PMDs, and green drakes blanket the river– and the trout take notice in a big way!

• JUNE: Overall the Clark Fork does not have a great Salmonfly hatch. The two exceptions to this are the upper river from the confluence of Rock Creek to Missoula, and the Alberton Gorge. The Salmonflies on the upper Clark are always the first to hatch and provide a week or two of exciting fishing while the other rivers are still waiting for the big bugs. The Golden stone and Green Drake hatches come off later in the month when water conditions are typically more favorable. June is a real sleeper month for the Clark Fork as most anglers are focused on other area rivers. This provides us with a great opportunity to fish big dries to unpressured trout.
• JULY: The large stones and drakes will continue to bring fish up early in the month, but as the water drops and clears daily hatches of PMDs and caddis will start to dominate the feeding rhythms. The trout will begin to congregate in the large pods that the lower Clark Fork is famous for with the mayflies as a main course during the day, and caddis on the menu each evening.
• AUGUST: PMDs will continue to trickle off through most of the month, but the prolific morning Trico hatches become the main attraction. These small mayflies have the trout looking up every day of late summer providing opportunities to head hunt and test your skills. The hopper fishing is nothing short of fantastic. The upper river offers plenty of structure to fish big bugs around, and the high grassy banks of the lower river sends countless terrestrials to their demise on long lazy runs. The Hecuba is yet another big meal trout have a hard time passing up. These big Fall Drakes provide some of our best August fishing.

Fall is a great time on the Clark Fork for all fishing tactics. The dry fly fishing heats up again, and the streamer fishing turns on.

• SEPTEMBER: Without question this is THE prime time for the Clark Fork. We continue to prospect with hoppers during non-hatch situations, but every day like clockwork there will be good hatches of Mahoganies and Blue-wings shortly after lunch. Actively feeding pods of 5 to 50 trout are willing to engulf any properly presented fly. From mid-Sept. to mid-Oct. the Clark Fork is arguably one of the best dry fly rivers in the state.
• OCTOBER: Magoganies and Blue-wings will motivate the fish to the surface as well during this last push to feed before winter. Fall is another great time to fish streamers for large, aggressive trout.
• NOVEMBER: While most of the bugs are gone for the season and the weather starts to get cold, the Clark Fork can fish well into November although it's mostly a subsurface approach.

Although an unpredictable time of year everywhere, winter nymph and streamer fishing on the Clark Fork can be the much needed scratch to that fishing itch!

• DECEMBER: If Missoula is experiencing a mild start to winter, December can be decent using nymphing techniques and fishing the slow, deep holes.
• JANUARY: The thick of winter and fishing is spotty at best. If mild weather patterns are in the forecast, you can expect OK fishing with nymphing strategies but dry fly fishing will be unpredictable or non-existent during this month. If the weather is right, streamer fishing can be productive.
• FEBRUARY: Winter is still in full force and temperature can range from mid-40s on a mild day to -20 degrees fahrenheit during a cold front. The river will be cold and the trout will be tanked up in the slow, deep buckets.