Conditions At-a-glance

Our Report

Tip of the Week:

When river flows rise, fish often move out of their usual lies and into softer, slower-moving water where they can conserve energy. In these conditions, especially when visibility is low, you'll need to present your fly right in front of them to get an eat. Focus your efforts on prime holding water and make multiple clean, drag-free drifts to maximize your chances.

*See our 7 Day Outlook for updates on blockages jamming up the Clark Fork.

7 Day Outlook:

The Clark Fork River is running high and off-color due to continued spring runoff, making fishing more difficult in many sections. Cooler, unsettled weather with highs in the 50s and 60s and periodic showers may slow snowmelt slightly, but flows are still expected to remain elevated. Fish are likely to be pushed to the edges so focus on softer water near the banks, seams, and eddies. Nymphing with stonefly patterns and worms is a solid choice in these conditions, while streamers fished low and slow can also move fish in murky water. The upper Clark Fork and sheltered backwaters may offer slightly better visibility and more fishable water. Wading should be approached with caution, and checking flows before heading out is highly recommended.

*Known Clark Fork Hazards:

Beavertail-Clinton: 2 logs down in the left channel just above Clinton.  You can sneak through now, but it is tight.

Clinton-Turah: A few VERY sketchy spots through this section.  Do not attempt unless you are very experienced.

Best Techniques:

Time to bobber up again.  With high dirty water double your chances of finding fish with a double nymph rig.  Go BIG on your flies until clarity is greater than 2 feet of visibility.  As clarity improves we may have the opportunity for good dry fly fishing on Caddis and Drakes.  If you’re fishing a dry dropper try running a foam salmonfly pattern.  1) the fish might see the dry and move for a big meal, and 2) it’ll hold up a big dropper.  This is 6wt season!

Steamers: Sculpzilla, Articulated Sparkle Yummy, Sparkle Minnow, Kreelex, Gongas, Dungeons and Envys.

Nymphs: Worms, Trina’s Squirm, Hot Bead Stone, TJ Hooker, Girdle Bugs, Jig Caddis Pupa, Duracell, Blowtorch, Jig Mini Bugger

Dries: 

BWO: On Point, Purple Haze, Hi-Vis BWO, BWO Cripple, Dime Piece Spinner #18-20

March Brown: Brindlechute, Parachute PT, March Brown Cripple #12-14

Grey Drake: Film Critic, Flash Cripple, Carnage Drake #12

Caddis: Elk Hair Caddis, Corn Fed Caddis, Hi-Vis CDC Caddis #12-14

*Traveling or in a hurry?  Let our knowledgeable staff pick a fly selection for you!

*The Online Store is updated daily!  Check it out!

*Call us for up to the minute updates at 406.542.7411 or if you are in the area stop in for all your Orvis gear and the right bugs.

Local Forecast

Deer Lodge, MT, USA

The Hatch

BWOs, March Browns, Grey Drakes and Mothers Day Caddis.

USGS Water Charts

Specifics

Visibility

Low.

Water temperature at mid-day

50F

Water Condition

On the rise with low visibility.

Best time of day to fish

Mid-day to evening

Best stretch

The whole river is in play. Be wary of hazards on the upper river.

Best access point

Multiple access points all along the river.

Fish Species

Rainbows, westslope cutthroats, cutbows, browns, northern pike, pike minnows, suckers and whitefish.

Fishing Season

Fishing season is open year round.

Nearest airport

MSO (Missoula International Airport)

Recommended fly fishing leader

From a boat - 7.5' 3x-4x. Wading step it up to 9'

Recommended fly fishing tippet

3X, 4X and 5X will cover 90% of our fishing applications. 1-2X is great for punching out large, wind resistant dries in high dirty water. Don't drop lower than 10lb for streamers (we recommend a 4-5' 10lb tapered leader with a sink tip fly line). Leave the 6X at home.

Best fly fishing rod

The 9' 5WT is our do it all rod. Fast action rods will be best for most of our fishing; foam dries, dry-dropper fishing and nymphing. A fast action 6WT will be useful for large foam dries, small streamers, heavy nymph rigs and punching bugs through the afternoon wind. Bring a 7WT if you plan to fish large articulated streamers.

Best floating fly line

Scientific Anglers MPX or Rio Grand

Best sinking fly line

Scientific Anglers Trout Express or Rio Predator F/I/S3

About This Water

Having the Clark Fork in your back yard is like getting a two for one deal at your favorite brewery – every day!  The Clark above Missoula slides under deep cut banks and around beaver cut logs harboring long jawed browns and streamer chasing cutbows.  After meeting up with Rock Creek, the Blackfoot and the Bitterroot, the Clark Fork’s complexion radically changes to a wide sweeping river with big, hard-fighting rainbows and even bigger Montana big sky vistas.  The Clark Fork is like two completely different rivers only minutes from Missoula.  Come fish them both with us this year.