The Clark Fork runs right through the middle of Missoula. Most people drive over it a dozen times without thinking much about what’s underneath the surface. That’s a mistake. The Clark Fork holds a lot of fish, fishes well through most of the year, and has sections that can genuinely surprise you.
It’s a big river. Wide, slower moving through town, and deeper than it looks in the lower stretches. Fishing it well requires a boat and a guide who knows where to look.
What You’ll Catch
The Clark Fork holds brown trout, rainbow trout, cutthroat, cut-bow hybrids, bull trout, brook trout, mountain whitefish, northern pike, and smallmouth bass in certain sections. The lower river runs big water and produces bigger fish. If you’re after trout in the 18 to 20 inch range, the Clark Fork gives you a legitimate shot.
Hatches and Best Times to Fish
Spring on the Clark Fork starts with Western March Browns and Skwala stoneflies. The March Brown hatch brings steady risers and is a reliable early season dry fly opportunity when other rivers around Missoula are still cold.
Summer brings Salmonflies and Golden Stones to the lower river. One of the lesser-known hatches on the Clark Fork is the nocturnal stonefly, which starts in late July and runs through August, producing some of the best surface fishing of the season for guides willing to be on the water at first light. Size 6 and 8 dry flies at dawn on the lower Clark Fork is a Missoula fly fishing experience that most people never know about.
Fall is prime time on the Clark Fork. Blue Winged Olives and Mahoganies in September and October can produce pods of 40 to 50 fish rising together in the same flat. If you’ve never seen that, it’s hard to describe. It’s the kind of fishing that reminds you why you started in the first place.
Streamer fishing is at its best in spring and fall, when the bigger fish are most willing to chase down a large pattern.
What to Expect on a Float
The lower Clark Fork from the Rock Creek confluence down into the canyon is big, steep-sided water with fast current that’s deceptively strong. This section is primarily a boat fishery. Dry fly fishing is the real draw here, and the streamer fishing along the canyon walls is worth making a full day of.
The Clark Fork is fishable nearly year-round and holds up well during the summer when other rivers get low and warm. It’s one of the most consistent options for guided fly fishing near Missoula across all seasons.
