Clark Fork River
Best Fishing: April - October
The Clark Fork is simply the most underrated trout river in the western United States, or maybe even the country. It’s two different rivers: the upper river east of Missoula and the lower river west of Missoula. The upper river is similar to the Bitterroot, where logjams, cutbanks, and grass edges create great trout habitat and fantastic fly fishing water. Browns, Rainbows and Cutthroats lurk in this habitat and rise to the well presented fly. The lower river is one of our absolute favorites anywhere in Montana. This is a big river. It’s the sum of most of the drainages in western Montana, so it is mostly comprised of wide open runs, banks, riffles and seams. Big, hard-fighting rainbows and cuttbows that average 15-19” with fish over 20” being seen regularly populate the lower river, and during the various stonefly and mayfly hatches, this can truly be insanely good fishing. The lower Clark fork is probably the most condition-specific river in western Montana, so your Montana fly fishing guide knowing the hatches, water conditions and weather for success here is vital.
