Today
69°F
Mostly Cloudy
NNW 3 mph · 0% precip
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Today’s verdict
Current River Conditions
As of (12 days ago)
This intel is a couple of weeks old — conditions may have shifted.
As of ~2 weeks ago, the river was fishing well.
The Clark Fork is fishing well right now — flows are at historically normal levels throughout the river, water is clear, and there are no temperature restrictions in place. The river has been producing from Deer Lodge all the way down to St. Regis, giving anglers plenty of options whether they're wading or floating. Cooler temperatures moving in are only expected to improve things further.
Tricos are the headline hatch right now, going strong from mid-morning until around noon most days and drawing pods of rising fish. Terrestrials — hoppers, ants, and beetles — are producing river-wide, especially along shaded and grassy banks in the early morning before the sun hits the water. Caddis and PMDs are still in the mix, and cloudy days have been triggering blue-winged olive activity as well.
1,450 CFS is right around its typical level for September — this stretch typically runs 1,020–1,670 CFS.
Wading tends to be more manageable at typical flows, but beds shift and cold water saps strength fast — read the water, stay within your limits, and check conditions on-site. You remain responsible for your own safety.
At 53°F, the water is in the prime range for trout — cold enough to fish and to handle fish safely.
Weather
55°FClear
Wind NNW 6 mph
Sunrise 7:13 AM · Sunset 7:47 PM
Observed (1 hour ago)
NWS / weather.gov · fetched 13:00
Today
69°F
Mostly Cloudy
NNW 3 mph · 0% precip
Tonight
42°F
Mostly Cloudy
SSW 3 mph · 4% precip
Tomorrow
75°F
Patchy Fog then Sunny
ESE 3 mph · 2% precip
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Size #18-22
Size #18-22
Size #18-22
Conditions are estimates from USGS data. Always assess on-site conditions and use your own judgment.
The gauge above Missoula sits on the lower Clark Fork — the big western-Montana freestone river anglers fish out of Missoula. It carries both flow and water temperature, so the conditions here reflect the water you'll actually fish.
Location
© OpenStreetMap contributors · © Geoapify
Helpful Links
Montana fishing resources
Other Montana rivers with live conditions
Montana’s largest river, changing from an upper freestone near Missoula to broad lower reaches and reservoirs. Target species include Rainbow, brown and cutthroat trout, plus whitefish. Roadside and public access is scattered; boats are most efficient on broad sections. Productive timing is Spring before runoff and July through fall. Major hatches and foods include Skwalas, caddis, PMDs, golden stones, hoppers, tricos and olives. Common approaches are Dry-dropper fishing, nymphing and streamers; technical dry-fly fishing on lower flats. Regulations, access rules and water conditions vary by reach, so anglers should review current agency information and the linked local reports before fishing.
Hatches
Tactics
1,450 CFSFlow
53°F−2°Water temp
69° / 42°Weather