Conditions At-a-glance
bad
Our Report

BRO’s Tips of the Week:
The Clark Fork is still in full runoff. Creeks and tributaries open this Saturday, and along with tailwaters and lakes, smaller water will be your best option for the near future.
7 Day Outlook:
The next couple of days look beautiful around the Missoula area – high 80s and mid-70s next week. Expect the river to stay big.
Our Recommendations for the Best Techniques and Patterns:
If you can find accessible, slow water, fishing larger, dark nymphs together with weight can find a fish or two. Think big Rubber Legs, the TJ Hooker, Double Bead Stones, and a San Juan as more worms wash into the river, but again, it’s better to head elsewhere.
If you throw streamers, olive and black patterns, Mini Dungeons, Baby Gongas, or Sparkle Minnows might get a chase tight to the bank.
See our staff pick fly selection here!
Goings on at World Headquarters in Missoula:
The Online Store is updated daily! Check it out!
Call or email 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.
USGS Water Charts
Conditions
The Clark Fork jumped in flow this week and is running off-color.
The Hatch
March Browns, BWOs.
Fly Patterns
DRIES - March Browns #12-14, BWOs #18
NYMPHS - TJ Hooker, Girdle Bug, Rubber Legs, San Juan #08-#12. Perdigon, Spanish Bullet, Frenchie, Brillon’s Mean Machine, Duracell, Prince Nymph, Jig PT #14-18, Zebra Midge #18-20.
STREAMERS - Double Gonga #08, Zonkers #06 & #08 in Natural, Olive, or Yellow. Lil Kims. Buggers #06-12, Dungeon in Brown, Olive, and White.
Specifics
Water Flow
14,500cfs (above average for this time of year)
Visibility
8"
Water temperature at mid-day
48 degrees
Water Condition
The river is high and muddy.
Best time of day to fish
Late morning through evening.
Best stretch
The whole river is starting to open up. Floating is easiest through town and below Missoula.
Best access point
Multiple access points all along the river.
Fish species
Rainbows, westslope cutthroats, cut-bows, browns, pike and whitefish.
Fishing season
Fishing season is open year round.
Nearest airport
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 top bug and 4x for second or 4x to 5x for smaller rigs
Best fly fishing rod
9ft 5 or 6 weights for nymphing and dries - 7wt for streamers
Best floating fly line
WF 5wt or 6wt
Best sinking fly line
3ips