Clark Fork River Fishing Report, August 4, 2026

2026-08-04 (August 4, 2026)

Regional summary

August has settled over the four rivers with the particular hush of low water. Gauges are down across the board, hoot owl restrictions (no fishing from 2:00 p.m. to midnight) now cover every named stretch from the Blackfoot to Upper Rock Creek, and fish are holding wherever they can find oxygen. The pattern repeats on all four rivers this week: fish early, carry a thermometer, and treat the 6:00 to 10:00 a.m. window (the read from Lightweight Fly Shop in Stevensville) as the day's real opportunity.

At a glance: Above Missoula roughly 1,560-1,750 cfs | below Missoula near 2,170 cfs | 70°F at midday | dropping and clear | Grizzly Hackle rating: 3/5 | Best window (Lightweight Fly Shop): 6:00-10:00 a.m. | Hoot owl river-wide, Warm Springs to the Flathead confluence | Fish Creek, Rattlesnake Creek, and St. Regis mouths closed within 100 yards

Float hazard: new trees are down between Turah and Sha-Ron. (about half a mile above the Blackfoot confluence) and between Clinton and Turah. Call Blackfoot River Outfitters at 406-542-7411 for exact locations before floating that water.

The Clark Fork is carrying real water for early August. Above Missoula the gauge reads in the 1,500s to high 1,700s (Kingfisher's most recently confirmed reading was 1,750 cfs on July 28), and the stretch below town runs closer to 2,170 cfs. Blackfoot River Outfitters puts the midday temperature at 70 degrees, dropping and clear. Hoot owl restrictions now cover the river from its origin at the Silver Bow and Warm Springs confluence down to the Flathead, and fishing is closed within 100 yards of the Fish Creek, Rattlesnake Creek, and St. Regis River mouths. Through and below town the fishing has held up better than the upper river, which is starting to run low and weedy. Expect company there too: tubers and recreational floaters crowd the in town water as the heat builds.

Best techniques

• Most anglers are running a stonefly or hopper on top (Chubby Chernobyl, Water Walker, Sweetgrass Hopper) with a Frenchie, Duracell, or Perdigon three to four feet below, starting deep and shortening the dropper as the day warms
• Morning risers respond to a single Ant or small Beetle
• The streamer game, often an afterthought this time of year, has been quietly good on Kreelex, Lil' Kim, and Sparkle Minnow patterns

Hatches

PMD spinners and Tricos hold the morning slicks, caddis still fish well right at dark, and the picky risers respond best to small offerings in the 16 to 20 range.

The Fly Box

Nymphs: Frenchie, Perdigon, Prince Nymph, Blowtorch, 20-Incher, Hare's Ear Nymph

Emergers: Flash Cripple

Dries: Chubby Chernobyl, Water Walker, Sweetgrass Hopper, Purple Haze, On Point Para Wulff

Streamers: Kreelex, Lil' Kim, Sparkle Minnow, Rusty Trombone, Yellow Yummy

Outlook. Early starts should keep paying off through the week. The Missoulian Angler crew has been tracking this exact PMD to terrestrial handoff and is worth a stop for the current fly of choice before you launch.

Sources and Thanks

Shop	Report date	Coverage
Blackfoot River Outfitters	July 31, 2026	All four rivers
Kingfisher Fly Shop	August 3, 2026	All four rivers
Grizzly Hackle	July 29, 2026	All four rivers
The Missoulian Angler	July 16, 2026	All four rivers, background
Lightweight Fly Shop	August 2, 2026	All four rivers