Clark Fork River Fishing Report, June 11, 2026
At a glance: High, upper river cleared nicely, lower still big and off color | Water temp 51-56°F | ~7,370 CFS above Missoula, ~13,900 CFS below | Grizzly Hackle: 1/5 | Missoulian Angler: 2/5 | Best window: 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Two different stories, but the freshest read is the most positive. Kingfisher (June 10) says the Clark is fishing incredibly well right now, with good flows and workable clarity, while Grizzly Hackle (June 4) still rates it the toughest river in the area, high with marginal clarity below town. The upper Clark Fork has cleared up nicely and is the better bet; through Missoula and downstream it remains a big-water, float-oriented program and the last river in the region to clean up after runoff. Either way, focus entirely on soft water: eddies, inside seams, walking-speed current, backwaters, and side channels. Fish do not need to be far from the bank.
Best techniques
- Go big or go home with nymph rigs: massive stonefly patterns (Pat's RLs, TJ Hooker, Double Bead Stone, Front St. Stone), bright red or pink San Juan Worms, heavy Zirdle Bugs, Wire Worms, and Squirms, trailed by a Blow Torch, Duracell, Prince Nymph, Pheasant Tail, or Frenchie.
- Swing or strip large streamers on fast-sinking tips; make sure the fly gets down into the fishy zone. Grizzly Hackle favorites on the upper river: Mini Dungeons, Goldies, Butchers, and Foxy Cleopatras in yellow, black, and white. Also producing: Sparkle Minnow, Sculpzilla, Kreelex, Peanut Envy, Thin Mint, Woolly Bugger, Barely Legal, and Double Gonga.
- Dry-dropper where the edges are calm: Chubby (including the Hi-Vis Micro Chubby) or Water Walker over a nymph. Dries for risers: Purple Haze, Parachute Adams, Corn Fed Caddis, Elk Hair Caddis, X-Caddis, plus Blackfoot River Outfitters' featured Stranahan's Brindle Chute and Plan B (Black/Purple).
Hatches
Salmonflies and Golden Stones are in the mix, Yellow Sallies and PMDs are showing in town, and Green Drakes and caddis (evenings) are building.
The Fly Box
Nymphs: TJ Hooker, Double Bead Stone, San Juan, Zirdle, Wire Worms, Blow Torch, Duracell, Prince Nymph, Pheasant Tail, Frenchie
Dries: Chubby, Water Walker, Purple Haze, Parachute Adams, Corn Fed Caddis, Elk Hair Caddis, X-Caddis, Brindle Chute, Plan B
Streamers: Mini Dungeons, Foxy Cleopatras, Sparkle Minnow, Sculpzilla, Kreelex, Peanut Envy, Thin Mint, Woolly Bugger, Barely Legal, Double Gonga
Outlook. Improving fast. Grizzly Hackle says great fishing on the CF is right around the corner, Missoulian Angler expects the river fishable within a week or two with good dry fly fishing late next week, and Kingfisher thinks it has already arrived. June should be good.
Sources and Thanks
This report is synthesized from the latest published river reports of the fly shops below. They do the on-the-water work; go see them for flies and current intel.
- Kingfisher Fly Shop (June 10)
- Lightweight Fly Shop (week of June 7-13)
- Blackfoot River Outfitters (June 5)
- Grizzly Hackle (June 4)
- The Missoulian Angler (June 3)
Conditions change fast during runoff. Always check flows and confirm with a shop before you go.
