Clark Fork River Fishing Report: June 5, 2026

Overview: Last week's rain-on-heat event blew out every river in the Missoula area; all four are now dropping and trending the right way. Rock Creek is the clear play (Grizzly Hackle has it at a 5/5 with the salmonfly hatch in full swing), the Bitterroot has the best clarity of the big rivers, the Blackfoot is waiting on its salmonflies, and the Clark Fork is, as usual, the last to clear. Best window: 10:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. (Lightweight, 5/31). Weather: sunny and warm today, rain moving in Sunday (NWS, 6/5).

At a glance: High with poor clarity, ~9,100 CFS above Missoula / ~19,900 below, dropping · 50–58°F · Grizzly Hackle: 1/5 · MAngler: 2/5 · Best window: 10:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

The Clark Fork is the last river in the area to clean up post-runoff, and it shows: high water and less-than-ideal clarity through Missoula and downstream. Two stories here: the upper river is clearing faster and is slightly more favorable, while the lower river is a serious-volume float scenario that will take a while to become fishable. Kingfisher is optimistic ("the Clark usually clears out quick, this weekend should be firing"), while Missoulian Angler expects fishable conditions within a week or two. Yellow Sallies and PMDs are already showing in town, and salmonflies were out before the cooldown.

Best techniques:

• Nymphing, big or go home. Large stonefly nymphs: Pat's RLs, DBL Bead Stones, Front St. Stones, and Zirdles. Worms everywhere: San Juan Worms in red or pink, Wire Worms, and Squirms. On the upper river add Blow Torches, Duracells, Prince Nymphs, Pheasant Tails, and perdigon-style nymphs.
• Streamers, getting down quick: Sparkle Minnows, Sculpzillas, Mini Dungeons, Kreelex Minnows, and Buggers. Grizzly Hackle's upper-river favorites in yellow, black, and white: Mini Dungeons, Goldies, Butchers, and Foxy Cleopatras.
• Dry-dropper is becoming an option as the river drops: a Chubby Chernobyl (or Hi-Vis Micro Chubby), Water Walker, Plan B (Black/Purple), Purple Haze, Parachute Adams, Elk Hair Caddis, X-Caddis, or Stranahan's Brindle Chute over a nymph in protected edges, slow foam lines, and side channels.

Hatches: Caddis here and there, Yellow Sallies and PMDs starting, salmonflies expected to resume hatching this week, golden stones kicking around, green drakes later in the month.

Outlook: Great fishing is right around the corner; the river just needs to finish clearing. Expect good June fishing as flows settle, with the best dry fly action toward the end of next week, weather depending.