Clark Fork River Fishing Report, May 16, 2026
Runoff is in full swing across western Montana, with a cold, wet weekend pushing flows higher and snow showers in the forecast through Sunday before things dry out and warm into the 60s by midweek. Reminder: tributaries open today, 5/16. The Bitterroot is currently the most fishable of the four — better edge structure and side channels — but it is still big, off-color, and demands disciplined water selection.
At-a-glance: High and off-color · 51°F mid-day · ~7,490 CFS above Missoula / ~16,000 CFS below · Grizzly Hackle: 1/5 · Best window: 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Conditions
The lower Clark Fork below town is at serious volume (~16,000 CFS, still muddy). Upper river above Rock Creek confluence has fine clarity but is loaded with weeds, detritus, and green goop on the river bed — fishable, just messy. Blackfoot River Outfitters calls clarity "fishable but not optimal," with conditions best above the Blackfoot confluence and improving as flows drop over the weekend.
Best Techniques
- Dry fly fishing is day-to-day — general attractors like Carlson's Purple Haze or caddis are the best bet on softer water in the evening or under cloud cover.
- Dry-dropper is the go-to rig: Chubby or Water Walker up top, TJ, Prince, or Jig PT underneath.
- Nymph deep in soft edge water; streamers tight to banks and current breaks.
Hatches & Fly Recommendations
The Fly Box
Nymphs: Pat's RLs, DBL Bead Stones, Front St. Stones, Zirdles, Blow Torches, Duracells, Prince Nymphs, Pheasant Tails, Frenchies, dark perdigons, San Juan Worms (red and pink), Wire Worms, Squirms
Dries: Purple Haze, BWO Comparadun, Last Chance Cripple, Parachute Adams, X-Caddis, Corn-Fed Caddis, Hi-Vis Micro Chubby, Stranahan's Brindle Chute, Elk Hair Caddis, Plan B — Black/Purple
Streamers: Dungeons (black/purple/olive), Gongas, Woolly Buggers, Sparkle Minnows, Masked Avengers, Mini Dungeons, Goldies, Butchers, Foxy Cleopatras, Kreelex Minnows
Outlook
Wet and cool weekend in Missoula with highs dropping from near 60 into the mid-40s through Sunday, then clearing Monday with steady warming back into the low-to-mid 60s for the rest of the week. Clarity should continue to improve as flows drop. Salmonflies are around the corner.
