The Clark Fork River is under Hoot Owl restrictions from its headwaters (Warm Springs Creek and Silver bow Creek) to the confluence of the Flathead River. Fishing is prohibited from 2:00 PM to 12:00 AM in this section. It’s important to check daily regulations as conditions change with rising temperatures.

With the crazy water temps and increased river traffic this year we really recommend going after some warm water species like pike and smallmouth. The conditions have been pretty rough above Milltown State Park, water levels are low and warm, with heavy moss. Dry flies are recommended to avoid frequent cleaning of hooks due to moss accumulation. The most productive fishing spots are observed below Kona Bridge, where fish have more room to inhabit.

For these areas, the preferred method is using a single or double dry fly setup. Start with a size 12 chubby in colors like tan, purple, gold, or yellow, followed by patterns such as film critic, purple haze, x caddis, or little yellow sally.

Nymph fishing has been yielding fish but we don’t recommended due to warmer water temperatures, which can stress the fish after being caught. Instead, try a shallow dropper (1-2 ft) under a chubby for better results. Effective nymph patterns include jig PT’s, brown quill perdigons, frenchies, yellow spots, and duracells.

For any questions or further advice, feel free to visit our shop!