Montana Fishing Reports ยท Western Region
Through Missoula, the Clark Fork runs right through town past parks and trails, with rainbows, browns and cutthroat and great fall fishing.
Looking for the latest Clark Fork River Missoula river report? This page is updated by the AvidMax fly shop team with live flows, current conditions, hatches and the flies working now on the Clark Fork River โ Missoula.
Current flows
Wind forecast
Clark Fork River Missoula fishing report
Updated November 7, 2026.
The gauge above Missoula reads around 1,600 cfs, clear and cold.
BWOs on cloudy afternoons. Nymph the riffles and soft seams with a Pat's Rubber Legs and a small BWO nymph, and strip streamers on dark days.
Load your fly box
Before you head to Missoula, bring: Pat', s Rubber Legs #8-10, JuJu Baetis #18-20, Zebra Midge #18-20, Parachute Adams #16-20, Woolly Bugger #6-8, RS2 Emerger #18-22, Pheasant Tail Nymph #16-20, Black Beauty #20-24, Egg #14-16, Squirmy Wormie #12-14.
Flies working right now
The flies above that we have in stock right now.
Clark Fork River Missoula details
| Access | City parks and fishing access sites through Missoula, plus sites upstream toward Turah. |
|---|---|
| Elevation | About 3,200 ft |
| Nearest town | Missoula, Montana |
| Best season | Year-round |
| Fish | Rainbow, brown and cutthroat trout |
| Regulations | Montana's stream regulations vary by district and river. Check Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks regulations for the current rules. A Montana fishing license is required for anglers 12 and older. |
| Leaders and tippet | 9 ft leaders, 4X to 5X tippet |
| Camping | Camping near Missoula |
| Kids | Yes. Easy access from parks and trails. |
| Good to know | Busy in summer with tubers. |
Fishing by season
Winter
Midges on mild days.
Spring
Skwala stoneflies and BWOs.
Summer
Caddis, PMDs and hoppers.
Fall
BWOs and October caddis.
How to get there
Take I-90 to Missoula. Access points are along the river through town.