Best Flies for Clark Fork River (Montana)

What's hatching now

Month, insect, size, and pattern from the Clark Fork River hatch chart. October is highlighted when that month exists in the chart. We do not invent a hatch that is not on the chart.

Nymphs

Subsurface patterns matched to this river's chart and catalog. Fish them at the size the chart lists, not the size that looks good in the bin.

• 

  Zebra Midge

  #16

• 

  RS2

  #18

• 

  Beadhead Caddis Pupa

  #12–#18

• No photograph

  Egan's GTi Caddis

  #10–#14

Dries

Dries and terrestrials for the Clark Fork River. If the chart says a size 18 PMD, do not start with a 12.

• No photograph

  BWO Sparkle Dun

  #14

• 

  BWO Parachute

  #16

• 

  Elk Hair Caddis

  #12–#18

• 

  X-Caddis

  #14

• 

  March Brown

  #12

• 

  Stimulator

  #8

• 

  Sparkle Dun

  #14

• 

  Dave's Hopper

  #6

• 

  Foam Ant

  #14

• 

  Comparadun

  #12

• 

  Goddard Caddis

  #10

• No photograph

  Egan's Corn-Fed Caddis

  #12

• No photograph

  Front End Loader Caddis

  #10

Streamers

Streamers and wets for stained water, banks, and low light. This is not a claim that streamers are "on" today.

• 

  March Brown Wet

  #12

Setup

4X and 5X cover most nymphing. 4X on dries until the fish get picky, then 5X. A 3.0–3.8mm tungsten on the point and a lighter dropper is a default until you see the water. Tight-line the near bank and the heads of pockets. Use an indicator only when you need to search water you cannot euro.

FAQ

What flies work on the Clark Fork River?

Start with Zebra Midge and RS2, then match size to the hatch chart for the month you are standing in. The Clark Fork River does not need a 40-pattern box. It needs the right size on the insect that is actually in the drift.

When is the best time to fly fish the Clark Fork River?

The editorial window we list is June, July, August, September, October. That is a planning month range, not a guarantee. Shoulder months can fish well if flows and water temperature cooperate.

Do I need a guide on the Clark Fork River?

Montana has walk-up wade water and, on some sections, float water. A guide is worth it for a first float or a technical tailwater. A hatch chart and a gauge are enough for a first wade if you already nymph. We list local guides and shops on this page when we have them.

Where can I see live flow for the Clark Fork River?

Open the Clark Fork River river page for the USGS gauge, access notes, and the same hatch chart this fly list is built from. We do not publish other people's spots or fish counts.

Is this a report of what's working now on the Clark Fork River?

No. Executive Angler does not publish other anglers' catches, GPS, or a crowdsourced hot fly. This page is hatch-chart patterns plus catalog flies. Presence on the river page is gauge and weather only.

Related