WadeNot recommended
This report does not recommend wading on this reach.
All Montana reports
Fly fishing report · West
Lower Clark Fork River
Is Lower Clark Fork River worth the trip today? Check flow, weather, hatches, access, and rules for Montana before you go.
See the flow chart ↓Generated artwork: BlueStreamFly · Regional illustration; not the exact location.
Good day to fish?Latest river check
Poor
Not today. Make another plan.
39
Best option: Bank / edge. Bank and edge fishing is the safer default when water is high, pushy, or not fully verified.
See update time and confidence
Live data checkHighHow much of the live flow, weather, and alert data came back.
Today's callHighA verified hard stop is active, so the avoid-or-wait decision is clearer than the fishing score itself.
Score calculated Aug 22, 2026, 10:51 PM MDTUsually checks again about every 45 minutes
Best access methodBank / edge
These scores compare the risks of wading, bank fishing, and floating.
Bank / edge · Best fit21/100
Bank and edge fishing is the safer default when water is high, pushy, or not fully verified.
Float19/100
A float can fit better than wading only if launches, shuttle, boat skill, wind, and local rules all check out.
Red Flag Warning issued August 22 at 9:08AM MDT until August 23 at 6:00AM MDT by NWS Missoula MT
Your plan
Today's Lower Clark Fork River plan.
The lower Clark Fork changes from river reaches near St. Regis and Superior to dam and reservoir-influenced water farther downstream. This page uses St. Regis as the flow anchor and keeps the planning reach explicit.
- Check first
- Use the St. Regis gauge for the river reach, and do not apply it blindly to reservoir sections.
- Try
- Decide whether you are fishing a river reach or reservoir-influenced water before rigging.
- Leave when
- Skip or pivot when the exact lower reach is unclear, FWP restrictions are active, wind makes the boat plan unsafe, water is too warm for trout handling, or public access and takeout details are not confirmed.
Live river check
What the river is doing
Check the latest flow and weather before you go. A quick change can make the river harder or less safe to fish.
Showing the latest stored river check while current readings load.
- Flow
- 2,510 cfs
- From the latest stored river check. Open the official source for the newest reading.
- Air now
- 69°F
Current NWS forecast period
- Next 24h high
- 82.0°F
NWS air forecast near
- Rain chance
- 8%
For this forecast period
This is an air forecast, not a river-temperature reading. Check the water with a stream thermometer before fishing in hot weather.
Latest stored weather check
Mostly Cloudy
Mostly Cloudy
- Wind
- 1 mph
- Weather checked
Recent flow chart is loading
The latest stored reading is shown above. Check the official source below if you need the newest value now.
More forecast and source details
National Weather Service
Lower Clark Fork near St. Regis
The National Weather Service forecast is temporarily unavailable.
Live data
Where these readings come from
RiverReports gauge: Clark Fork River at St. Regis
How to fish it
How to fish Lower Clark Fork River today.
Fish the lower Clark Fork when flow is stable, visibility is good, and you have a section-by-section access plan. If the river is high, hot, windy, or unclear, choose a colder smaller stream or a smaller reach.
Stable river flow
Fish seams, bars, side channels, and bank structure with nymphs, dries, or streamers.
High water
Avoid heavy wading and focus on protected banks only if safe.
Warm lower water
Check temperature and shift away from trout if handling would be stressful.
Reservoir influence
Treat slower sections as a different fishery with wind, boat, and species changes.
Fishing words used on this page
- U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) gauge
- A USGS gauge is an official river station that measures flow or water height.
- Cubic feet per second (cfs)
- Cubic feet per second, or cfs, shows how much water passes the gauge each second.
- Nymph
- A nymph is a young water insect. Anglers also use the word for a fly that copies it.
- Seam
- A seam is the line where fast and slow water meet.
- Blue-winged olive (BWO)
- Blue-winged olives, or BWOs, are small mayflies that often hatch in cool or cloudy weather.
- Caddis
- Caddis are small water insects. The adults look a little like tiny moths.
- Dry-dropper
- A dry-dropper rig has a floating fly with an underwater fly tied below it.
- Emerger
- An emerger copies an insect as it rises from below the water toward the surface.
- Midge
- Midges are tiny flies and a common trout food, especially in cold water.
- Pale morning dun (PMD)
- Pale morning duns, or PMDs, are light-colored mayflies that often hatch in warmer months.
Why this call
Why this score
Public alertHurts
An active alert is in effect: Red Flag Warning issued August 22 at 9:08AM MDT until August 23 at 6:00AM MDT by NWS Missoula MT. Check public safety sources before going.
Best mode nowHurts
Bank / edge: Bank and edge fishing is the safer default when water is high, pushy, or not fully verified.
FlowHelps
USGS shows 2,510 cfs. The flow has been stable over about 6 hours. USGS marks this reading provisional and may revise it. USGS records for this date (1930-2025, 96 readings) show a typical middle range of 2,060 cfs to 3,430 cfs. Flow is within the typical range for this date, so weather, temperature, and access become the next checks.
SeasonHelps
Summer: Hoppers, ants, and warmwater options matter, with temperature checks.
WeatherHelps
The current NWS air forecast is about 69F, and the next 24-hour high reaches about 82F. Mostly Cloudy.
Trip notes
Trip notes
Check these before you choose a reach.
Use RiverReports and USGS 12354500 at St. Regis for the river reach, and avoid applying that gauge blindly to reservoir-influenced water farther downstream. Stable visibility is the best trout window. Warm or slow lower water can shift the target to warmwater species.
Skip or pivot when the exact lower reach is unclear, FWP restrictions are active, wind makes the boat plan unsafe, water is too warm for trout handling, or public access and takeout details are not confirmed.
Start by deciding whether the day is a St. Regis river plan, a Superior-area float, or a lower dam-influenced trip. Then match flies, leaders, and species expectations to that exact reach.
If the Lower Clark Fork is warm, windy, unclear, or too reservoir-influenced for the goal, compare the Blackfoot for colder freestone water, the main Clark Fork near Missoula for a more familiar town reach, or Rock Creek for a wade-focused trout plan.
What to try
Lower Clark Fork River flies through the year.
Match the time of year, then let rising fish and current speed guide the next change.
SeasonWhat to look forFlies to try
March to April
What to look forSkwalas, March Browns, BWOs, midges, and early stonefly movement
May to June
What to look forRunoff edges, salmonflies, golden stones, caddis, PMDs
July to AugustCurrent
What to look forHoppers, ants, beetles, nocturnal stones, spruce moths where present
Flies to try
September to October
What to look forMahoganies, BWOs, October caddis, baitfish, fall streamer windows
Each fly name opens its matching Fly Box guide.
Access and safety
Lower Clark Fork River access and rules.
Use these places as starting points. Open the access link below and check posted signs before you park or enter. Montana FWP rules differ by Clark Fork reach and species. Check current rules, restrictions, and any advisory context before fishing or keeping fish.
St. Regis flow reach
Primary river-flow anchor for this Lower Clark Fork page.
Superior and Plains area
Large-river access and boat logistics become more important downstream.
Thompson Falls and reservoir sections
A different, dam-influenced plan with more warmwater and boat considerations.
Do not assume every lower-river bank is public. Use FWP access information and Montana stream-access rules.
Dams, reservoirs, and wind can change boat safety and fish behavior downstream.
Check consumption and harvest guidance before keeping fish from lower Clark Fork reaches.
River sources
Official Lower Clark Fork River sources.
Official agencies and primary river operators come first. Secondary tools are labeled so you know what carries the most weight.
How this report was checked
How this report was checked
Reviewed byBlueStreamFly River Review Team
Trip guidance checked
What was checked: This Lower Clark Fork River report is maintained from RiverReports and USGS St. Regis flow data, Montana FWP fishing regulations, current closure and restriction sources, stream-access law, weather, generated-image disclosure, and reach-specific lower-river planning guidance.
Live measurements and forecasts keep their provider timestamps. Rules, access, and trip guidance use the source-review date shown here. BlueStreamFly planning advice is editorial interpretation, not an agency notice.
First-hand experience: BlueStreamFly does not claim a first-hand visit or local field test for this report unless a real contributor is explicitly named and linked.
Rules and closures
Check what is allowed, where the rule applies, and whether the river is open.
Flow and weather
Check the latest river reading and forecast before you leave.
Access and land
Check public entry points, land rules, and seasonal access changes.
More helpful links
Use these links for stocking, safety, and other local details.
See all 6 checked sources
Rules and closures
Check what is allowed, where the rule applies, and whether the river is open.
What this source covers
Open the current rules and check the river section, season, and special limits.
Flow and weather
Check the latest river reading and forecast before you leave.
What this source covers
Open this page and check the latest safety advice before your trip.
What this source covers
Open this river reading to check the latest level, flow, and update time.
What this source covers
Open this river reading to check the latest level, flow, and update time.
Access and land
Check public entry points, land rules, and seasonal access changes.
What this source covers
Open the land or access page, then check signs before you park or enter.
More helpful links
Use these links for stocking, safety, and other local details.
What this source covers
Open this page and check the latest safety advice before your trip.
Quick answers
Quick Lower Clark Fork River answers.
What should I check first before fishing the Lower Clark Fork River?
Check the St. Regis gauge, exact reach, FWP restrictions, weather, access, and any harvest or consumption guidance.
Are there special fishing rules on the Lower Clark Fork River?
Yes. Lower Clark Fork rules vary by reach and species, especially as the river transitions toward reservoir water.
What flies should I bring for the Lower Clark Fork River?
Bring the hatch-chart flies, a few confidence nymphs, and a streamer box. Then adjust for water temperature, clarity, and the insects you actually see.
Can I wade the Lower Clark Fork River?
Some edges are wadeable, but it is big water. Use official access and avoid assuming private banks are available.
When should I skip the Lower Clark Fork River?
Skip it when flows are unsafe, temperatures stress trout, wildfire or emergency closures are active, or legal access for the reach is not clear.