Clark Fork

Clark Fork is a river flowing through Montana, United States. River fishing rewards anglers who learn to read current — fish hold in the seams between fast and slow water, behind rocks and submerged logs, and at the heads and tails of pools. At Clark Fork, working a lure or fly down-and-across the current usually outperforms casting straight upstream. Higher water concentrates fish; clear, low water makes them spookier.

Location

46.9805, -114.2961 · View on OpenStreetMap →

Species at This Spot

Rainbow troutBrown troutNorthern pikeCutthroat troutMountain whitefishNorthern pikeminnow

Fishing Techniques

• For Rainbow trout

  Vary your retrieve speed when using spinners to find what triggers a strike; sometimes a slow, steady retrieve works best, while other times a faster, erratic retrieve is more effective.

• For Brown trout

  When fishing streams, focus on seams and current breaks, where trout hold to ambush prey.

• For Northern pike

  Vary your retrieval speed and add pauses to entice strikes, especially in colder water.

Recommended Gear

Tackle commonly used to target the species at Clark Fork.

Plan Your Trip

Anglers heading to Clark Fork should sort licences and confirm seasonal regulations for Montana before the trip. A quick weather check the morning of helps too — wind direction in particular can make or break a session at a spot like Clark Fork.

Nearby Spots in Montana

See all fishing spots in Montana →

Other Fishing Regions in United States