Clarks Fork of the Yellowstone, WY Fishing Report

Fishing fairly well with smaller dries, smaller nymphs, or streamers on the lower river near the State Fish Hatchery. Midges are the dominant hatches. Cold today, slush ice in river

Frozen. Fishing done until 2013.

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Cold up high. Fishing has been slow due to water temps.

Looking good and fishing well. gray drakes, PMD's, caddis, PED's and smaller golden stones are the hatches.

CANYON SECTION OF CLARKS FORK FISHING REPORT

Same hatches as the Upper CF with hoppers added. Flows are good so fishing the canyon is a good bet now that water temps have cooled significantly.

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The upper river is clear and fishable thanks to cold weather and snow instead of rain.

The lower Clarks Fork is high and muddy.

The lower Clarks Fork is muddy.

The lower river is fishable West of Paint Rock Creek and into the mouth of the canyon. Visibility 1-3 feet, depending upon location.

The lower river is fishable West of Paint Rock Creek and into the mouth of the canyon.

There are plenty of midges, BWOs, and Isonychia (Gray drakes, size 12) on the water from the canyon mouth downstream to the MT State line.

The lower river (from the mouth of the canyon downstream to MT state line) blew out completely with recent rains and today's warming. We'll need some cool weather to slow the snowmelt and clear the river before it will fish well again.

Should temps cool down and the river drops, there are plenty of midges, BWOs, and Isonychia (Gray drakes, size 12) on the water from the canyon mouth downstream to the MT State line.

Fish with large (#2-#6) stonefly nymphs trailed by smaller bead-heads like N. Fork Specials, bloody Mary's, copper John's, etc. These flies work especially well when the river begins to rise and go off-color during spring runoff.

Adams #12, BWO sparkle duns, and bow tie midges can also be effective along the edges where the water is less cloudy.

UPPER CLARKS FORK of the YELLOWSTONE

The upper river is opening up now that we've had some mild temps the past week. The river's still too cold to provide much action.

CANYON SECTION OF CLARKS FORK

Too much snow and ice to access until after spring runoff.

LOWER CLARKS FORK

The lower river (from the mouth of the canyon downstream to MT state line) blew out completely last night. We'll need some cool weather to slow the snowmelt and clear the river before it will fish well again.

Should temps cool down and the river drops, there are plenty of midges, BWOs, and Isonychia (Gray drakes, size 12) on the water from the canyon mouth downstream to the MT State line.

Fish with large (#2-#6) stonefly nymphs trailed by smaller bead-heads like N. Fork Specials, bloody Mary's, copper John's, etc. These flies work especially well when the river begins to rise and go off-color during spring runoff.

Adams #12, BWO sparkle duns, and bow tie midges can also be effective along the edges where the water is less cloudy.

The lower river is a bit off-color due to snowmelt at lower elevations. Water in the lower canyon remains relatively clear and fishable. Clarity is 2-3 feet as of this report.

Big rainbows are now showing up in the river as they begin to stage for spawning. Lots of midges, BWOs, and Isonychia (Gray drakes, size 12) are on the water from the canyon mouth downstream to Paint Creek from noon on. If the trout aren't looking up, fish with large (#2-#6) stonefly nymphs trailed by smaller bead-heads like N. Fork Specials, bloody Mary's, copper John's, etc. These flies work especially well when the river begins to see the effects of spring runoff. Adams #12, BWO sparkle duns, and bow ties are also effective along the edges where the water is less cloudy.

UPPER CLARKS FORK of the YELLOWSTONE:The upper river is opening up now that we've had some mild temps the past week. The river's still too cold to provide much action. Recommendation is to wait until May before giving the upper Clarks Fork a try.

CANYON SECTION OF CLARKS FORK: Too much snow and ice to access until spring.

LOWER CLARKS FORK: The lower river is a bit off-color due to snowmelt at lower elevations. Water in the lower canyon remains clear and fishable.

Big rainbows are now showing up in the river as they begin to stage for spawning. Lots of midges, BWOs, and Isonychia (Gray drakes, size 12) are on the water towards the canyon mouth mid-afternoons. If the trout aren't looking up, fish with large (#2-#6) stonefly nymphs trailed by smaller bead-heads like N. Fork Specials, bloody Mary's, copper John's, etc. Adams #12, BWO sparkle duns, and bow ties are very effective also. 

The lower river is a bit off-color due to snowmelt at lower elevations. Water in the lower canyon remains clear and fishable.

Big rainbows are now showing up in the river as they begin to stage for spawning. Lots of midges, BWOs, and Isonychia (Gray drakes, size 12) are on the water towards the canyon mouth mid-afternoons. If the trout aren't looking up, fish with large (#2-#6) stonefly nymphs trailed by smaller bead-heads like N. Fork Specials, bloody Mary's, copper John's, etc. Adams #12, BWO sparkle duns, and bow ties are very effective also.

The lower river is a bit off-color due to snowmelt at lower elevations. Water in the lower canyon has been clear and fishable.

Big rainbows are now showing up in the river as they begin to stage for spawning. Lots of midges, BWOs, and Isonychia (size 12) are on the water towards the canyon mouth. Fish with large (#2-#6) stonefly nymphs trailed by smaller bead-heads like N. Fork Specials, bloody Mary's, copper John's, etc. Adams #12, BWO sparkle duns, and bow ties are very effective also.

The Lower Clarks Fork is the only open and fishable part of the Clarks Fork. The Middle and Upper sections are either closed or not good fishing as of yet. The rainbows are spawning at the moment and the fishing should get much better over the next week or so.

The lower clarks fork is the only part of the river that is fishing well. It is pretty much open from the mouth of the canyon to the MT State line. The lower river is a bit off-color due to snowmelt at lower elevations.

Big rainbows are now showing up in the river as they begin to stage for spawning. Fish with large (#2-#6) stonefly nymphs trailed by smaller bead-heads like N. Fork Specials, bloody Mary's, copper John's, etc.

The upper river is opening up now that we've had some mild temps the past week. The river's still too cold to provide much action. Recommendation is to wait until May.

The Canyon section has too much snow and ice to access until spring.

The lower Clark's Fork iced out recently due to a Chinook condition. The river is a bit off-color due to snowmelt in lower elevation creeks that feed the lower river.

Big rainbows are now showing up in the river as they begin to stage for spawning. Fish with large (#2-#6) stonefly nymphs trailed by smaller bead-heads like N. Fork Specials, Bloody Marys, Copper Johns, etc.