Clark Fork River Fishing Report | July 28, 2025
The report at a glance
Presentation
Clark Fork: run a size 12 black Pat's Rubber Legs dropper under a royal or copper chubby, high-sticking for a clean drift. Flathead: small and technical, size 16 epoxy ant or purple dubbing ant behind a hopper. Blackfoot: size 16 epoxy ant with a corn-fed caddis.
Lures and baits
Size 12 black Pat's Rubber Legs
Royal and copper chubbies
Size 16 epoxy ant
Purple dubbing ant
Small PT jig and tungsten bead nymphs
Corn-fed caddis
(Standard fly patterns, not Catch America products)
Other techniques
Dry fly fishing
Dropper nymphing
Best time
Early, with a strong bite kicking in around 6:40 AM.
Advice for this week
If you are newer to fly fishing, focus on high-sticking to keep a clean drift and solid hook sets. On pressured water like the Flathead, get techier with smaller flies and a mid-depth dropper in the mornings. Low water on the Blackfoot means you may have to drag the raft, but the light pressure is worth it.
Next week
The Clark Fork is fishing great and should stay strong. Expect the Flathead to stay tough and technical through the August heat, while the Blackfoot keeps producing quality dry fly days with fewer crowds.
Clark Fork River fly fishing was lights-out with a strong bite from about 6:40 AM and fish of all sizes all day. Dropper fishing outperformed dries. Run a size 12 black Pat's Rubber Legs as your dropper under a royal or copper chubby, and high-stick to keep a clean drift. The nearby Flathead has slowed in the summer heat, while the Blackfoot is fishing well on ants.
What is biting on the Clark Fork River right now?
Trout, and it was an unbelievable day with fish of all sizes. Guide Ryan Stultz of Bent Fly Fishing reported the bite was good right out of the gate, fishing by about 7 AM. Dropper fishing was clearly outproducing the dry fly, though fish ate both.
What flies are working on the Clark Fork River?
A little black size 12 Pat's Rubber Legs as the dropper was the ticket. Pair it with a royal or copper chubby on top for bonus surface looks. These are standard fly patterns, not Catch America products, so we name them without a shop link.
How should you present flies on the Clark Fork?
Focus on high-sticking. Keep your fly line up and out of the water to get a clean, drag-free drift and solid hook sets. Ryan taught this to a first-timer and it put great fish in the net, so it works even if you are new to fly fishing.
How is the nearby Flathead River fishing?
Tougher, as summer heat sets in and pressured westslope cutthroat are less willing to rise. Ryan suggests going small and technical with a size 16 epoxy ant or a purple dubbing ant behind a hopper, and adding a mid-depth dropper like a small PT jig in the mornings.
How is the Blackfoot River fishing?
Well. Low water is keeping crowds down and the fish are still eating, with solid dry fly action on ants and caddis. Throw a size 16 epoxy ant alongside a corn-fed caddis. Be ready to drag your raft in spots, but the low pressure is worth it.
Watch the full report
Clark Fork River July 28, 2025 FAQ
A size 12 black Pat's Rubber Legs dropper, paired with a royal or copper chubby on top.
Droppers clearly outfished dries, though fish were active on both.
High-sticking, keeping the line up out of the water for a clean drift and solid hook sets.
Slower with summer heat. Go small with a size 16 epoxy ant or purple dubbing ant behind a hopper.
Good, with solid dry fly action on ants and caddis and fewer crowds due to low water.
Ryan Stultz of Bent Fly Fishing in Montana.
