Plug Tuning For Salmon
How to tune and wrap plugs for river kings.
Fishing Reports
Reports From The Water
Find recent bite updates by water, species, and guide. Then jump into the gear and videos connected to those reports.
Latest From The Water
Recent Reports
Quick updates from guides and anglers, organized so shoppers can find the bite faster.
Browse By Water
Lake & River Reports
Start with where you fish, then narrow into the newest bite information.
Lake ReportsLake Berryessa
Kokanee, trout, dodgers, spoons, and guide updates.
Lake ReportsShasta LakeReservoir trout, landlocked kings, depth, and baitfish lanes.
Lake ReportsLake OrovilleOpen-water trolling updates for trout and salmon.
River ReportsSacramento RiverPlug tuning, wraps, scent, and river salmon conditions.
Browse By Species
Reports By Bite
Jump straight to the reports that match what you are chasing.
Species ReportsTrout
Spoons, minnows, flies, plastics, scent, and reservoir trolling.
Species ReportsKokaneeDodgers, hoochies, spinners, corn, depth, speed, and scent.
Species ReportsSalmonRiver and ocean reports with flashers, plugs, bait, and scent.
Species ReportsStriped BassDelta trolling, baitfish color, current, and water movement.
Browse By Guide
Guide Reports
Follow updates from the guides behind the gear and on-water programs.
Guide ReportsBig Nate
Lake Berryessa kokanee, trout, scent, and trolling updates.
Guide ReportsJeff GoodwinNorthern California salmon, trout, and kokanee reports.
Guide ReportsAustin MoserNorthwest salmon updates, flashers, plugs, and bait programs.
Guide ReportsDavid JohnsonOregon salmon reports and changing river conditions.
Gear From Reports
Shop What Shows Up
Find the tackle families most often connected to current reports.
Report GearSpoons
Search baits for trout, landlocked salmon, and open water.
Report GearDodgersFlash and kick for kokanee, trout, and light trolling spreads.
Report GearFlashersRotating flash for salmon and larger trolling presentations.
Report GearHard BaitsPlugs and bait profiles for trout and salmon programs.
Report GearScentsGuide-used scent options for trolling setups.
Watch In Page
Report Videos & Tutorials
Helpful videos stay on the page so shoppers can learn without leaving Catch America.
Salmon Gear Breakdown
Flash, bait, and hardware for big salmon water.
Kokanee Trolling Setup
Dodgers, scent, speed, and presentation notes.
Fishing Report FAQ
How To Use Reports
Use reports to understand conditions, then match the presentation to your water.
How often are reports updated?
Reports are added as new guide updates, field notes, and fishing conditions come in.
Why do some reports not show photos?
If a report does not have a useful image, the page shows the report without a blank or broken image area.
Where should I go after reading a report?
Use the gear links and species pages to find the tackle family mentioned in the report, then choose the setup that fits your water.
Clark Fork River Fishing Report | July 28, 2025
Report by Capt. Ryan Stultz Ryan Stultz runs Bent Fly Fishing in Montana and reports for Catch America. What is working right now 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 From the report (Capt. Ryan Stultz): Right out of the gate, the fishing was good. Definitely way more on the dropper than the dry fly. A little black size 12 Pat's Rubber Legs. We taught Max a little bit about high-sticking that day, keeping that line up high out of the water, and getting a good drift, and just setting the hook into some great fish. Clark Fork River July 28, 2025 FAQ What is the best fly on the Clark Fork River right now?A size 12 black Pat's Rubber Legs dropper, paired with a royal or copper chubby on top. Are dries or droppers better on the Clark Fork?Droppers clearly outfished dries, though fish were active on both. What is the best technique for beginners here?High-sticking, keeping the line up out of the water for a clean drift and solid hook sets. How is the Flathead River fishing?Slower with summer heat. Go small with a size 16 epoxy ant or purple dubbing ant behind a hopper. How is the Blackfoot River fishing?Good, with solid dry fly action on ants and caddis and fewer crowds due to low water. Who is the guide for this report?Ryan Stultz of Bent Fly Fishing in Montana. Shop the Tackle Shop Catch America Flies Shop Trout Gear
Learn moreClark Fork River Fishing Report | July 21, 2025
Report by Ryan Stultz Ryan Stultz runs Bent Fly Fishing in Montana and files weekly river reports for Catch America. What is working right now The Clark Fork River is fishing outstanding in late July 2025 after a three-day cool-down dropped water temps and fired up the trout. Ryan Stultz put a three-boat trip on bent rods all day, mostly on the dropper. Run a copper foam stonefly up top with a black Pat's Rubber Legs below, and get on the water early, lines in by 6:40 AM. How is the Clark Fork River fishing right now?Outstanding. Ryan Stultz says the river loves a cool-down and he hit it perfect after three days of cold weather dropped the water temp. His three-boat trip had bent rods all day long, with tons of fish hitting the net. What flies work on the Clark Fork River?Ryan ran a copper foam stonefly on top with a black Pat's Rubber Legs dropper below. Most hits came on the dropper, but the topwater also produced. It was an exceptional all-day numbers game. When should you fish the Clark Fork River?Early. Ryan put his boats on the water with lines in by 6:40 AM after the cool-down, and the fish were happy and aggressive. Getting out early takes advantage of the cool water temps before the day warms. What are the other Montana rivers doing?The Flathead is transitioning to terrestrials, with small ants, beetles, and early hoppers coming into play. The Blackfoot had a great dry fly day on a size 16 epoxy ant, with fun numbers of fish feeding on top. What is the outlook for the Clark Fork River?Great. Recent rain and cool-downs are keeping temps in check through peak summer, which sets up strong fishing. Ryan expects the good reports to continue and will keep anglers posted honestly whether the bite is hot or not. Watch the full report From the report (Ryan Stultz): Today, just getting back from the Clark Fork River again. That thing fished great. That river loves a cool down, and I just hit it perfect today. We had a three-boat trip out there and everybody was just bent all day. I was throwing a copper foam stonefly up top with a black Pat's Rubber Legs below it, and it was just an exceptional day. Clark Fork River July 21, 2025 FAQ Why is the Clark Fork fishing so well?A three-day cool-down dropped the water temperature and fired up an aggressive trout bite. What flies work on the Clark Fork River?A copper foam stonefly up top with a black Pat's Rubber Legs dropper, with most hits on the dropper. What time should you start on the Clark Fork?Early, with lines in by about 6:40 AM to fish the cool morning water. How is the Blackfoot River fishing?Good dry fly action on a size 16 epoxy ant, with fun numbers of fish on top. Is the Flathead switching to terrestrials?Yes. Ryan reports the Flathead is moving toward ants, beetles, and early hoppers. What is the Clark Fork water temperature?A specific temperature was not stated, but three cold days dropped it enough to spark the bite. Shop the Tackle Shop Fly Fishing Gear Shop Trout Gear
Learn more
