Clarks Fork Yellowstone River Fishing Report

The Clarks fishermen because of its blue-band trout fishery and hikers for the scenic backcountry trail that parallels the north side of the river; the Clark’s Fork is most famous for the spectacular 20 mile-long canyon it carves between the Beartooth Mountains on the north and the Absaroka Mountains to the south. Hemmed in by 1, 200-foot high sheer granite walls, the canyon part was included in the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System in 1991. Kayakers from around the globe are attracted to this canyon by its uninterrupted class IV VI rapids, waterfalls, and plunges. (greater-yellowstone.com)

The three portions of the Clarks Fork offer varied sight-seeing opportunities. The Upper Clarks Fork, along the Beartooth Highway offers views of this fast moving mountain river as it travels through chutes and over falls. The lower part of the Clarks Fork is a large slow moving beauty with golden rolling hills and a vast blue sky. Frequently labeled the most beautiful part of the Clarks Fork, the center part along the Chief Joseph Highway, travels through the Clarks Fork Canyon. Here, 100 foot cliffs tower up from its banks, offering magnificent sight-seeing opportunities. (allredlodge.com)

The center Fork of the Yellowstone starts below the Hunter Peak Campground. Wider now, the river holds some long runs and pocket water. Wading gives lots of action. Where Crandall Creek joins the Clarks Fork, wading isn’t told, however fishing from the bank is profitable. Take a trail into the canyon area where many fishermen never venture, the trout will happily take most flies. (codywyomingnet.com)

Nationally, this river part’s scenery is important caused by its near closeness to the Chief Joseph State Scenic Byway and the Beartooth All American Highway. All American Highways are the National Scenic Byway Program’s elite designation; roughly six National Byways have qualified for this title. usually, these scenic highways follow the Clarks Fork of the Yellowstone River with high mountain peaks in the background and little development or another human actions close. National and international visitors travel this scenic/recreation corridor on their way to Yellowstone National Park. (rivers.gov)

For paddlers who have paid their dues on the money of class III-IV+ rivers in the Greater Yellowstone Area, the Clark s Fork is a logical next step and an excellent reward for the time spent gathering experience on the water. It’s an very beautiful and readily available river system that sees less affect from tourism than other places in and near the park. The near-perfect progression of advanced and expert runs in this drainage makes it one of the great launchpads in the region for up-and-coming boaters, however the consequences of pushing limitations too far on this river are dire. Hang around enough riverside campfires and you’re sure to hear epic tales of both triumph and tragedy on the legendary Clark s Fork of the Yellowstone. (outsidebozeman.com)

We enjoy it here due to great fishing and outdoor recreation. Yellowstone is close by so we can go there any time we like. We also like to take our four wheelers into the backcountry in the summer and in the winter there’s great snowmobiling from our doorstep. If you like to hike there’s no better place, if you like to view wildlife it gets no better than here. Our families come and stay and it’s a great vacation spot that young kids will remember for a long time! We have the beautiful Beartooth Mountains out our back door. Most of our guest tell us they enjoyed their time spent at the cabin more than they did visiting Yellowstone. (Check this site out)

It rises in southern Montana, in the Gallatin National Forest in the Beartooth Mountains, roughly 4 mi 6 km northeast of Cooke City and southwest of Granite Peak. It goes southeast into the Shoshone National Forest in northwest Wyoming, east of Yellowstone National Park, then northeast back into Montana. It passes Belfry, Bridger, Fromberg, and Edgar, and joins the Yellowstone roughly 2 mi 3 km southeast of Laurel. (anglerweb.com)

A stop at here treats visitors to a view of Lake Creek Falls as it plunges and cascades through its narrow canyon. The Lake Creek Wayside is 1 miles east of the connection of the Beartooth Highway and the Chief Joseph Scenic Byway, Wyoming 296. Note the creek’s steep walls. They’re granite a hard rock that’s greatly tolerant to wearing away. Swift, tumbling water using sand, pebbles and boulders as tools vigorously attacks the granite. The water works primarily to deepen its channel, down-cutting the creek’s floor faster than the walls erode. A channel through hard rock, like seen here, may deepen only an inch or two a year! Looking toward the falls from the major highway, travelers see a part of the historic Lake Creek Bridge. (beartoothhighway.com)

On its upper and lower reaches. In the snaking meanders upstream of Missoula, butter-bellied browns explode on baitfish darting from deadfall snags and hoppers haplessly bumping along grassy undercuts. Following her confluence of the Blackfoot and Bitterroot, the Clark Fork through and below town widens and slows. A dam was recently removed from this place and the river should continue to get better for many years to come! This is the final for anglers hunting line-ripping rainbows and cutthroats on light tippets. Here, the biggest fish sip little duns and chase swimming nymphs around over knee-deep gravel bars. (orvis.com)

The Clarks Fork of the Yellowstone River goes east of Yellowstone National Park near the Beartooth Mountains meandering through cottonwood groves and beautiful prairie. There are 73 miles of this river from Belfry near the Montana border to its connection with the Yellowstone River near Laurel, Montana. The Clarks Fork of the Yellowstone is Class 1 for its complete length in Montana so it’s another good beginners river. The origin of this river is 3 miles east of Cooke City, Montana but it goes 67 miles through Wyoming before returning to Montana. The 31 miles between the Montana/Wyoming border and Bridger, Montana is the simplest access. (facebook.com)