Reservoir · Mixed · Montana, US

Clark Canyon Reservoir

Clark Canyon Reservoir venue image

Clark Canyon is the big sagebrush-rimmed reservoir that feeds the Beaverhead tailwater below it, and it grows the heavy browns and rainbows that make the Beaverhead famous.

Fair · Rainbow
Balanced Leech · 8-12
Fairlive now
Reasonable autumn fishing likely at Clark Canyon Reservoir
Good wave on — drift country. A useful wave. Work the productive shore.
56% confidence

Clark Canyon Reservoir is often best in spring through autumn.

What moved it
  • WindSE 8 km/hLight breeze
Today's fly
Balanced Leech
Balanced Leech8-12
Proven pattern for this period
Conditions on the water
Estimate
Wind
Light breeze
SE 8 km/h
N
SE
from the south-east
WaveRipple
Water temp11.6°C
Air temp13°C
CloudBroken
Pressure1012 hPa
Rain · recent0.0 mm

No gauge on this water — readings are regional estimates from weather, not a live gauge.

How to fish it · for Rainbow
When
Current conditions suit Clark Canyon Reservoir well for autumn tactics. The ripple should help fish move and feed more confidently.
Where
Start with Balanced Leech (8-12) on a As per local method. Early in the day, try buzzers on a slow figure-of-eight or a booby on a fast-sink line near the bottom. Rainbows respond to more active retrieves — try short strips between pauses.
The plan
Plan A

Start with Balanced Leech (8-12) on a As per local method. Early in the day, try buzzers on a slow figure-of-eight or a booby on a fast-sink line near the bottom. Rainbows respond to more active retrieves — try short strips between pauses.

Plan B

A fry-imitating pattern stripped through the margins can save a blank in autumn.

Watch for

Keep an eye on changing conditions — wind shifts and cloud breaks can trigger short feeding spells.

Either bank or boat

Good ripple suits both bank and boat. Bank: work inflows, dam walls, and points. Boat: broadside drift covering wind lanes.

Sub-surface · on the nymphunder the surface

Hatch predictions

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Beyond the hatch · worth watchingambient prey(1)

Hatch predictions

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Through the year
0–3 scale · September highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Trout seasonSeason
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
1
Gray DrakeHatch
2
2
CallibaetisHatch
2
3
3
3
2
Hexagenia (Western)Hatch
2
2
Black MidgeHatch
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
2

Numbers are intensity 0 (none) to 3 (peak) — a guide, not a guarantee.

Ranked for today
Rainbow fly box
CH
Chironomid
12-16 · Pattern
Proven pattern for this period
Permits & access
Permit required — see local rules.
  • Montana stillwater regulations — check FWP.
What's coming
Plan ahead
5-day outlook
Condition match
91%
Cloud70%
Wind100%
Temp100%

Conditions are ideal for Clark Canyon Reservoir — wind, cloud and temperature all line up.

Fishing better nearby · 3
Red Rock River
57 km
79
Brown trout · Rainbow trout
Beaverhead River
28 km
20
Brown trout · Rainbow trout
Big Hole River
60 km
Brown trout · Rainbow trout · Brook trout
Gallery · 1
  1. Terrain map of the venue
    Terrain map
About this water

Clark Canyon is the big sagebrush-rimmed reservoir that feeds the Beaverhead tailwater below it, and it grows the heavy browns and rainbows that make the Beaverhead famous. It's open, windy water out near Dillon — you fish it from a boat, throwing leeches and chironomids and Callibaetis to fat reservoir fish that have a lot of food and grow fast. It's not pretty in the postcard sense, just productive, and the trout are thick-shouldered and strong. Spring and fall are the times; midsummer the surface warms and the fishing goes deep.

  • Reservoir
  • Mixed
Water quality · US Clean Water Act
  • Aquatic life: Impaired
What this classification means

EPA ATTAINS assessment unit 'Clark Canyon Reservoir' (MT41A002_010), 2021 Integrated Report. Aquatic Life use: Not Supporting. Listed impairment causes: Hydrologic Alteration. This is a Clean Water Act assessment-unit classification (the US analogue of WFD), not a live reading.

Status is for the Clean Water Act assessment unit covering this reach.

EPA ATTAINS (Clean Water Act) · MT41A002_010

Why this score
  • Wind conditions (ripple) closely match what this water fishes best in.
  • Temperature (cool) is in the sweet spot for autumn fishing.
Directions
Apple MapsGoogle Maps
Seasons & zones
  • Trout 1 January → 31 December
Related guides
Big Stillwater Playbookreservoir tacticsReservoir Entomologymatching the hatchThermal Layers & Troutreading depth and temperature
Booking & contacts