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.
A respectable few hours, if you choose your moments
Good wave on — drift country. A useful wave. Work the productive shore.
45% confidence — limited data
Live now
Conditions on the water
Trends shown where the gauge supports them
Wind
W 13 km/h
Gentle breeze
Wave
20 cm ripple
Water temp
—
No reading
Air temp
20°C
Cloud
Broken
Pressure
1015 hPa
Rain · 24h
0.0 mm
No rain
Some readings unavailable — check directly before fishing.
How to fish · for brown trout
The brief
When · where · method · kit
How to fish it · for brown trout
When
No strong hatch signals at the moment — general searching tactics should work best. The ripple is helpful — fish should move onto the feed and a slow-drifted team or single wet will cover water well.
Where
Set up a broadside drift and cover the water systematically. Work a bushy searching pattern on the bob and drop a contrasting nymph on the point.
Today's tactical plan
The plan
Plan A · Plan B · what to watch · bank or boat
The plan
Plan A
Set up a broadside drift and cover the water systematically. Work a bushy searching pattern on the bob and drop a contrasting nymph on the point.
Plan B
If the main plan is not working, switch to a smaller, more imitative pattern fished slower and deeper. A change of drift angle can also make a difference.
Watch for
Evening tends to be the best period in summer — stay late if you can for a sedge or spinner fall.
Boat — drift
A gentle ripple is ideal for drifting — broadside drift covering the wind lanes should be productive.
Hatches & runs
What's on, when
Twelve months at a glance
Through the year
0–3 scale · June 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
Black MidgeHatch
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
Reservoir BuzzerHatch
2
3
3
3
3
3
2
Gray DrakeHatch
2
2
Silverhorns & LonghornsHatch
1
2
2
2
1
Numbers are intensity 0 (none) to 3 (peak) — a guide, not a guarantee.
Today's fly · curated pack
Top pattern + the box
5 patterns from this venue's curated pack
Evidence
Why today scores what it does
The factors driving today's verdict
Why this score
- Temperature (moderate) is in the sweet spot for summer fishing.
About this water · Lough note · 4 min read
About this water
Clark Canyon Reservoir, on the water
Field guide · contributor-editedClark Canyon Reservoir · about
What this water is
Background · character · contributors
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
Clark Canyon Reservoir · directions
How to get to the water
Directions
Clark Canyon Reservoir · zones
Where the rules change
Seasons · zones · per-species rules
Seasons & zones
- Trout1 January → 31 December
Clark Canyon Reservoir · permits
Good to know
Permits & access
Permit required — see local rules.
- Montana stillwater regulations — check FWP.
Clark Canyon Reservoir
Google Places
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.
Species
A respectable few hours, if you choose your moments
Good wave on — drift country. A useful wave. Work the productive shore.
45% confidence — limited data
Conditions
Wind
W 13 km/h
Gentle breeze
Wave
20 cm ripple
Water temp
—
No reading
Air temp
20°C
Cloud
Broken
Pressure
1015 hPa
Rain · 24h
0.0 mm
No rain
Some readings unavailable — check directly before fishing.
Condition match
77%
Cloud70%
Wind65%
Temp100%
A good match for this venue — most conditions are close to what it fishes best in.
How to fish it · for brown trout
When
No strong hatch signals at the moment — general searching tactics should work best. The ripple is helpful — fish should move onto the feed and a slow-drifted team or single wet will cover water well.
Where
Set up a broadside drift and cover the water systematically. Work a bushy searching pattern on the bob and drop a contrasting nymph on the point.
The plan
Plan A
Set up a broadside drift and cover the water systematically. Work a bushy searching pattern on the bob and drop a contrasting nymph on the point.
Plan B
If the main plan is not working, switch to a smaller, more imitative pattern fished slower and deeper. A change of drift angle can also make a difference.
Watch for
Evening tends to be the best period in summer — stay late if you can for a sedge or spinner fall.
Boat — drift
A gentle ripple is ideal for drifting — broadside drift covering the wind lanes should be productive.
Why this score
- Temperature (moderate) is in the sweet spot for summer fishing.
Through the year
0–3 scale · June 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
Black MidgeHatch
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
Reservoir BuzzerHatch
2
3
3
3
3
3
2
Gray DrakeHatch
2
2
Silverhorns & LonghornsHatch
1
2
2
2
1
Numbers are intensity 0 (none) to 3 (peak) — a guide, not a guarantee.
Gallery · 1
Terrain map
Permits & access
Permit required — see local rules.
- Montana stillwater regulations — check FWP.
Directions
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
Seasons & zones
- Trout1 January → 31 December
About this water · Lough note · 4 min read
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.
Fishing better nearby · 2