Popular Clark Fork River Float Trips
Float Trip 1: Beavertail State Park to Clinton and Clinton to Turah
Fishing the
Clark Fork from Beavertail State Park past Rock Creek and finishing at Schwartz
Creek Bridge has declined in the last number of years; however, given the right
conditions, this section can be outstanding during the Salmon Fly hatch, as the
hatch moves up Rock Creek. It is a long float trip, but it offers great
scenery, albeit fair fishing. The section from Clinton to Turah is similar. The
Turah takeout is a state campground, and right across the street from this campground
is the Turah store and campground. Do not float past Turah, as there is no
take-out from that point down to the Milltown Dam. Wade fishermen will find the
Schwartz Creek access a better access point for hiking up and down the river.
Float Trip 2:
Note: With the removal of Milltown
Dam, new opportunities for float fishing have opened up. I will add this information during the
summer of 2010, and it will include the town section as well.
Float Trip 3: Spurgin Road (Kelly Island) Kona Bridge or to Old
Harper's Bridge
Missoula's
first launching place is at the access on Spurgin Road. Don't be surprised when
you drive through a very wealthy neighborhood and drive right between two
houses. Fortunately, the access was in place before the developers plotted out
the neighborhood. Take Reserve Street and turn west on South Avenue. Turn right
on Clements Lane, and then turn immediately left again on Spurgin Road. Late
summer during drought years, the small side channel drops really low, and quite
often you must drag your raft through the shallows a short distance to the
Bitterroot River. A hundred yards downstream the Clark Fork meets the
Bitterroot. The takeout point for smaller craft such as canoes can be the Kona
Bridge. Typically, however, floaters take out on the left side of the old
Harper's Bridge abutment. This is
a full day trip, and be forewarned that 2-wheel drive vehicles can easily get
stuck in the gravel.
Float Trip 4: Harper's Bridge to Huson (Interstate 90) Note: The old
launch site, which was on private property, is now closed.
Float Trip 5:
Harper's Bridge to Single Tree.
This is an extremely difficult take-out that I have not used for at
least 10 years. I'll report on it
during the summer of 2010.
Float Trip
6: Huson to Petty Creek. According to Jim Cox of Kingfisher Fly
Shop, Fish, Wildlife and Parks is presently negotiating with landowners to
secure a public launch site at Huson.
This section is a nine mile float which offers good fishing and non-technical
water. The take-out at Petty Creek
Bridge is a developed site.
Float Trip 7:
Petty Creek to the rest stop at St. John's. (Add information summer 2010.) For maps to these floating sections, see Jim Cox's page on
the Clark Fork River.
Float Trip 8:
Tarkio to Forest Grove: Update
summer 2010.
Float Trip 9:
Forest Grove to Superior (Big Eddy takeout at 11 miles or Dry Creek at 14
miles. Update summer of 2010. (Look up the old slide launch.)
Float Trip 10:
Superior (Dry Creek) to St. Regis with a shortened trip at Sloway.
