and wading for a day or floating downstream in a driftboat , I ’ ll choose the driftboat every time . And the Clark Fork is ideal driftboat water , with long runs between modest rapids with trout usually rising to dry flies all the way .
The Clark Fork in this section — from Alberton Gorge to Paradise — is big and can be intimidating . But , with some prudence and a person on the oars with decent experience , this river is easily tamed in normal flows .
My general rule of thumb is that I ’ ll fish the Clark Fork anywhere from a level flow of 16,000 cubic feet a second and lower . Seeing the Clark Fork at high flows can be intimidating , but if you have a couple feet of clarity on the banks it ’ s game on for the fish . The water color can deter folks , but I ’ ve had amazing days either nymphing or dry-fly fishing with only a foot or two of clarity . I believe water temperatures and bug activity are the determining factors , not necessarily water clarity .
Another bonus to fishing this stretch of the river is that it is highly accessible : I-90 runs along most of its length and there are small towns and exits offering access along the way . If you are restricted to wading , you can explore the banks and see what you can find . Sometimes that is where you have to start and if you do that , it won ’ t be long before you ’ re finding what the Clark Fork fishery is best known for — pods of 12-to 20 inch rainbows feeding on dry flies . It also offers good numbers of cutthroats and cutt-bows , plus a few brown and bull trout , too .
The only thing holding back some Idaho and Washington anglers from fishing the Clark Fork is the drive . I can make it from Coeur d ’ Alene to St . Regis in about 90 minutes if I don ’ t have to deal with road construction and / or bad weather . During summer , construction is an issue . During spring and fall you have to consider pass conditions because you ’ ll cross two ( Fourth of July and Lookout ) to reach St . Regis . Each can be miserable to negotiate when things are bad . Al- ways check the department of transportation websites before heading out on this drive .
Before you write off that drive , realize it takes roughly the same time to drive from Coeur d ’ Alene to the lower end of the St . Joe River and the upper stretches of the Coeur d ’ Alene . So , it takes about the same time to fish any of our three best stream options , whether you do so when the snow flies or during the warm , dry summer months .
The Clark Fork in Alberton Gorge is mostly for whitewater enthusiasts , even though biologists do see elevated trout populations through this section , due to cool flows dropping in from Fish Creek and elevated oxygen levels from all of the rapids . And they note some of the biggest fish in the river here . But , again , this area has numerous rapids , including Boateater , Cliffside , Rest Stop , Tumbleweed and Fang , to name a few , and is best suited for rafting and kayaking — but only for experts . Anglers really have no business pushing their luck by floating through here .
This stretch becomes angler-friendly near the bottom of the Gorge at Tarkio . This is a great place to launch a boat because it offers concrete pavers all the way to the water and usually enough room for two rigs to launch at the same time . During mid-summer , it can be congested with whitewater folks , so keep that element in mind .
There ’ s good fishing in this stretch , all the way down to the Forest Grove boat takeout / boat launch . There are a few campsites at Forest Grove and outhouses as well . It ’ s about a five to six-mile float between these access , so you can pull it off in a short amount time if you choose , or you can beach the boat now and then to extend the float .
The next takeout is at Superior , roughly seven or eight miles downstream . Superior is a small town about 15 minutes east of St . Regis . The boat launch is not paved , but great nonetheless . In addition , you can gas up or get food
66