Jeep® Sporting Destinations

Clark's Fork of the Yellowstone, Wyoming

(excerpted from Flywater Interactive)

"If you happen to find yourself headed for the Northeast Entrance of Yellowstone Park, that beautiful freestone on your left will be the Clark's Fork."

The Clark's Fork is a river with an identity problem. First, there is a Clark (no "s") Fork in Montana which is much larger and better known. Second, this stream sits in the shadow of Yellowstone Park, just around the corner from famous Slough Creek and the Lamar. And last, although the upper Clark's Fork is as lovely as any freestone you'll find in the West, the fish are not big -- well, all right, they're truly small.

The Clark's Fork hits Highway 212 just east of Cooke City, Montana (Beartooth Cafe, highly recommended) and drops quickly into Wyoming. After about 10 miles it changes roads to the Chief Joseph Scenic Highway. This highway runs along the upper section providing plenty of good access.

This upper section gives way to a deep, dramatic canyon known as The Box. This canyon begins just below Reef Creek and runs to the National Forest Boundary. Access here is double tough. You can hike down Reef Creek, Camp Creek, Sunlight Creek, Russell Creek or Dead Indian Creek -- all very tough going and not recommended to any but inveterate hikers.

The Clark's Fork of Wyoming.

From the community of Clark a rough road comes back up the opposite side. You can take this to the National Forest Boundary and hike down from there. All of this has more to do with walking than fishing, but if that's what you're after, here it is. Past The Box the Clark's Fork passes the mentioned town of Clark, flattens out, slows and moves on toward the Yellowstone River. This bottom section is a checkerboard of private land and public access. For our money, the charm of this river lies in the riffles, runs and surprisingly deep pools of the upper section.

As we said, the fish in this river are not big. The upper section will hold fish averaging 9 or 10 inches -- a 14-inch fish is a heart attack trophy. You can add a couple of inches as you move downstream. In the lower reaches, you will find larger browns coming up from the Yellowstone. Streamer fishing to these browns in the fall is your best shot at a fish of some size in the Clark's Fork.

Runoff will put the Clark's Fork out for June and most of July. Once that is over, in the upper section you will immediately begin to see caddis and this will continue through the summer. The Pale Morning Dun hatch and spinner fall is surprisingly strong in July and August (mid-day and evening). Both Green Drakes and Gray Drakes appear in late July and run into August. Hoppers can be good in the hot weather. In the fall a #12 March Brown will hatch. Standard nymph patterns work through the season.

That said, a handful of Royal Wulffs and you're set for the summer. While this may not be entirely true, and these fish will key in on certain hatches (especially the PMDs), by and large this is an attractor river -- attractors plus the Elk Hair Caddis. Along with the Wulff, you will see locals relying on Stimulators and Humpies.

The canyon section, which is best known for its white water with category IV rapids, is generally fished with large attractors and nymphs. The fish here will get only a quick look at the menu so you might as well make it highly visible.

The bottom section is caddis and hopper heaven. Here the alpine nature of the upper section is but a memory replaced with willow and sage. In a moment of quirkiness, Fish and Game planted grayling here, and you may catch a small one now and then. On the other hand, if you dare to nymph, you are guaranteed to catch whitefish on an irritatingly regular basis.

If you happen to find yourself headed for the Northeast Entrance of Yellowstone Park, that beautiful freestone on your left will be the Clark's Fork. Do yourself a favor. Pull over and fish a mile or so of this classic western freestone. Think of it as a relaxing respite before facing the traffic jams and bear maulings that await you in the Park.

The Clark's Fork is one of 50 rivers covered in the CD-ROM Flywater Interactive. In addition to the River Profiles on each of those 50 rivers, you will find maps, photographs, hatch information, fly charts, support services, regulations and more. The Flywater Interactive CD-ROM sells for $59.95 and can be ordered by telephoning 800-692-6292. Two coffee table books, Watermark and Flywater by Grant McClintock and Mike Crockett, are also available. Or visit Flywater Interactive at www.flywater.com.

Copyright © 1996 Flywater Publishing. All rights reserved.

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