Montana Streams--Madison, Jefferson, and Clarks Fork

Fly Fishing the West
Vol. 8, Issue 1
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Madison, Jefferson, Clark's Fork Rivers
Drive from Island Park, Idaho to Coeur d'Alene, Idaho

Nancy and I left Island Park, Idaho at 8 am heading home to Tri-Cities, Washington. (Its about 600 miles home so the following records observations along the way only; did not try to fish.) We drove northeast on Idaho State Highway 20. Just passed Henry's Lake we took Highway 87 north, which turns into Montana Highway 287 heading toward Ennis, Montana. The highway follows the Madison River all the way into Ennis. The river is wide and flat through most of this area. We stopped at a Fly shop in the middle of town in Ennis. A clerk in the shop said he mainly fishes the stretches that have some 'holes' or deeper runs using 6X tippet.

North of Ennis the Madison leaves the highway east and crosses the Jefferson River about 33 miles north. Here the Jefferson is about half as wide as the Madison and deeper. It runs through farms and grasslands between low mountains on either side (west and east). Highway 287 joins Interstate I-90 near Cardwell and it leaves the Jefferson River about 7 miles west at Whitehall, Montana.

About 25 miles west of Butte, Montana Interstate I-90 crosses Warm Springs Creek, which flows into the Upper Clark Fork River. About 33 miles south of Missoula around Mile Marker 138 is a bridge with what looks like would be an excellent fly fishing spot. The interstate follows the river all the way to Missoula, where it is joined by the Blackfoot River several miles before entering the city. The Clark Fork then follows the interstate I-90 west for about 40 miles passed Missoula to St. Regis, Montana. The Clark Fork is a beautiful stream of normally wide, dark green water. At Mile Marker 75 west of Missoula there is a Camp site exit with fishing access near a train bridge. There is room to cast on the stream here. I-90 crosses the stream again at Mile Marker 68 with more beautiful looking, very fishable water. There is another excellent looking spot to fish at Mile Marker 48 where Cedar Creek flows into the river. (This is about 15 miles east of St. Regis.)
The Clark Fork turns north at St. Regis. Beyond here another smaller, beautiful stream comes into I-90 at about Mile Marker 29. (Reminds me of the Provo River, but smaller.) From here to the Idaho border the drive is through a beautiful canyon of dense stands of firs and pines. Looks like a good place to camp at Henderson, Camels Hump Road (about Exit 22). At Mile Marker 10 the St. Regis Creek comes in (small stream).