Clark Fork River

Pend Oreille River Drainage

  • Recommended Fishing Water

Clark Fork River in Bonner County is 97.5 miles in length.

Interactive Map
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Facilities

Motor Restriction
No
Boat Ramp
Yes
Dock
Yes
Toilet
Yes
Campground
Yes
ADA Access
Handicap Accessible

Directions

Best accessed off of Hwy 200 near the town of Clark Fork.  Several boating access sites exist.  The IDFG-operated Johnson Creek and Clark Fork Driftyard sites provide the best access to the lower river and delta.  The Derr Island site, located on the Johnson Creek Road at the upstream end of Derr Island, provides the best access during winter.  Water level of Lake Pend Oreille can influence access at boat ramps, particularly during the winter months when the lake is at lower elevation.  Another Avista-operated access site exists on the upper river a short distance downstream of Cabinet Gorge Dam along Hwy 200.

Recommended Game Fish

Fish Stocking Records

Date Species Quantity General Size
2020/06/19 Kokanee - Late Spawner 64,720 Fry (0-3 inches)
2019/06/21 Kokanee - Late Spawner 64,090 Fry (0-3 inches)
2016/06/14 Kokanee - Early Spawner 60,600 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
2016/06/06 Kokanee - Early Spawner 168,500 Fry (0-3 inches)
2016/06/03 Kokanee - Early Spawner 185,000 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
2016/04/18 Kokanee - Late Spawner 1,741,600 Fry (0-3 inches)
2015/06/18 Kokanee - Late Spawner 58,321 Fry (0-3 inches)
2015/06/10 Kokanee - Early Spawner 154,500 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
2015/06/09 Kokanee - Early Spawner 336,000 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
2015/06/09 Kokanee - Early Spawner 416,746 Fry (0-3 inches)
2009/03/18 Kokanee - Early Spawner 506,072 Fry (0-3 inches)
2006/11/21 Kokanee - Late Spawner 300 Catchable (6+ inches)
2006/06/27 Kokanee - Late Spawner 445,311 Fry (0-3 inches)
2005/11/22 Kokanee - Late Spawner 500 Catchable (6+ inches)
2005/06/20 Kokanee - Late Spawner 401,220 Fry (0-3 inches)
2005/03/07 Kokanee - Late Spawner 269,700 Fry (0-3 inches)
2005/03/06 Kokanee - Late Spawner 200,100 Fry (0-3 inches)
2005/03/04 Kokanee - Late Spawner 262,450 Fry (0-3 inches)
2005/03/03 Kokanee - Late Spawner 169,650 Fry (0-3 inches)
2005/02/28 Kokanee - Late Spawner 210,250 Fry (0-3 inches)
2004/06/09 Kokanee - Late Spawner 928,808 Fry (0-3 inches)
2003/12/16 Kokanee - Late Spawner 161 Catchable (6+ inches)
2003/07/07 Bull Trout 15 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
2001/06/01 Kokanee - Late Spawner 1,523,018 Fry (0-3 inches)
2000/06/15 Kokanee - Late Spawner 2,971,859 Fry (0-3 inches)
1999/12/28 Kokanee - Late Spawner 124 Catchable (6+ inches)
1999/06/14 Kokanee - Late Spawner 3,067,158 Fry (0-3 inches)
1999/06/08 Westslope Cutthroat 8,000 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1998/06/04 Westslope Cutthroat 4,532 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1997/07/02 Kokanee - Late Spawner 1,004,687 Fry (0-3 inches)
1996/07/15 Kokanee - Late Spawner 4,349,686 Fry (0-3 inches)
1995/06/29 Kokanee - Late Spawner 4,399,821 Fry (0-3 inches)
1994/06/10 Kokanee - Late Spawner 4,324,487 Fry (0-3 inches)
1992/07/07 Kokanee - Late Spawner 1,123,604 Fry (0-3 inches)
1992/06/11 Bull Trout 5,055 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1992/06/11 Wild Kamloops 9,344 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1991/06/26 Kokanee - Late Spawner 2,613,800 Fry (0-3 inches)
1990/09/18 Bull Trout 3,338 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1990/06/26 Kokanee - Late Spawner 3,429,700 Fry (0-3 inches)
1990/06/26 Wild Kamloops 11,600 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1990/04/09 Wild Kamloops 11,000 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1989/09/12 Bull Trout 2,000 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1989/07/13 Wild Kamloops 6,851 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1989/06/21 Kokanee - Late Spawner 3,513,000 Fry (0-3 inches)
1988/07/07 Kokanee - Late Spawner 1,297,000 Fry (0-3 inches)
1988/06/15 Kokanee - Late Spawner 3,413,700 Fry (0-3 inches)
1988/06/15 Wild Kamloops 4,821 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1987/07/27 Kokanee - Late Spawner 236,043 Fry (0-3 inches)
1987/07/22 Kokanee - Late Spawner 2,777,662 Fry (0-3 inches)
1986/09/04 Kokanee - Late Spawner 12,621 Fry (0-3 inches)
1986/08/12 Kokanee - Late Spawner 774,312 Fry (0-3 inches)
1986/08/04 Kokanee - Late Spawner 1,523,222 Fry (0-3 inches)
1986/07/30 Kokanee - Late Spawner 1,095,348 Fry (0-3 inches)
1986/07/12 Kokanee - Late Spawner 10,014 Fry (0-3 inches)
1986/06/21 Wild Kamloops 11,170 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1985/08/14 Kokanee - Late Spawner 174,964 Fry (0-3 inches)
1985/08/13 Kokanee - Late Spawner 584,071 Fry (0-3 inches)
1985/08/12 Kokanee - Late Spawner 566,060 Fry (0-3 inches)
1985/07/26 Kokanee - Late Spawner 1,209,128 Fry (0-3 inches)
1984/08/07 Kokanee - Late Spawner 299,256 Fry (0-3 inches)
1984/08/06 Kokanee - Late Spawner 712,338 Fry (0-3 inches)
1984/07/30 Kokanee - Late Spawner 645,034 Fry (0-3 inches)
1983/08/03 Kokanee - Late Spawner 123,384 Fry (0-3 inches)
1983/08/02 Kokanee - Late Spawner 483,717 Fry (0-3 inches)
1983/08/01 Kokanee - Late Spawner 724,556 Fry (0-3 inches)
1983/07/28 Kokanee - Late Spawner 877,177 Fry (0-3 inches)
1983/05/13 Wild Kamloops 4,958 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1983/05/13 Wild Kamloops 18,940 Fry (0-3 inches)
1983/05/12 Wild Kamloops 17,640 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1983/05/11 Wild Kamloops 13,320 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1983/05/09 Wild Kamloops 19,800 Fry (0-3 inches)
1983/05/05 Wild Kamloops 18,440 Fry (0-3 inches)
1983/05/04 Wild Kamloops 21,600 Fry (0-3 inches)
1983/05/03 Wild Kamloops 19,980 Fry (0-3 inches)
1983/04/27 Wild Kamloops 14,027 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1983/03/02 Kokanee - Late Spawner 281,596 Fry (0-3 inches)
1982/07/13 Kokanee - Late Spawner 74,640 Fry (0-3 inches)
1982/07/12 Kokanee - Late Spawner 1,678,200 Fry (0-3 inches)
1981/08/03 Kokanee - October Spawner 695,892 Fry (0-3 inches)
1981/08/02 Kokanee - October Spawner 483,680 Fry (0-3 inches)
1981/08/01 Kokanee - October Spawner 665,680 Fry (0-3 inches)
1981/07/28 Kokanee - October Spawner 88,352 Fry (0-3 inches)
1976/12/03 Bull Trout 292,900 Eyed Eggs
1976/09/24 Rainbow Unspecified 413 Catchable (6+ inches)
1976/07/20 Rainbow Unspecified 4,640 Catchable (6+ inches)
1975/12/21 Bull Trout 114,480 Eyed Eggs
1975/07/25 Rainbow Unspecified 2,275 Catchable (6+ inches)
1975/07/24 Rainbow Unspecified 2,800 Catchable (6+ inches)
1974/12/15 Bull Trout 50,160 Eyed Eggs
1974/04/29 Bull Trout 10,352 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1974/04/09 Kokanee - October Spawner 144,800 Fry (0-3 inches)
1973/07/03 Kamloops 2,296 Catchable (6+ inches)
1973/06/15 Rainbow Unspecified 500 Catchable (6+ inches)
1973/05/09 Bull Trout 121,440 Fry (0-3 inches)
1972/12/17 Bull Trout 100,050 Eyed Eggs
1972/09/11 Rainbow Unspecified 578 Catchable (6+ inches)
1972/08/08 Kamloops 713 Catchable (6+ inches)
1972/07/31 Rainbow Unspecified 1,155 Catchable (6+ inches)
1972/05/01 Bull Trout 2,196 Catchable (6+ inches)
1971/07/19 Rainbow Unspecified 1,760 Catchable (6+ inches)
1971/07/14 Bull Trout 1,058 Catchable (6+ inches)
1970/07/27 Rainbow Unspecified 3,040 Catchable (6+ inches)
1969/08/25 Kamloops 2,340 Catchable (6+ inches)
1969/07/28 Rainbow Unspecified 2,320 Catchable (6+ inches)
1968/06/20 Rainbow Unspecified 1,920 Catchable (6+ inches)
Source: IDFG Fish Stocking Database.

Licenses and Tags

Learn more about IDFG Licenses, Tags & Permits
 

Fishing Rules, 2022 - 2024

All Waters Open All Year

Except as modified in Special Rules
Fishing is not allowed within the posted upstream and downstream boundary of any fish weir or trap.

Daily Bag Limits

The following daily bag limits apply to all waters within each region except as modified in the Special Rules. The possession limit is 3-times the daily bag limit after the second day of the season.

Special Rules

Clark Fork River Section: Entire river upstream of a straight line extending north of county boat dock (near mouth of Johnson Creek) to Bear Paw Point (southwest tip of Denton Slough)
  • No limit on Lake Trout
  • Trout limit is 6, no harvest of Cutthroat Trout
  • Rainbow Trout catch-and-release December 1 through Friday before Memorial Day weekend
Nearby Rules The following special rule(s) apply to adjacent waters but exclude the Clark Fork River.
Clark Fork River tributaries (includes Lightning Creek and tributaries)
  • Rainbow trout closed to harvest December 1 through Friday before Memorial Day weekend
  • Trout limit is 6, no harvest of Cutthroat Trout
  • No bait allowed December 1 through Friday before Memorial day weekend
Panhandle Region Bag Limits
Bass (Largemouth and Smallmouth)

  • Bass limit is 6, both species combined

Brook Trout

  • Brook Trout limit is 25

Bull Trout

  • Bull Trout limit is 0, catch-and-release

Burbot

  • Burbot limit is 6

Chinook Salmon (land-locked)

  • Chinook Salmon limit is 2, none under 20 inches

Kokanee

  • Kokanee limit is 15

Sturgeon

  • Fishing for or targeting sturgeon in the Kootenai River is illegal
  • Sturgeon limit is 0, catch-and-release

Tiger Muskie

  • Tiger Muskie limit is 2, none under 40 inches

Trout includes Brown Trout, Cutthroat Trout, Golden Trout, Lake Trout, Rainbow Trout, Splake, Arctic Grayling, trout hybrids (e.g. Tiger Trout)

  • Trout limit is 6, all species combined
  • Does not include Bull Trout and Brook Trout which are listed separately

Whitefish

  • Whitefish limit is 25

All Other Fish Species includes bullfrogs and crayfish

  • No bag, size or possession limit
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