Today I headed to Clark Fork to check on flow conditions and do a little trout fishing. When I arrived at about 7:00 AM, I was surprised by how cold it was. The thermometer on my Bronco displayed a chilly 47 degrees. My first stop was the day use area — there were already two other anglers there when I arrived. The pair were fishing the holes where I usually start, so I walked further upstream to find fresh waters. I found one promising pool, and on my first cast with a Thomas buoyant minnow I had a follower that hit but didn’t get hooked. No other fish seemed interested there, or at a couple of other spots even further upstream. When I returned to the spots where I normally started the other fishermen were gone, so I tried the deeper pool first with no luck. At the lower end of the downstream run, I finally hooked a nice rainbow. The relatively big fish came out from a large rock only feet from where I was standing. The trout came off the hook and scooted away just as I was bending over to pick it up. My next stop was the Sandflat Campground, where I fished a long run where I had done well in the past. But I didn't get a single bite this time! Feeling discouraged, I drove to the end of the road and tried working a short stretch upstream from the trailhead. My only taker, and the first fish I got in my hands, was a beautiful little brook trout. On my way out I saw a deep pool from the road and decided to give it a try before heading home. When at the water’s edge I could see a few trout swimming around. I caught one stocked hatchery fish with the Thomas buoyant minnow, but none of the other fish seemed interested. After seeing a few trout taking something off the surface, I grabbed my fly rod and gave a handful of offerings a try. Nothing! The fishes today were certainly being stubborn. So I chalked the trip up to another beautiful day, with lots of wildflowers and insects, on the river (and I can certainly use as much fly casting practice as I can get). To be honest, I suspect that this area was hammered over the 4th of July weekend. And it will likely take some time before the fishing gets back to normal.