Clark Canyon Reservoir Fishing
A Montana reservoir of 4,815 acres in Beaverhead County.
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A Montana profile of Clark Canyon Reservoir
Clark Canyon Reservoir measures 4,815 acres by the FishMT size field; it belongs to Beaverhead County. On the lakes layer the polygon covers about 4,815 acres of mapped outline. Dillon, about 21 miles away, is the handiest town.
FishMT places it in FWP’s Central fishing district, with FWP Region 3. The access-site layer holds no ramp for it. District limits change here through 3 rule lines.
Size as the FWP FishMT page for Clark Canyon Reservoir prints it (FishMT), read November 12, 2026.
Outline area from the FWP Lakes reference layer (ArcGIS service; mapped polygon area, not an FWP surface-acre figure), read November 12, 2026.
Montana FWP FishMT waterbody page for Clark Canyon Reservoir, read November 12, 2026.
U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census counts (TIGERweb) and the 2023 Gazetteer, read November 12, 2026.
FWP on Clark Canyon Reservoir
FishMT gives the surface at Clark Canyon Reservoir as 5,546 feet above sea level. FishMT lists Beaverhead River as the water it drains to. FWP offers a bathymetry sheet for this water. FWP's statewide angling pressure estimate for Clark Canyon Reservoir is 30,343 angler days in 2021 (give or take 5,877).
FWP flags a fish consumption advisory on its FishMT page for Clark Canyon Reservoir; read FWP's current guidance before you keep fish to eat.
Montana FWP FishMT waterbody page for Clark Canyon Reservoir, read November 12, 2026.
Fish FWP maps at Clark Canyon Reservoir
Abundant, common and rare are FWP's own labels for Clark Canyon Reservoir, taken from its distribution layer.
| Species | MFISH rating |
|---|---|
| Brook trout | rare |
| Brown trout | common |
| Burbot | abundant |
| Common carp | listed |
| Mountain whitefish | common |
| Rainbow trout | abundant |
FWP MFISH fish distribution layer (ArcGIS service) (FWP rating dates 2018 to 2023), read November 12, 2026. Presence is mapping data, not a catch report.
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Hatchery trucks that unloaded at Clark Canyon Reservoir in 2026, newest first.
| Date | Species | Number | Average length |
|---|---|---|---|
| July 30, 2026 | Rainbow trout | 154,216 | 2.68 in. |
FWP FishMT stocking report for 2026, year to date (FishMT plant report), read November 12, 2026.
Where trailers back down to Clark Canyon Reservoir
No access site with a ramp is tied to Clark Canyon Reservoir; the closest mapped ramps are listed below.
Alternate Montana ramps beside Clark Canyon Reservoir
- Henneberry Fishing Access Site on Beaverhead RiverBeaverhead River, 7 miles northeast
- Pipe Organ Fishing Access Site on Beaverhead RiverBeaverhead River, 7 miles northeast
- Grasshopper Fishing Access Site on Beaverhead RiverBeaverhead River, 10 miles northeast
- Tony Schoonen FAS on Big Hole RiverBig Hole River, 35 miles northeast
- Glen Fishing Access Site on Big Hole RiverBig Hole River, 36 miles north
Walk-in and bank options around Clark Canyon Reservoir
- High Bridge Fishing Access Site on Beaverhead RiverBeaverhead River, 4 miles
- Poindexter Slough Fishing Access Site on Beaverhead RiverBeaverhead River, 18 miles
- Blacktail Meadows Fishing Access Site on Blacktail Deer CreekBlacktail Deer Creek, 21 miles
FishMT's own hours for these sites are a placeholder, so none are printed for Clark Canyon Reservoir; the site pages carry what FWP lists, dated.
FWP Fishing Access Sites layer (ArcGIS service) and the FishMT site pages, read November 12, 2026.
How full Clark Canyon Reservoir is running this fall
USACE readings for Clark Canyon Reservoir, Nov. 12, 1:00 p.m. MST.
USACE Access to Water (water.usace.army.mil), dated readings as served, read November 12, 2026. Not live.
USGS values for Clark Canyon Reservoir load live on page view; USACE figures are dated readings, not live.
What a Montana cooler from Clark Canyon Reservoir may hold
Anglers on Clark Canyon Reservoir follow the exception lines below first, then the district chart for anything they leave unsaid.
| Heading as printed | Section | Rule line | Booklet page |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clark Canyon Reservoir | whole water | Burbot (Ling): 3 over 23 inches daily and in possession. | booklet page 56 |
| Clark Canyon Reservoir | whole water | Combined trout: 3 daily and in possession. | booklet page 56 |
| Clark Canyon Reservoir | CLARK CANYON RESERVOIR UN-NAMED SPRING (S. END OF THE RESERVOIR) ––– | Open third Saturday in May through Nov. 30. | booklet page 56 |
The rules here are from the 2026 Montana Fishing Regulations, valid March 1, 2026 through the end of February 2027; FWP had published no 2027 booklet when this was checked.
Anglers 12 and older buy a Conservation License, an aquatic invasive species pass and a fishing license; the 2026 Montana Fishing Regulations prints $8, $2 and $21 for a resident full season and $10, $7.50 and $100 for a nonresident.
2026 Montana Fishing Regulations (valid March 1, 2026 through February 28, 2027; FWP PDF), read November 12, 2026.
License prices as printed on the FWP fishing license page and in the 2026 Montana Fishing Regulations, p. 12 (the two agree), read November 12, 2026.
Contests on the calendar for Clark Canyon Reservoir
Schedules and weights for Clark Canyon Reservoir sit on their own page.
Clark Canyon Reservoir next to area lakes
Lima Reservoir tops this list at 4,422 acres, per FishMT.
| Water | Distance | Size | County | Ramps | Fish on FWP list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clark Canyon Reservoir | 4,815 acres | Beaverhead County | 0 | 6 | |
| Lima Reservoir | 38 miles southeast | 4,422 acres | Beaverhead County | 0 | 4 |
| Ruby River Reservoir | 40 miles northeast | 941 acres | Madison County | 0 | 6 |
| Lower Miner Lakes | 42 miles northwest | 66 acres | Beaverhead County | 0 | 5 |
| Twin Lakes | 50 miles northwest | 84 acres | Beaverhead County | 0 | 5 |
| Lower Red Rock Lake | 55 miles southeast | 1,913 acres | Beaverhead County | 0 | 2 |
FWP FishMT pages, the Fishing Access Sites layer and the FWP Lakes layer; outline sizes are GIS figures. Read November 12, 2026.
Along the same valley as Clark Canyon Reservoir
Other Montana still water near Clark Canyon Reservoir
- Lima Reservoir38 miles southeast
- Ruby River Reservoir40 miles northeast
- Lower Miner Lakes42 miles northwest
- Twin Lakes50 miles northwest
- Lower Red Rock Lake55 miles southeast
Bait and fly shops worth a detour before Clark Canyon Reservoir
- Tom Smith's Backcountry Anglerbait and tackle shop, Dillon, 20 miles
- Frontier Anglersbait and tackle shop, Dillon, 21 miles
- Sunrise Fly Shopfly shop, Melrose, 47 miles
- Complete Flyfisherfly shop, Wise River, 56 miles
- The Complete Fly Fisherfly shop, Wise River, 56 miles
- Troutfitters Incbait and tackle shop, Wise River, 58 miles
Hiring a Montana guide for Clark Canyon Reservoir
- Big Hole Lodgefishing guide, Wise River, (406) 832-3252
- Five Rivers Lodgefishing guide, Dillon, (800) 378-5006
- LaMarche Creek Outfittingfishing guide, Wise River
- M and M Outfittersfishing guide, Dillon
Montana towns a highway drive from Clark Canyon Reservoir
- Dillon21 miles
Montana county pages that cover Clark Canyon Reservoir
- Beaverhead Countyseat: Dillon
Piscifun tackle chosen for a Montana day at Clark Canyon Reservoir
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Prairie reservoirs and Rockies lakes by Clark Canyon Reservoir through a lens
Photo: Bureau of Land Management Montana and Dakotas, Public domain
Photo: TravelingOtter, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Ken Lund, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Phil Price, CC BY-SA 2.0
Getting Clark Canyon Reservoir sorted before you hit the road
Which Montana town works as a base for Clark Canyon Reservoir?
Head for Beaverhead County; the nearest Census town, Dillon, is about 21 miles away.
How big is Clark Canyon Reservoir by FWP's numbers?
FishMT says 4,815 acres; the mapped outline is about 4,815 acres of mapped outline.
How many Montana boat ramps serve Clark Canyon Reservoir?
FWP shows no ramp here.
What can an angler catch at Clark Canyon Reservoir?
The species list gives brown trout, burbot, mountain whitefish and rainbow trout.
Which regulation chart governs Clark Canyon Reservoir?
There are 3 rule lines on file, shown word for word in the limits band.
Do children need their own license at Clark Canyon Reservoir?
Anglers 12 and older buy a Conservation License, an aquatic invasive species pass and a fishing license; the 2026 Montana Fishing Regulations prints $8, $2 and $21 for a resident full season and $10, $7.50 and $100 for a nonresident. Fishing is unlicensed for those under 12.
Which land-side points serve Clark Canyon Reservoir?
No walk-in or dock site is on file.
Who sells tackle closest to Clark Canyon Reservoir?
Nearest listed: Tom Smith's Backcountry Angler, about 20 miles away.
How full is Clark Canyon Reservoir running?
The level band carries the figures and their dates.
Did FWP plant Clark Canyon Reservoir this season?
FWP shows 1 stocking row, latest 2026-07-30 (rainbow trout).
Are contests scheduled at Clark Canyon Reservoir?
Dates and posted results are collected on one linked page.
Set the alarm for Clark Canyon Reservoir
Buy the FWP license before you tow the boat.