CLEARWATER RIVER FISHING REPORT

Walley Fishing Adventure

Written by Toby Wyatt

Toby has been a fishing guide for 32 years. Toby grew up chasing big fish on area rivers. Toby was voted one of the top 25 guides on the west coast by Salmon & Steelhead Journal. He has also been featured in numerous magazine articles, radio programs, T.V. fishing shows on the Columbia River to the Clearwater River.

Posted September 27, 2023

Clearwater River Salmon Fishing Report and Current Trends

The Clearwater River is known for its healthy and robust salmon runs, particularly Chinook Salmon and Steelhead. These fish migrate from the Pacific Ocean to spawn in the river’s clear and cool waters near Lewiston Idaho and Orofino. Stay up-to-date with our latest fishing news and trends.

Updated | September 27th, 2023

Location | Clearwater River Near Lewiston Idaho

Get Ready for A Massive Steelhead Salmon Run for 2023!

Spots Are Filling Up Fast

Over 5,300 Steelhead from Clearwater River Hatchery have successfully made their way past the Lower Granite Dam, marking the second highest run for this date since 2012.

Take a look at the graph below to see the numbers. Anglers are currently allowed to keep up to 2 hatchery steelhead, but we’re also seeing a few chinook, steelhead, and coho being caught each day.

steelhead chart of fish runs for 2023

The limit is 3 for chinook, 2 for steelhead, and 2 for coho. Keep in mind that the chinook catch may slow down, while the steelhead and coho catches are expected to increase.

 

Updated | September 6th, 2023

Location | Clearwater River Near Lewiston Idaho

Biggest Chinook Run in 10-Years!

We Limit Out 80% of the Time

Get ready for some great fishing near Lewiston, Idaho and the Clearwater River this season! The fall Chinook counts at the Bonneville Dam are above average, which means the fishing will be VERY GOOD.

The fishing season in Idaho started on August 18, 2023 (with the North Fork Clearwater opening on September 1). You can fish in the Snake River, lower Salmon River, and most of the Clearwater basin.

Remember, the daily limit is three adult fish, and you can keep both adipose clipped and unclipped fish. Plus, fishing is allowed seven days a week in all open areas. So grab your gear and get ready for an amazing fishing experience!

We Are Expecting A Large Steelhead Run this Year!

Get ready for an epic Steelhead run in the fall of 2023! The demand is off the charts, so make sure to secure your spot for an unforgettable fishing trip ASAP. Don’t wait too long or you might miss out on the adventure of a lifetime. Book now!

 

 

Spring Chinook Salmon
large chinook salmon caught on the columbia river
Nice Size Steelhead on Clearwater River in Lewiston

Updated | December 21st, 2022

Location | Clearwater River, Lewiston ID

Steelhead Fishing in the Clearwater River 2022

We still have a couple months left for Clearwater, Snake, and Grande Ronde steelhead. We are currently taking a short break as air temps are forecasted to reach single digits. Once we warm back up we will be back at it. We have been finding fish scattered throughout the Clearwater River system and continue to catch nice big fish. As a reminder the Clearwater limit will stay at 1 fish after Jan 1, the Snake will bump up to 2 fish on Idaho tags, and the Grande Ronde will remain at 1 fish. January has been some of our best catching the past few seasons.

Encouraging News for the Upcoming Seasons

The NOAA analyzes ocean conditions to predict adult salmon returns using “stoplight” tables. They evaluate years of sampling data to rank each ocean ecosystem indicator and assign color codes (green = good, yellow = fair, red = poor) to reflect salmon growth and survival conditions. Unfortunately, the past seven years have had some of the worst ocean conditions. However, 2022 has been ranked as one of the best years since 1998, in fact, it’s the second-best in 23 years.

Let’s look at some interesting facts from prior years. In 1999, the ranking was 7.0, and in 2001, the Snake River basin recorded its largest Spring Chinook run ever. In 2008, the ranking was 3.2 (the best in 23 years), and in 2009, we witnessed over 300,000 fish returning over Lower Granite Dam, one of the largest A-run steelhead returns. 

In 2011, 2012, and 2013, the rankings were 8.1, 6.6, and 9.3 respectively, and during that period, we had record returns of fall Chinook. Each season over Bonneville Dam saw close to 1 million fish. We’re hopeful that this trend will continue, bringing us stronger returns of Salmon & Steelhead in the future.

steelhead caught in clearwarter river
clearwater
clearwater river guided tour

Frequently Asked Questions about our fishing trips

HOW MANY PEOPLE CAN I BRING ON MY TRIP?

The legal max boatload is six anglers, but with six full time guides available we are able to accommodate large groups of more than six people.

IS LUNCH/DRINKS PROVIDED ON MY TRIPS?

We do provide a BBQ lunch and drinks on all Clearwater, Snake, and Dworshak trips. Lunch and drinks ARE NOT provided on any of our Columbia River or Grande Ronde river trips.

HOW MANY HOURS ARE WE ON THE WATER?

Look forward to at least 8 hours of fishing unless you book a half day trip, then look forward to 4 hours of fishing

DO YOU PROVIDE ALL THE GEAR WE NEED TO FISH?

Yes, each guide is fully equipped with top-notch rods, reels and bait to ensure success on your trip.

DO I NEED TO PRE-PAY OR PLACE A DEPOSIT DOWN TO HOLD MY SPOT?

We require a 50% deposit at the time of booking, final payment must be made in full 10 days prior to your trip. We do not offer refunds for cancellations or head-count changes made inside 10 days of your trip.

DO YOU CLEAN AND FILLET OUR CATCH?

Yes, all of our guides will clean and fillet your catch unless otherwise specified.