Fly and Gear ordering and delivery: We can get flies to you within two to three business days from the time you place your order via Priority Mail. If you provide a budget for flies, we will select them to match the budget and get them to you on time for your trip. Please see the bottom of this column for ordering options.
We also have custom Perfect Fly selections in 3 different price ranges for this stream that come with or without fly boxes. They make excellent gifts. Click Here To Order or Call us at 800 594 4726 or email us at sales@perfectflystore.com.
Type of Stream
Freestone
Species
Steelhead
Rainbow Trout
Cutthroat Trout
Location
North Central Idaho
Size:
Large
Nearest Towns
Lewiston
Kooskia
Syringa
Several others
Season
Memorial Day through March but
species dependent – check current
regulations
Access:
Very Good
USGS Stream Flow Data:
At Spalding
Non-Resident License
State of Idaho
Recommended Tackle & Gear
Fly Line:
5 or 6 weight
Leaders:
Dry fly: 9 & 12 ft., 5 or 6X, Nymphing:
71/2 ft., 3 or 4X, Streamers 0-2X
Tippets:
Dry fly: 5 or 6X, Nymphing: 3 or 4X,
Streamer 0-2X
Best Fly Rods:
Perfect Fly Superb Five or Ultimate Six
Fly Reels:
For 5/6 fly line
Fly Floatants and Misc Items:
Floatants, KISS Strike Indicators
Tools & Accessories:
Nippers, forceps, retractors, etc.
Recommended Tackle & Gear
For Steelhead and Salmon
Fly Line:
7, 8 , 9 or 10 weight for appropriate typerod, sinking, sinking tip and floating
Leaders:
10#, 12# in 9 to 15 feet lengths
Tippets:
10# and 12#
Best Fly Rods:
Perfect Fly 7, 8, 9 and 10 ft. single hand rods
Fly Reels:
For 7 to 10 weight lines
Fly Floatants and Misc Items:
KISS Strike Indicators, Lanyards, etc.
Tools & Accessories:
Nippers, forceps, retractors, etc.
Fly and Gear ordering and delivery:
Email us at (sales@perfectflystore.com) with the dates you will be fishing and we will send you a list of our fly recommendations. We can get flies and gear to you within two to three business days from the time you place your order via Priority Mail. If you provide a budget for flies, we will select them to match the budget and get them to you on time for your trip. Your can also call us at 800-594-4726 and we will help you decide what flies and gear to use. All orders are shipped free in the U.S. If under a $100 order requiring Priority mail is a charge of only $8.10. Orders over a $100 are shipped free via Priority Mail.
Copyright 2013 James Marsh
Clearwater River, Idaho – Fishing Report – April 21, 2024
The stream is flowing near a normal level in the lower river and in the North Fork. We didn’t get any reports from anyone fishing for steelhead but there are still in the river.
Lower Clearwater River: Rate:
1680 cfs
Level: 7.05 ft.
Afternoon Water Temperature: 46 degrees
USGS Real-time Stream Flow Data near Spalding ID
North Fork Clearwater River (above Dworshak Dam):
Rate: 4680 cfs
Level: 8.57 ft.
Water Temperature: 48 degrees
Clarity: stained
USGS Real-time Stream Flow Data at Canyon Ranger Station
Weather:
Recommended Trout Flies:
Brown Sculpin and White Belly Sculpin and Articulated streamers, size 6/4
Black Matuka and Olive Matuka Sculpin, size 4/6
Blue-winged Olives: size 16, 18 nymph, emergers, duns and spinners
Aquatic Worms, size 12, pink, red, and others
Midges: Cream and Red (Blood) midges sizes 20/22, larva, pupa and adult. Our larva and pupa midge flies, pre-rigged in tandem, are very popular here. You can fish them under a strike indicator keeping the larva fly near the bottom. https://perfectflystore.com/product/pre-rigged-tandem-midge-larva-pupa-tippet
Skwala Stoneflies: 10 nymphs and adults
March Browns: 14/16, nymphs, emergers, duns and spinners
Recommended Steelhead flies:
Fly Fishing On The Clearwater River In Idaho: The Clearwater River is a beautiful 75 mile-long river located in north central Idaho. It flows from the Bitterroot Mountains to eventually join the Snake River. It is formed by the confluence of the Middle Fork of the Clearwater River and the South Fork of the Clearwater River. Fly fishing the Clearwater River can be good most anytime of the year depending on where you fish it and which species you pursue. The Middle Fork Clearwater is quite large because it consist of the water from both the Lochsa River and the Selway River. The smaller South Fork of the Clearwater River originates in the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness.The North Fork Clearwater River is a prime cutthroat trout stream. It receives the water from Kelly Creek and Little North Fork Clearwater River. Dworshak Dam blocked the once thriving summer steelhead run. Access is available from Forest Road #250 for most of the river. The Clearwater River was one of the first Wild and Scenic Rivers. Access is great because a highway follows the Clearwater River from its headwaters to the Snake River. The river picks up a few tributary streams along its way to the Snake River. Lolo Creek, Jim fork Creek, Orofing Creek, the North Fork of the Clearwater River, Big Canyon creek, Bedrock Creek, Cottonwood Creek, the Potlatch River and finally, Lapwai Creek, join it prior to entering Lower Granite Lake.Fly fishing the Clearwater River for steelhead is probably best in the Fall. It is one of the nations most popular steelhead fishing destinations. Fishing opportunities for steelhead continue through March. The wide Clearwater River usually has moderate flows that are best covered with a Spey Rod but single-handed rods work for the steelhead as well. Rainbow and cutthroat trout fishing is usually best from about the end of May to the middle of July. It slows down some in the Summer but pick back up from about the Middle of August through September. It’s of course possible to catch them anytime of the season. Several of the tributary streams have good trout fishing opportunities. The fish are not exactly highly selective but it certainly helps to use specification imitations of the most available and plentiful aquatic insects at the time your fishing. Attractor and generic flies work to some extent but never as well as better imitations of the naturals.
Fishing Report Archives:
04/16/19 The river is still flowing far above normal or a good level to fish. Steelhead were being caught when the levels were down.. check back.
06/09/19 the stream levels are falling fast and clearing. It won’t be much longer until the river is in prime condition. Now is the time to get your gear and flies in order for the upcoming good fly fishing opportunities.
06/26/19 The stream levels are in good shape and the water mostly clear. There are lots of insects hatching but vary greatly with the section being fished. Trout are being caught in good numbers. Smallmouth bass fishing is very good.
08/03/19 Trout fishing has been fair in the NF. Lots of steelhead are coming into the river. It should be a good upcoming season.
09/25/19 Steelhead season is closed for the entire season due to low returns. Salmon season has ended. Trout fishing remain good when stream levels are good. The North Fork is currently just a little above normal and in good shape. The lower river is very high.
05/02/20 Conditions remain the same. Runoff is still underway and the stream levels very
high. It should begin to drop back down soon.
06/19/20 The river is still high and highly stained from runoff but dropping. Hopefully, it will drop and clear soon. Fish when it drops back down.
sales@perfectflystore.com
06/30/20 The main stream levels are still very high and highly stained. It is too high to fish. The North Fork Clearwater is down near a normal level and mostly clear. Trout are being caught there. There are some good hatches taking place.
07/11/20 All sections of the river are flowing at a good level with the water clear. There are
good hatches taking place and our customers are sending in good reports.
08/16/20 The stream is turning out some good catches of trout. There is no sign of steelhead yet, but it is time to be getting your flies and gear in order. It won’t be long.
Note: We are discontinuing posting archive
reports. We have many already posted.
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