November 22, 2012
Clearwater Regional Fishing update
Steelhead
Steelhead are well distributed regionwide now, and the Clearwater, Snake,
and Salmon rivers are fishing well. Recent catch rates were 16 hours per fish
caught in the Clearwater River below the Orofino Bridge, eight hours per fish
caught in the Snake River downstream of the Salmon River, and eight hours per
fish caught on the Salmon River from the Little Salmon downstream to Whitebird
Creek.
Boat anglers are having good success back trolling dark plugs and side
drifting eggs and sand shrimp. Bank anglers are consistently producing fish by
drifting bait or with float and baited jigs. Fly anglers, both sink tip
and dry line users, are also catching fish using large nymphs, egg patterns, and
colorful dry flies. With steelhead fly fishing, it’s more about getting your fly
in front of a willing fish than the particular fly used.
Expect the numbers of anglers
to increase over Thanksgiving week and weekend as the Great Snake/Clearwater Steel head Derby runs Nov. 17-24.
For derby rules or to register,
contact the Lewis Clark Valley Chamber of Commerce at
Remember, if fishing in Idaho,
all Idaho steelhead seasons and rules apply.
Lakes and Reservoirs
Late fall and early winter fishing can be very good at all lakes and
reservoirs, and you may have it all to yourself. Winchester, Spring
Valley, Moose Creek, Elk Creek, Mann, Soldiers Meadow and Waha Lakes provide
good fishing opportunities for stocked rainbow trout and various warmwater fish.
Rivers and Streams
November can be very productive fishing the Lochsa, Selway, North Fork
Clearwater rivers, and Kelly Creek. Fly anglers should focus on the deeper
pools and use smaller nymphs to find fish. These streams have harvest and
gear restrictions to protect the easily caught cutthroat, so please review the
regulations before you go.
If
you’re looking for something new, the hard-fighting, yet under-appreciated
whitefish is very common in the region and can grow to 20 inches. The
Clearwater River below Orofino, the Selway, Lochsa, and North Fork Clearwater
rivers all have excellent populations of this sporty fish. Small wet flies
fished just off the bottom in riffle areas works very well.