Report Date: 9/24/12

Over the past week our guides have continued to have decent success swinging flies on the Lower Clearwater.  The fishing has not been gangbuster but the fish are here and anglers willing to fish hard have been having decent success.  The biggest key to success has been covering lots of water.  Anglers who fish hard over good water are having success.  Other major keys to successful fishing have been fishing good water (not just water that is easy to fish), not being afraid to try new water, and switching to light sink tips during periods of high sun and heavy fishing pressure.   Sometimes all it takes to get a grab is to present your fly a little lower in the water column.  Small, buggy, spey type patters and small leach type stuff have been our go to offerings.

Gear anglers continue to have good success back trolling plugs.  Metallic finishes have been the best producers.  Wiggle Wart and Hot Shot type plugs have been consistent producers.  I can’t think of a more enjoyable time of year to be out on the Clearwater Fishing for B Run Steelhead, and speaking of B runs our guides have been into quite a few large fish over the last few days.  Hopefully it’s a sign of things to come!

Report Date: 9/19/12

Over the past week steelhead numbers at Lower Granite have continued to increase daily.  Good numbers of fish have been crossing the dam since the middle of last week.  Fishing has also continued to improve in the lower Clearwater.  Most successful anglers are targeting the river below Cherry Lane Bridge, but there should be some fish distributed all the way to Orofino.  Fly anglers this week continued to have some success swinging small wet flies such as Lady Caroline’s and Green Butt Skunks near the surface on floating lines during low light hours or when the sun is behind the fish in the later afternoon hours.  During the mid-day hours anglers that switched things up a bit and fished small leach type patterns on light sink tips also found some success.  The key to getting a fish on a swung fly is to fish hard and this principal has not changed since last week.  Anglers willing to put their time in and cover lots of water have been rewarded with feisty steelhead.

Gear anglers also continued to have decent success with most fish coming to a variety of back trolled plugs such as hot shots and wiggle warts.  During this time of year the metallic type finishes seem to be the best plug options. 

Flows at Dworshak Dam have now been reduced to our low fall flows and the river is currently in prime fall form.  These are the water conditions most people associate with fall steelhead fishing in Idaho, and I must admit that I get a little giddy seeing all of the wonderful steelhead water reappear after a spring and summer of high flows.  This is the time of year we have all waited for, and I am jacked!

Report Date: 9/10/12

An increase in steelhead counts at Lower Granite over the past few days combined with dropping flows have led to an increase in catch rates on the Lower Clearwater.   We have been having consistent success swinging small traditional hair wing type pattern near the surface during the low light hours as well as small dark leachy stuff on light sink tips when the sun is high.  Our key to success has been to cover lots of water and fish hard.  When the water is still high in late summer guys need to approach the Clearwater a little different than you would during early October.  During August and the first half of September we look for fish in areas that will have little to no water later in the year.  Fish the fishy water and don’t be afraid to fish runs with your back in the brush and you will find fish.  The river is very big this time of year so fish the water you can effectively and forget about the rest.  Overcasting is one of the biggest mistakes we see from many anglers on the Clearwater.  Look for fishing to continue to improve during the next few weeks.  Discharge from Dworshak Dam will continue to decrease as the flow augmentation period for the lower river draws to a close.  The river will be slowly stepped down over the next week and a half and by the end of September the Clearwater will be in her prime low fall flows.  The fall is a magical time in the Clearwater Valley and should be on everyone’s to fish list!