Report Date 1/6/12

The Clearwater fished decent over the past week.   The Clearwater region received a large amount of moisture around Christmas which caused the river to rise very rapidly and blow out, but by the first of the year the river was on the drop and fishing well.   Sunday through Tuesday produced the best results and fishing started to taper off toward the later part of the week.   Due to good fishing during the early part of the week the lower Clearwater was a busy place by Friday.  The increase in fishing pressure combined with rapidly dropping water conditions have combined to make fishing spotty.   It seems that the low flows we were dealing with in December have returned.  With the increased in fishing pressure one of the keys to success will be finding fish that have not had any boats blasting over the top of them. 

The two techniques that produced the best last week were side drifting and back trolling plugs/diver and bait combinations.   Normally with the lower water we a looking at for the foreseeable future back trolling would be the go to method for catching steelhead, but at this time the river still has a slight amount of color to it which will allow angers to continue to have success side drifting.  During conditions like these we suggest that anglers pick which ever method they have the most confidence in and fish it hard.   In the world of steelhead fishing we like to say that, “time is not spent its invested,” so put your time in and good things will happen.

Report Date: 12/14/11

Fishing over the past few weeks has been fairly consistent.  Our guides have been averaging 5 to 7 opportunities at fish a trip.  This is actually really good fishing considering the Clearwater is flowing low and clear and has been for the last three weeks.  We have been having the most success back trolling diver and shrimp.  This combination lets us work holes at a very slow pace giving fish plenty of time to see the bait.  Fishing slow is the most critical component to success during periods of low, clear, and cold flows.  When conditions are like what we are currently dealing with the skill of the angler or guide really makes the difference during a day’s fishing.   Success hinges on knowing exactly where in a hole fish are holding.  This kind of knowledge only comes from countless days on the water. 

Anglers looking for success during the cold, low water periods on the Clearwater should focus on two particular methods of fishing, float and jig/bait or diver and Bait.  Both of these methods allow anglers to focus on individual holding areas within a particular hole.  These methods also allow anglers to fish extremely slow and methodical; giving fish all the time they need to react to your presentation.   The types of water we look for during these current conditions are the deepest slowest portion of pools.  These are the areas that cold water steelhead most prefer because it affords them the ability to not have to expend much energy to stay in one area.

Success can be had during cold periods by making a few small adjustments to your fishing style and concentrating on the correct holding areas.  Remember to fish you bait slow and low.

Report Date 11/30/11

Fishing over the past week has improved greatly over the previous week or so.  During the past week day and night time temperatures rose and this stabilized the water temperatures in the lower 40’s.  Our guides were consistently putting clients on fish throughout the holiday week.  Most fish were hooked side drifting bait or back trolling plugs/diver and bait combinations.  During this time of year slowing down the presentation via back trolling seems to have the highest success.

We also heard a few reports of fly anglers getting into some fish last week.  Most of the successful anglers are throwing sink tips and winter steelhead type flies.  During the cold weather months many fly anglers think that the prime time to swing a steelhead is over, but for a few of us diehards we realize that by slowing our presentations down and fishing near the bottom we can have some very good days swinging flies throughout the winter months.  A few of our guides are so dedicated to the swing that they choose to fish this way throughout the entire season (even during the indicator tossing spring season).

For next week the weather is calling for some cold clear nights and lower daytime highs.  This kind of weather can sometimes slow the fishing down some, but often some of our best fishing of the year is done during the coldest weather.  Our guides know the places fish hold when the weather gets cold.

Report Date 11.15.11

Last week we experienced our first winter cold front of the season, and as a result fishing was very slow.  Our guides managed a few fish, but to be honest fishing was very tough.  Most fish were caught side drifting large baits and back trolling diver and shrimp.  In our opinion most of the slow fishing was attributed to the rapid change in weather.  We went from decent fall weather to winter rain/snow in a matter of only a few days. 

Success for fly anglers was very limited last week with most of the action coming from guys throwing sink tips and some larger winter type steelhead patterns.  When the water gets cold it seems the fish need a little extra coaxing to get them to move to a fly.  Our favorite patters during the colder late fall flows are big marabou and bunny leach varieties.  Black and pink seem to be two of the most dominate color patterns that produce fish through the colder months. 

For next week we will see continued weather rolling in and out of the area.  I think that this will only improve fishing conditions.  Rain is forecast for the Orofino area for most of the week.  Rain and wet weather mean the river should come up some which will improve fishing.  The biggest key to success during tough fishing conditions is to fish hard and remember that these are steelhead and part of the allure of fishing for steelhead is that they are difficult to catch. 

Clearwater fishing report for 11.7.11

Fishing slowed slightly during the past week.  Cold clear nights combined with snow falling in the high country dropped water temps into the low 44-39 degree range.  Because water temps fell quickly in the upper river fishing was a little slower than we would have liked over the weekend.  With that in mind our guides were able to make the adjustment to consistently put our clients into fish.  While the fish were a little more reluctant to bite our guide’s knowledge of how the river responds to different water conditions was the key to success.  We slowed things down and fished a little more methodical and were handsomely rewarded with large Clearwater B-Run steelhead. 

Gear anglers continued to have the most success side drifting bait and back trolling plugs/diver and bait combination.  Like I said above the key to success was to slow things down and methodically work the water we knew held fish.  When water temps begin to cool down steelhead wont move as far to attack a well presented offering, at this point the skill of the angler or guide really comes into play because putting you bait or lure precisely into the steelhead lair is absolutely essential. 

For fly anglers success was limited.  With the current water temps anglers swinging with sink tips will produce the most fish.  This is not saying that some of the die hard floating line guys wont get a few, but when temps get into the low 40’s its time to bust out the tips.  Angles willing to fish their gear slow and low will consistently put more fish on the bank than the guys insisting on fishing the floating line.  With that said fishing style is dictated most by what makes the individual angler the happiest and not all fishing methods are for everyone, so do what makes your time on the water the most enjoyable to you, and let the steelhead gods decide the rest.

The weather for next week looks to be quite similar to last week.  As the fish get used to the colder water temps fishing should improve this week.  The end of the week is calling for some rain which might send a new push of fish up the river and improve fishing even more.

Report 11.1.11

Report Date: 11/1/11

Fishing over the last week remained very good on the Clearwater.  Although for some people fishing was hit or miss our guides consistently put fish in the boat for our clients.  Once again the two most productive methods were back trolling plugs and side drifting bait.  Fishing became a little more difficult toward the end of last week because we were in the middle of weather patterns and had some bright sunny days.  During days when the water was low and the sun was high we had most of our success during the first few hours of fishing and then again during the last few hours of daylight.  When we see these conditions it really pays to fish long hard days searching for the pool that is loaded with fish.

Fly anglers continued to have good success swinging wet flies on the dry line.  During the past week we had most of our hookups on patterns that resemble the many October caddis that hatch this time of year.  It really seemed like patterns that have some copper or a hint of orange produced the best.  Our favorite patters last week were muddler minnow variations with a hint of orange in them.  Still sizes 6-8 seemed to be the best. 

For this week look for fishing to be very good.  We had a really good rain on Sunday night and into Monday morning.  This weather dropped a lot of water and the river came up some and spiked today, Tuesday morning.  This is the pattern we really love!  It seems that every time we get some sort of spike in flows, no matter how small, that it really gets some fish moving and feeling aggressive.  Look for fishing to be very good into this upcoming weekend.  Gear anglers fishing from boats should look for side drifting and back trolling the produce the best results.  Remember that when looking for fish it really pays to know the water well so pick a section and learn it well.  I do not recommend chasing good fishing reports all over the river because by the time that you heard the fishing was good it’s too late.  Bank anglers will have the most success fishing bobber and jig presentations, and once again find water you like and learn it well.  Dedication to your craft will provide great results when you can get a section or hole super dialed in.

Fly angers still have a few good weeks to hook steelhead on a floating line in the Clearwater.  Our water temps have been slowly dropping which tends to keep us swinging on the floater longer into the fall than in years when water temps plummet quickly.  Look for anything that resembles an October caddis to produce well this next week.  As I have said before this is a game of casting and presenting you fly to as many fish as possible, but don’t forget to work the water close to you well.  Don’t be a guy who hucks it toward the middle of the river without working the close water first, as most of us who live here landed many fish with a single hander swinging well before we got into the obsessive spey world. 

10/25/11

Report Date: 10/25/11

Fishing over the past week remained really good.  Our gear guides averaged 5-8 fish landed during the week.  This is really good steelhead fishing.  During the week we saw the water drop and clear significantly, and this led to a few days were we had to work for our fish during parts of the day, but anytime you can go out and land 5-8 fish in a day of steelhead fishing it’s a great day on the water.  Our guides continue to have success side drifting bait as well as back trolling plugs and diver and bait combinations.  This time of year it is really all about picking which method you enjoy fishing the most and just going fishing. 

Fly anglers continued to have good success over the past week.  We have notice that most of our opportunities at fly caught steelhead have been from about noon to dark, this time frame also coincides with water temperatures being at their warmest which tends to make fish a little more active.  Most of our fish have come to our standard array of small (6-8) hair wings, but a pattern has been developing over the past few weeks, we are noticing that when the afternoon October caddis hatch is on the fish are reacting a little better to flies with a hint of orange to them.  Also quite a few fish were hooked last week on muddler minnow varieties in the same small sizes as we fish hair wings.  These muddlers fished just under the surface have a tendency to elicit some really aggressive grabs!

Fishing looks to continue to stay good through this week.  Water levels came up some today which should help get some fish moving.  Every time we see a small bump in flows it is usually followed by some really good fishing.   Side drifting bait and back trolling plugs and/ or diver and bait combinations will likely continue to see some of the best results for the boating anglers.  Bank anglers should stick to the always dependable bobber and jig set up as we have witnessed a few bank anglers picking them up on the jig.

For fly angers this current weather pattern that we are in of cold nights and decently warm days will mean that the best time during the day to swing flies will be from early afternoon until dark.  As water temps start to head toward the mid forties some guys may want to try swinging some light sink tips to help the fish not have to travel so far to take a fly.  With that said we have caught fish on a dry line with water temps in the upper thirties, so don’t get any ideas that dry line season may be nearing its end.  If swinging a dry line is your style then stick to it because you may be rewarded with the fish of a lifetime!