Anyone have any information they'd be willing to share regarding the steelhead or springer fishing on the Clearwater???? Like best time of year, water depth at the gauges, places to stay, places to put in at. I'm running a 20' sled... Might put a trip together - just thinkin, hmmmmmm.

PLEEZE ! ! !

The Clearwater is thought to be opening around the 15th of april (anybodys guess )
The real fishing will depend on the fish counts over the dam . the first couple on weeks most people fish right around the railroad bridge. water can vary depending on the runoff of snow. Plan to be out there the first week on may . good luck

No telling at this time but watch steam flow information. Chances are pretty good that we are going to get blown out by high water this year in May. Anything over 30,000 cfs is no good. At 40-50,000 you have trees floating down etc. Not fun, but wait and see how it goes.

Hey thanks for the info. I imagine this is for the Springer action, yes? Do you have any idea of what can be expected on a normal day out fishing on the Clearwater, ie numbers of fish, temps, rain/sun etc?

Just make sure that they know you're from Montana, they love guys from Montana. If you own a sled and your from Montana, they'll probably offer you the keys to the city.

You will catch two fish... one at 08:30 and another at 2:30 It will be 71 degrees out and it will be sunny. You will step on your rod and break it at 4:15..

Who knows ??? if the fish are in and the water is right you can do pretty well. If not it can suck.. sort of like any river in any place

I was kinda getting into the timing of catching fish but was hoping for a more productive day. I can do that on the Skagit and not leave the area. BUT THEN you had me breaking my rod at 4:15 What's up with that!!!

pfffft - My karma will overshadow the rod breaking, being centered with the universe and all - the rod will come through unscathed.

Starting the run at mid may with wrapped K14's and, ending with roe by mid june. From the RR bridge to the south fork. This has been my prediction for the last 6 years.
I believe there's some sorta spud head derby goin on around the 1'st of July. By then the fish are kinda blush. And the gov'ner will be there fish'n for boots.

O.K- you won't break your pole !!! Good luck !!

On boot issue... they are all boots after june 1 if you ask me. They hold up pretty good through May.

It looks like this year you can buy a license for a second pole for steelhead and salmon.It should help figure out what they want to hit.

damm, I gotta get me one of them sleds. but then again what would I do with the keys to the city? Ohhh ya, I know. I'd lose them. I don't know much about the springers but when it gets closer to Oct I could help a little with the Steelies.
I find the Washington State DART site very helpfull along with Stream flows from the USGS
The one thing I know about fishing around Orofino in late May is that it can be one hot mofo. High 90's some days. Bring your own shade.