Any reports from the Clearwater River since the Fish and Game opened it? Saw about a dozen fishing right in Lewiston driving over the bridge. How far up the river are on the springers right now? Any one willing to take me out on the weekend because I'm new to the area? I'll drive and pay for gas. Anyone on top of this fishery? Thanks in advance.

Actuary, I was down in Lewiston last Sunday and I was lucky enough to be walking along the side of the river where the boats were fishing at the same time fish and game was checking the boaters. I saw that one boat had several fish checked, one nice one and a couple smallish ones. I watched them check all the boats and only one other boat had any fish, but it looked to be a good one. I'd guess there was about 9-10 boats there at the time. It looks like most guys are just trolling plugs really slowly in the current, basically just holding the boat in the current and throwing the plugs out. Some were even anchored. Sorry, I can't tell you much about the fishery though, I've lived here almost 9 years and this fishery doesn't occur too often.

Duke

Actuary, check out the twin river anglers web site. It looks like they are posting some reports and info that might be of assistance to you.
http://www.traflyfish.com/default.htm

Duke

According to F&G creel reports, the average last week was 17 hours per fish, which is pretty good -- especially since the peak of the run isn't supposed to be coming through for a couple more weeks. Haven't been out personally, but guys that I know who have been putting in their time are being rewarded. Seems like just about everything is working, too -- plugs, spinners, spoons, drift gear, floats. Even hear that some fly fishermen are hooking into a few. Right now the bulk of the pressure is in north Lewiston, near the Potlatch mill, but you'll start seeing the boats and bankers spreading out between here and the Dworshak hatchery.

Carefull guys... Keep in mind that this small run of fish is token at best. The news is playing it up big but its a drop in the bucket. Things are "NOT" O.K and our fish are in big trouble. The politicans are going to point out that we had that one run of about 30,000 fish so things must be getting better. Less than 2,000 of these are wild fish. The money that these fish have already generated for the communitys of Riggens and Orofino should be a clue as to what real runs could generate.

B-run, I hate to admit it but your absolutely correct. I really hope this good run doesn't in turn generate too much of a false sense of security for our fish managers, and even more importantly the politicians who seem to have more input into fish managemnt then they have any right to.
On the other hand, take a look at the Jack salmon counts coming over lower Granite and you'll see that they are well above even last years counts which predicts an even better run for next year. Also when I was down at the Dam last weekend in the viewing room there appeared to be a good portion of wild fish coming through. Kind of makes a guy wonder how much the Ocean conditions have to do with it because really not much has been done for improvements up here in our parts, well other than massive hatchery plants, barging and the occasional drawdown.
Here's a quick question though, why don't they list or count the wild component of this salmon run like they do with the steelhead run? Are all the hatchery salmon not adipose fin clipped? I kow the natives are planning to release some non-fin clipped (aaagh!) salmon in the SF. Clearwater but I thought all the past plants had been clipped.
Still to end on a happy note, at least sportsmen are actually getting a shot at the good run of hatchery fish coming through this year unlike the lower columbia. So take advantage of it while you can. It will also show a glimmer of the benefits for the communities when a fishery is available, and may create more support for increased sustainable runs.

Duke