Steelhead Fishing on the Clearwater River in Idaho

The Clearwater River in Idaho is a famous destination for steelhead fishing because it is home to the largest steelhead hatchery in the world. It is known for its extremely large “B” run steelhead, which average 15 pounds and have weighed as much as 30 pounds. Many fisherman using many different techniques have managed to fight large steelhead on the scenic Clearwater River.

  1. Steelhead

    • Steelhead are trout that live part of their lives in rivers and part of their lives in the ocean. They are the same species as rainbow trout and are easily identified by their characteristic olive green, speckled coloration marked with pink stripes down the side. They can grow to more than 30 pounds in some places, like the Clearwater River, and often put up a strong fight for the angler fishing for them.

    Clearwater River

    • The Clearwater River cuts straight across the northern half of the state of Idaho, running from the Bitter Root Mountains west through Washington to the ocean. The river is known for having very large “B” run fish, since they have a long journey to get back from the ocean a couple hundred miles away. The largest hatchery in the world is on the Clearwater, which contributes greatly to the consistent success of many anglers.

    Fishing Techniques

    • All kinds of steelhead fishing techniques work in the Clearwater River, especially for the “B” run steelhead. The most common method is fly-fishing, incorporating both wet and dry flies. Another method is side-drifting, which means dragging your bait from behind your boat as you float down the river, waiting for a bite. This is used by many guide services in the Northwest.

    Seasons

    • Steelhead show up in the rivers at different times of the year depending on which “run” they are associated with. The Clearwater River's well-known “B” run steelhead show up in August and stay until the next spring. The peak fishing season for them is September through November. There are “A” run steelhead that pass through the Clearwater on the way to the Salmon river in the summer, but they are usually much smaller, averaging under 10 pounds. The “B” run fish tend to be the largest, since they have been in the ocean the longest before returning to their original home to spawn.

    Regulations

    • Steelhead are defined by the Idaho Fish and Game as rainbow trout over 20 inches in length. Only steelhead that are missing their adipose fin, a small fin above their tails, can be kept as these are hatchery fish. Wild steelhead are catch and release only. You can only use barbless hooks to fish steelhead in the Clearwater River. In addition to a fishing license, you must have a steelhead permit on you when fishing for steelhead, even if you are a non-resident.