Clearwater River at Spalding
USGS 13342500 · Oct 5, 2026, 7:00 PM
Every 60 min · daylight
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A broad, road-accessible big river with blue-ribbon steelhead seasons, salmon opportunity, and mixed trout and bass fishing.
A broad, road-accessible big river with blue-ribbon steelhead seasons, salmon opportunity, and mixed trout and bass fishing. Explore seasonal hatches, access points, and current flow conditions below.
Best Season
Fall through winter for steelhead; spring into early summer for salmon context and mixed trout action; summer for smallmouth and opportunistic trout fishing.
River Type
Large mainstem river with varied current speeds, long runs, deep holes, and slower shoreline water in places.
Skill Level
Intermediate to advanced overall; approachable in developed access areas, but big water, changing flows, and species-specific rules reward preparation.
Best Techniques
Drift fishing, side-drifting, floats, and hardware for steelhead and salmon when seasons are open; nymphs, caddis and Baetis patterns in softer trout water; streamers and warmwater lures for smallmouth in summer.
Access
Excellent by Idaho standards, with road corridors, multiple boat ramps, and several developed facilities noted by IDFG.
Explore fish species associated with the Clearwater River. Each profile includes identification tips, habitat notes, and practical fishing guidance for Idaho anglers.
Review seasonal insect hatches on the Clearwater River, including timing windows and fly pattern suggestions for Idaho fly fishing.
Check current seasons, limits, and special rules for Clearwater River before you go. Regulations change, so always verify with IDFG.
The latest fishing conditions and hatch notes for Clearwater River. Older reports live in the Clearwater River report archive.
These YouTube videos have been hand-curated by our team because we feel they best represent the Clearwater River fishery. Watch for river character, access context, and techniques that translate to your next Idaho trip.
Map data © Mapbox © OpenStreetMap
The Clearwater River supports 4 fish species in our Idaho fishing catalog. Browse each profile for identification tips, seasonal patterns, and how these species are managed on this water.
Today's day score from live flow, weather, and water temperature where gauges allow. It is a planning signal, not a guarantee.
Steelhead and salmon counted at Lower Granite Dam, the last dam below Idaho, and how this year's run compares with the last ten.
The latest fishing conditions and hatch notes for Clearwater River. Older reports live in the Clearwater River report archive.
Steelhead swinging on the Clearwater can be challenging but pays off when it clicks. Stable October conditions with 57-degree water and 3,130 cfs flows.
USGS 13342500 · Oct 5, 2026, 7:00 PM
Every 60 min · daylight
USGS 13340000 · Oct 5, 2026, 5:00 AM
Every 60 min · 247
The Clearwater River has 7 documented insect hatches across spring, summer, fall, and winter. Review seasonal timing and recommended fly patterns to plan productive days on this Idaho water.
Steelhead and salmon counted at Lower Granite Dam, the last dam below Idaho, and how this year's run compares with the last ten.
· yesterday
Lower Granite is the last dam below Idaho. Fish counted there are headed for the Snake, Clearwater and Salmon systems. Fish bound for the Clearwater leave the Snake at Lewiston, just above the dam.
Steelhead · Lower Granite Dam
Well below typical544
862
0th
20,607
Passage over the last three days is well below typical for early October (0th percentile) and easing.
20,607 steelhead have passed Lower Granite since June 16. In a typical year about 52 percent of the run is through by October 4, and passage peaks around October 4.
On pace for roughly 33,000 to 46,000 fish, against a typical 71,000.
Wild fish: 4,441 so far, about 51 percent of a typical wild run.
Bars are the day's count at Lower Granite through Oct 4. The dashed line is what the date usually brings, the ten-year median.
Fall chinook · Lower Granite Dam
Well below typical105
184
0th
22,582
Passage over the last three days is well below typical for early October (0th percentile) and easing.
22,582 fall chinook have passed Lower Granite this year. In a typical year about 90 percent of the run is through by October 4, and passage peaks around September 16.
On pace for roughly 24,000 to 27,000 fish, against a typical 29,000.
Bars are the day's count at Lower Granite through Oct 4. The dashed line is what the date usually brings, the ten-year median.
Coho · Lower Granite Dam
Typical162
159
30th
2,345
Passage over the last three days is typical for early October (30th percentile).
2,345 coho have passed Lower Granite this year. In a typical year about 33 percent of the run is through by October 4, and passage peaks around October 12.
On pace for roughly 4,700 to 17,000 fish, against a typical 8,600.
Bars are the day's count at Lower Granite through Oct 4. The dashed line is what the date usually brings, the ten-year median.
Spring chinook: over for the year, 28,119 passed Lower Granite against a typical 37,000.Season overWhen they reach this water
Antennas in the water read tagged fish as they swim past. A best guess is our estimate of the peak; fish seen are dates real fish were actually recorded. Each spot below says whether it sits on this river or on a tributary.
Clearwater River tributary
Clearwater River tributary
Counts by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers via Columbia River DART.
Half the chinook run was past Lower Granite by June 23, and they take about 46 days to reach the North Fork Clearwater at Dworshak. Measured over 8 seasons that vary a fair bit.
Clearwater River tributary
Half the chinook run was past Lower Granite by June 23, and they take about 1 day to reach Clear Creek. Measured over 3 seasons that vary a fair bit.
Clearwater River tributary
Half the steelhead run is usually past Lower Granite around October 5, and they take about 149 days to reach Lapwai Creek. Measured over 6 seasons that vary a fair bit.
Clearwater River tributary
Clearwater River tributary
Arrival timing from PIT-tag detections via PTAGIS and Columbia River DART; tagged fish are a sample of the run, never a count.
These 11 YouTube videos have been hand-curated by our team because we feel they best represent the Clearwater River fishery. Each pick highlights river character, access, and techniques worth knowing before you fish this Idaho water.
Jones Sport Fishing
Oct 26, 2025
Hickology
Mar 20, 2018
Fishing guides, outfitters, shuttles, and shops that operate on the Clearwater River.
Today's day score from live flow, weather, and water temperature where gauges allow. It is a planning signal, not a guarantee.
Track record builds after 30 graded days.
Bite forecast · Clearwater River
2026-10-05 · Reduced confidence · no live water temp
How was it?
Were you on the water today? Rate the fishing in two taps. Your feedback grades this day score over time.
No strong prime window today
Peak at 19:00 (score 4.6). Helping: wtemp, light, cloud. Hurting: flow.
Flow trend
down 5% over 7 days
Hatch forecast
From this water's hatch chart, shifted by this year's water temperature. Water running 3 days behind recent years.
Rigs & patterns
From recent technique and hatch reports, not a prescription.
Scandi head
techniqueScandi head paired with light leader can cover water without putting fly too deep
House of Fly · 2026-09-26
Skagit
techniqueSkagit setup makes sense for heavier or faster runs
House of Fly · 2026-09-26
black traditional · purple traditional · orange traditional
techniqueSmaller traditional patterns in black, purple and orange can work well in clearer water
House of Fly · 2026-09-26
Suggested rig
techniqueScandi heads and floating lines are worth fishing through shallower runs and broad tail outs. Intermediate leaders can help keep the fly just below the surface.
House of Fly · 2026-09-24
Flow
0cfs
down 5% over 7 days
Water temp
Not measured
Thermal class: cold_verified
Weather
54 → 85 °F
Low 7 AM · high 4 PM
Partly cloudy · PoP 0%
Wind 2–7 mph
↑ Rising · 988.3 hPa
Field intel
Extracted facts from recent shop/guide reports, not rewritten prose.
3,110 cfs and 55°F
River has dropped another 410 cfs since last week, temperature fallen from 58°F to 55°F
Floating and intermediate setups worth keeping in play through broad tailouts and shallower runs
Scandi head paired with light leader can cover water without putting fly too deep
Skagit setup makes sense for heavier or faster runs
Smaller traditional patterns in black, purple and orange can work well in clearer water
Scandi heads and floating lines are worth fishing through shallower runs and broad tail outs. Intermediate leaders can help keep the fly just below the surface.
Orange, black and purple patterns are all worth carrying, along with a few larger presentations for deeper water or changing conditions.
Other sources
Live gauges and weather inputs behind this forecast.
