Clearwater River

hawgcatcher · 07-23-2003, 06:28 AM

Any Ifishers know if there are any smallmouth in the Clearwater in the area of Kamiah? We are planning a trip there in the next month or so and would like to know. I know there are Steelies that go up at least as far as Orofino but thought I might try for smallies.

Mojo · 07-23-2003, 08:10 AM

hawgcatcher,
I know there are smallies from Lewiston up to Orofino. Above there, there might be, but it's hit and miss. If you are bringing a boat, fish Dworshak Reservoir (near Orofino) which produced the state record smallie. It isn't very far from Kamiah to Dworshak. It can be incredible fishing for smallies, and they run big. There are also lots of kokanee, and trout in Dworshak. The fish in the river can run up to 5 pounds.

The main Clearwater has a bunch of chinook in it right now. Most are dark springers, but there are pretty good numbers of summer run fish in there. Starting around August 1 you'll start to pick up steelies, mostly lower in the river. You will get them pitching grubs and on spinnerbaits and crankbaits, while fishing smallies. I hear stories every year about how good the steelheaded bass fishing is in August :grin: .

Mojo · 07-24-2003, 08:06 AM

One other thing, I hear the Kokanee fishing is outstanding in Dworshak right now. Pop gear, a wedding ring spinner, tipped with a maggot or shoepeg corn seems to be the ticket.