Selway River

Tributary of the Middle Fork Clearwater River

  • Recommended Fishing Water

Selway River in Idaho County is 100.1 miles in length.

Facilities

Motor Restriction
Yes
Boat Ramp
No
Dock
No
Toilet
Yes
Campground
Yes
ADA Access
Yes

Recommended Game Fish

Species Observed in Surveys

Fish Stocking Records

Date Species Quantity General Size
2024/03/12 Chinook Salmon 419,768 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
2023/03/16 Chinook Salmon 406,254 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
2022/03/22 Chinook Salmon 434,605 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
2021/03/24 Chinook Salmon 395,748 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
2020/03/10 Chinook Salmon 398,785 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
2019/03/19 Chinook Salmon 402,570 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
2018/03/23 Chinook Salmon 451,416 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
2017/04/06 Chinook Salmon 639,093 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
2016/10/20 Chinook Salmon 169,971 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
2016/03/16 Chinook Salmon 464,568 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
2015/03/10 Chinook Salmon 382,164 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
2014/03/24 Chinook Salmon 410,025 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
2013/03/18 Chinook Salmon 426,696 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
2012/03/21 Chinook Salmon 415,369 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
2011/06/13 Chinook Salmon 302,782 Fry (0-3 inches)
2011/03/23 Chinook Salmon 414,270 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
2010/06/14 Chinook Salmon 313,351 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
2010/03/24 Chinook Salmon 402,160 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
2009/06/23 Chinook Salmon 298,711 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
2009/04/02 Chinook Salmon 399,257 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
2008/04/03 Chinook Salmon 309,380 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
2007/06/25 Chinook Salmon 304,026 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
2007/04/02 Chinook Salmon 269,349 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
2006/04/03 Chinook Salmon 317,382 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
2005/06/21 Chinook Salmon 301,530 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
2002/07/09 Chinook Salmon 231 Adults
2001/07/17 Chinook Salmon 103,811 Fry (0-3 inches)
2001/07/03 Chinook Salmon 400 Adults
2001/06/26 Chinook Salmon 400 Adults
2001/06/21 Chinook Salmon 400 Adults
2001/06/19 Chinook Salmon 445 Adults
2001/06/14 Chinook Salmon 400 Adults
2001/06/12 Chinook Salmon 400 Adults
2001/06/07 Chinook Salmon 450 Adults
2001/06/05 Chinook Salmon 400 Adults
1998/09/29 Chinook Salmon 5,712 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1998/04/21 Chinook Salmon 8,892 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1997/09/02 Chinook Salmon 282 Adults
1997/08/28 Chinook Salmon 200 Adults
1997/08/27 Chinook Salmon 400 Adults
1997/04/11 Chinook Salmon 1,426 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1994/07/22 Chinook Salmon 37,663 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1994/07/18 Chinook Salmon 79,024 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1990/08/16 Rainbow Trout 1,500 Catchable (6+ inches)
1990/07/13 Rainbow Trout 1,000 Catchable (6+ inches)
1990/05/23 Rainbow Trout 500 Catchable (6+ inches)
1989/07/24 Rainbow Trout 957 Catchable (6+ inches)
1989/06/30 Rainbow Trout 1,536 Catchable (6+ inches)
1988/06/28 Rainbow Trout 1,105 Catchable (6+ inches)
1988/06/09 Rainbow Trout 523 Catchable (6+ inches)
1988/05/26 Rainbow Trout 2,430 Catchable (6+ inches)
1987/06/11 Rainbow Trout 2,500 Catchable (6+ inches)
1987/05/21 Rainbow Trout 2,500 Catchable (6+ inches)
1986/07/14 Rainbow Trout 7,000 Catchable (6+ inches)
1986/05/12 Rainbow Trout 993 Catchable (6+ inches)
1985/07/22 Rainbow Trout 2,550 Catchable (6+ inches)
1985/07/16 Rainbow Trout 1,230 Catchable (6+ inches)
1985/07/12 Rainbow Trout 2,460 Catchable (6+ inches)
1985/07/11 Rainbow Trout 2,050 Catchable (6+ inches)
1984/08/08 Rainbow Trout 3,200 Catchable (6+ inches)
1984/07/11 Rainbow Trout 2,100 Catchable (6+ inches)
1984/06/13 Rainbow Trout 1,650 Catchable (6+ inches)
1983/07/13 Rainbow Trout 1,850 Catchable (6+ inches)
1983/06/09 Rainbow Trout 1,080 Catchable (6+ inches)
1983/05/27 Rainbow Trout 617 Catchable (6+ inches)
1982/08/18 Rainbow Trout 2,700 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1982/08/06 Rainbow Trout 2,040 Catchable (6+ inches)
1982/07/17 Rainbow Trout 2,400 Catchable (6+ inches)
1981/07/14 Rainbow Trout 2,220 Catchable (6+ inches)
1981/07/01 Rainbow Trout 1,650 Catchable (6+ inches)
1981/06/25 Rainbow Trout 1,520 Catchable (6+ inches)
1981/06/05 Rainbow Trout 1,170 Catchable (6+ inches)
1981/05/22 Rainbow Trout 2,640 Catchable (6+ inches)
1980/07/11 Rainbow Trout 1,650 Catchable (6+ inches)
1980/06/27 Chinook Salmon 9,300 Fry (0-3 inches)
1980/06/25 Rainbow Trout 2,040 Catchable (6+ inches)
1980/06/19 Rainbow Trout 1,750 Catchable (6+ inches)
1980/06/06 Rainbow Trout 2,040 Catchable (6+ inches)
1980/06/02 Chinook Salmon 64,540 Fry (0-3 inches)
1980/05/31 Rainbow Trout 1,620 Catchable (6+ inches)
1980/05/27 Chinook Salmon 73,760 Fry (0-3 inches)
1980/05/24 Chinook Salmon 89,940 Fry (0-3 inches)
1980/05/22 Chinook Salmon 143,600 Fry (0-3 inches)
1980/05/21 Chinook Salmon 165,360 Fry (0-3 inches)
1980/05/16 Chinook Salmon 76,320 Fry (0-3 inches)
1980/05/08 Chinook Salmon 26,300 Fry (0-3 inches)
1979/07/18 Rainbow Trout 2,040 Catchable (6+ inches)
1979/07/11 Rainbow Trout 2,520 Catchable (6+ inches)
1979/06/20 Chinook Salmon 72,175 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1979/06/20 Rainbow Trout 1,750 Catchable (6+ inches)
1979/06/14 Rainbow Trout 900 Catchable (6+ inches)
1979/06/12 Chinook Salmon 27,200 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1979/06/11 Chinook Salmon 54,400 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1979/06/08 Chinook Salmon 35,360 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1979/06/05 Chinook Salmon 41,280 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1979/06/04 Chinook Salmon 69,120 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1979/06/02 Chinook Salmon 41,280 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1979/05/24 Chinook Salmon 35,200 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1979/05/23 Chinook Salmon 67,200 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1979/05/16 Chinook Salmon 18,060 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1979/05/15 Chinook Salmon 20,150 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1979/05/14 Chinook Salmon 20,150 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1979/05/11 Chinook Salmon 35,475 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1978/07/24 Rainbow Trout 2,590 Catchable (6+ inches)
1978/07/19 Rainbow Trout 3,280 Catchable (6+ inches)
1978/07/14 Rainbow Trout 3,120 Catchable (6+ inches)
1978/07/11 Chinook Salmon 39,950 Fry (0-3 inches)
1978/06/05 Chinook Salmon 69,700 Fry (0-3 inches)
1978/06/01 Chinook Salmon 68,000 Fry (0-3 inches)
1978/05/31 Chinook Salmon 136,000 Fry (0-3 inches)
1978/05/24 Chinook Salmon 102,000 Fry (0-3 inches)
1978/05/20 Chinook Salmon 68,000 Fry (0-3 inches)
1978/05/18 Chinook Salmon 34,000 Fry (0-3 inches)
1978/05/16 Chinook Salmon 34,000 Fry (0-3 inches)
1978/05/15 Chinook Salmon 83,555 Fry (0-3 inches)
1978/05/12 Chinook Salmon 30,600 Fry (0-3 inches)
1978/05/11 Chinook Salmon 68,000 Fry (0-3 inches)
1978/05/07 Chinook Salmon 28,560 Fry (0-3 inches)
1978/05/04 Chinook Salmon 57,120 Fry (0-3 inches)
1978/04/27 Chinook Salmon 26,435 Fry (0-3 inches)
1977/09/23 Chinook Salmon 631,260 Eyed Eggs
1977/09/11 Chinook Salmon 745,800 Eyed Eggs
1977/06/28 Rainbow Trout 2,820 Catchable (6+ inches)
1977/06/14 Chinook Salmon 77,900 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1977/06/14 Rainbow Trout 1,720 Catchable (6+ inches)
1977/06/07 Chinook Salmon 82,600 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1977/06/07 Rainbow Trout 2,470 Catchable (6+ inches)
1977/06/04 Chinook Salmon 62,560 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1977/06/01 Chinook Salmon 12,960 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1977/05/30 Chinook Salmon 31,514 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1977/05/24 Rainbow Trout 1,595 Catchable (6+ inches)
1977/05/20 Chinook Salmon 36,770 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1976/07/22 Rainbow Trout 2,560 Catchable (6+ inches)
1976/07/13 Rainbow Trout 1,920 Catchable (6+ inches)
1976/07/02 Rainbow Trout 2,280 Catchable (6+ inches)
1976/06/24 Rainbow Trout 1,050 Catchable (6+ inches)
1976/05/28 Chinook Salmon 62,910 Fry (0-3 inches)
1975/07/30 Rainbow Trout 800 Catchable (6+ inches)
1975/07/24 Rainbow Trout 1,400 Catchable (6+ inches)
1975/07/16 Rainbow Trout 2,560 Catchable (6+ inches)
1975/07/05 Chinook Salmon 6,800 Fry (0-3 inches)
1975/06/30 Chinook Salmon 84,320 Fry (0-3 inches)
1975/06/04 Chinook Salmon 12,240 Fry (0-3 inches)
1975/05/29 Chinook Salmon 87,040 Fry (0-3 inches)
1974/10/08 Chinook Salmon 1,800,000 Fry (0-3 inches)
1974/09/30 Chinook Salmon 407,012 Eyed Eggs
1974/08/05 Rainbow Trout 4,560 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1974/07/23 Rainbow Trout 2,700 Catchable (6+ inches)
1973/07/25 Rainbow Trout 2,870 Catchable (6+ inches)
1973/07/18 Rainbow Trout 2,050 Catchable (6+ inches)
1973/07/11 Chinook Salmon 46,080 Fry (0-3 inches)
1973/06/12 Rainbow Trout 2,580 Catchable (6+ inches)
1973/06/09 Chinook Salmon 12,960 Fry (0-3 inches)
1973/06/06 Chinook Salmon 84,960 Fry (0-3 inches)
1973/06/03 Chinook Salmon 50,400 Fry (0-3 inches)
1973/06/02 Chinook Salmon 113,760 Fry (0-3 inches)
1973/05/29 Chinook Salmon 103,680 Fry (0-3 inches)
1973/05/26 Rainbow Trout 3,200 Catchable (6+ inches)
1973/05/24 Chinook Salmon 4,320 Fry (0-3 inches)
1973/05/18 Chinook Salmon 252,000 Fry (0-3 inches)
1973/05/18 Rainbow Trout 3,700 Catchable (6+ inches)
1973/05/16 Chinook Salmon 95,040 Fry (0-3 inches)
1972/10/04 Chinook Salmon 991,929 Eyed Eggs
1972/10/03 Chinook Salmon 959,039 Eyed Eggs
1972/10/02 Chinook Salmon 1,005,211 Eyed Eggs
1972/08/09 Rainbow Trout 1,680 Catchable (6+ inches)
1972/07/25 Rainbow Trout 3,240 Catchable (6+ inches)
1972/07/11 Rainbow Trout 6,200 Catchable (6+ inches)
1972/06/27 Chinook Salmon 107,665 Fry (0-3 inches)
1972/06/20 Chinook Salmon 76,000 Fry (0-3 inches)
1972/06/06 Chinook Salmon 48,640 Fry (0-3 inches)
1972/06/02 Chinook Salmon 21,280 Fry (0-3 inches)
1971/08/03 Rainbow Trout 4,410 Catchable (6+ inches)
1971/07/14 Chinook Salmon 21,758 Fry (0-3 inches)
1971/07/14 Rainbow Trout 6,160 Catchable (6+ inches)
1971/07/03 Chinook Salmon 83,162 Fry (0-3 inches)
1971/07/03 Rainbow Trout 4,920 Catchable (6+ inches)
1971/06/24 Chinook Salmon 110,400 Fry (0-3 inches)
1971/06/22 Chinook Salmon 107,160 Fry (0-3 inches)
1971/06/17 Chinook Salmon 134,005 Fry (0-3 inches)
1971/06/04 Chinook Salmon 50,687 Fry (0-3 inches)
1971/05/27 Chinook Salmon 76,456 Fry (0-3 inches)
1970/07/31 Rainbow Trout 1,020 Catchable (6+ inches)
1970/07/16 Rainbow Trout 4,160 Catchable (6+ inches)
1970/05/21 Rainbow Trout 2,100 Catchable (6+ inches)
1969/10/13 Chinook Salmon 121,227 Eyed Eggs
1969/08/05 Rainbow Trout 4,680 Catchable (6+ inches)
1969/06/06 Rainbow Trout 2,310 Catchable (6+ inches)
1969/06/04 Rainbow Trout 2,520 Catchable (6+ inches)
1969/05/27 Chinook Salmon 126,696 Fry (0-3 inches)
1969/05/13 Chinook Salmon 178,500 Fry (0-3 inches)
1968/08/22 Rainbow Trout 2,160 Catchable (6+ inches)
1968/07/20 Rainbow Trout 3,080 Catchable (6+ inches)
1968/06/20 Rainbow Trout 3,960 Catchable (6+ inches)
1968/05/22 Chinook Salmon 158,540 Fry (0-3 inches)
Source: IDFG Fish Stocking Database.

Licenses and Tags

Learn more about IDFG Licenses, Tags & Permits
 

Fishing Rules, 2025 - 2027

All Waters Open All Year

Except as modified in Special Rules
Fishing is not allowed within the posted upstream and downstream boundary of any fish weir or trap.

Daily Bag Limits

The following daily bag limits apply to all waters within each region except as modified in the Special Rules. The possession limit is 3-times the daily bag limit.

Special Rules

Selway River From the mouth upstream to Selway Falls cable car
  • Barbless hooks required
  • December 1 through Friday before Memorial Day weekend - trout - catch-and-release, no bait allowed except maggots
  • Saturday of Memorial Day weekend through November 30 - trout limit is 2, none under 14 inches, no bait allowed
Selway River from Selway Falls cable car upstream to Selway Falls Bridge at Meadow Creek
  • Closed to fishing
Selway River All other sections of the Selway River
  • Clearwater Region general rules apply
Clearwater Region Bag Limits
Bass (Largemouth and Smallmouth)

  • In rivers and streams, no bag, length or possession limits
  • In lakes and reservoirs, limit is 6, both species combined

Brook Trout

  • Brook Trout limit is 25
  • Harvest allowed during any open season unless otherwise noted under Special Rules - if gear or bait restrictions are listed, they apply when fishing for Brook Trout

Bull Trout

  • Bull Trout - catch-and-release

Kokanee

  • Kokanee limit is 25

Salmon (ocean-run)

  • Spring and summer Chinook Salmon seasons and limits are set by the Idaho Fish and Game Commission and issued in separate brochures
  • Seasons and limits for fall Chinook Salmon and Coho Salmon can be found here
  • Sockeye Salmon fishing is prohibited. Defined as ocean-run Oncorhynchus nerka longer than 14 inches in the Snake River drainage below Hells Canyon Dam, the Salmon River drainage (excluding above Mosquito Flat Dam), and the Clearwater River drainage (excluding that portion above Dworshak Dam and lakes)
  • Fishing for salmon is prohibited unless a salmon season is specifically opened for that water

Steelhead (ocean-run)

  • Defined as Rainbow Trout longer than 20 inches in the Snake River drainage below Hells Canyon Dam, the Salmon River drainage (excluding lakes and reservoirs), and the Clearwater River drainage (excluding that portion above Dworshak Dam, and lakes)
  • Fishing for steelhead is prohibited unless a steelhead season is specifically opened for that water. See fishing regulations for details

Sturgeon

  • Sturgeon - catch-and-release
  • Sturgeon must not be removed from the water and must be released upon landing
  • Barbless hooks, sliding swivel device to secure a weight, and a lighter test line to secure weight to sliding swivel device are required. See fishing regulations for details

Tiger Muskie

  • Tiger Muskie limit is 2, none under 40 inches

Trout includes Cutthroat Trout, Rainbow Trout, and trout hybrids (e.g. Tiger Trout)

  • In rivers and streams, trout limit is 2, all species combined
  • In lakes, reservoirs, ditches and canals, trout limit is 6, all species combined
  • Bull Trout and Brook Trout are listed separately

Walleye (Stocked illegally in this Region. May be harmful to existing fisheries.)

  • No bag, length, or possession limits. Harvest is encouraged

Whitefish

  • Whitefish limit is 25
  • Harvest allowed during any open season unless otherwise noted under Special Rules - if gear or bait restrictions are listed, they apply when fishing for whitefish

Protected Nongame Fish includes Pacific Lamprey and Sand Roller

  • May not be harvested or possessed

All Other Fish Species includes bullfrogs and crayfish

  • No bag, length, or possession limits
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