Clearwater River

Tributary of the Snake River

  • Recommended Fishing Water

Clearwater River in Clearwater, Idaho, Lewis and Nez Perce Counties is 74.8 miles in length.

Interactive Map
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Facilities

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

Recommended Game Fish

Species Observed in Surveys

Fish Stocking Records

Date Species Quantity General Size
2013/04/03 Chinook Spring 94,988 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
2009/10/07 Kamloops 27,030 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
2009/10/06 Hayspur Kamloops Triploid 25,840 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
2008/10/08 Kamloops 29,319 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
2008/10/07 Rainbow - Troutlodge Triploid 21,450 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
2007/10/04 Kamloops 27,000 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
2007/10/03 Rainbow - Troutlodge Triploid 25,200 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
2006/09/07 Rainbow - Hayspur Triploid 23,184 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
2006/09/06 Rainbow - Hayspur Triploid 25,410 Fry (0-3 inches)
2005/10/04 Hayspur Kamloops Triploid 26,539 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
2005/10/03 Hayspur Kamloops Triploid 25,318 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
2004/09/27 Hayspur Kamloops Triploid 26,375 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
2004/09/26 Hayspur Kamloops Triploid 27,657 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
2003/10/08 Hayspur Kamloops Triploid 23,760 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
2003/10/07 Hayspur Kamloops Triploid 27,298 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
2003/06/19 Chinook Fall 114,964 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
2003/06/03 Chinook Fall 199,632 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
2003/06/03 Chinook Fall 506,488 Fry (0-3 inches)
2003/05/27 Chinook Fall 191,382 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
2003/04/15 Chinook Fall 145,331 Catchable (6+ inches)
2003/03/13 Coho Salmon 279,500 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
2002/10/03 Hayspur Kamloops Triploid 41,682 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
2002/10/02 Hayspur Kamloops Triploid 26,426 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
2002/04/21 Steelhead B-Run 1,365,823 Catchable (6+ inches)
2001/10/16 Kamloops 14,015 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
2001/09/28 Hayspur Kamloops Triploid 36,600 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
2001/04/23 Steelhead 1,253,471 Catchable (6+ inches)
2000/10/03 Hayspur Kamloops Triploid 25,245 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
2000/10/02 Hayspur Kamloops Triploid 26,243 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
2000/05/03 Steelhead B-Run 1,311,447 Catchable (6+ inches)
1999/10/06 Domestic Kamloops 27,000 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1999/10/05 Domestic Kamloops 21,700 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1999/04/26 Steelhead B-Run 1,248,133 Catchable (6+ inches)
1998/10/07 Domestic Kamloops 23,450 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1998/10/06 Colorado River Rainbow 26,010 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1998/04/27 Steelhead B-Run 1,228,944 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1998/04/20 Steelhead B-Run 30,601 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1997/04/28 Steelhead B-Run 680,517 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1997/04/21 Steelhead B-Run 215,534 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1996/10/07 Domestic Kamloops 13,100 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1996/04/29 Steelhead B-Run 1,378,034 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1995/10/11 Rainbow Unspecified 25,945 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1995/10/10 Domestic Kamloops 23,760 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1995/04/24 Steelhead B-Run 1,213,577 Catchable (6+ inches)
1995/04/17 Steelhead B-Run 150,746 Catchable (6+ inches)
1994/10/05 Rainbow Unspecified 30,536 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1994/10/04 Domestic Kamloops 22,823 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1994/06/01 Rainbow Unspecified 31,200 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1994/05/02 Steelhead B-Run 1,153,418 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1994/04/19 Steelhead B-Run 136,447 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1993/10/26 Black Canyon Kamloops 75,000 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1993/10/19 Rainbow Unspecified 28,000 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1993/10/18 Black Canyon Kamloops 25,000 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1993/05/03 Steelhead B-Run 1,217,990 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1993/04/19 Steelhead B-Run 88,500 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1992/09/30 Mt Shasta Rainbow 57,280 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1992/09/30 Rainbow Unspecified 57,280 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1992/09/29 Domestic Kamloops 23,000 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1992/04/30 Steelhead B-Run 1,224,101 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1992/04/15 Chinook Spring 959,369 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1991/10/17 Rainbow Unspecified 48,200 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1991/10/16 Kamloops 51,062 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1991/04/29 Steelhead B-Run 1,192,503 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1990/10/11 Rainbow Unspecified 35,033 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1990/10/09 Domestic Kamloops 25,970 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1989/10/04 Domestic Kamloops 25,900 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1989/05/04 Steelhead B-Run 179,624 Catchable (6+ inches)
1989/05/04 Steelhead B-Run 101,049 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1989/05/03 Steelhead B-Run 122,745 Catchable (6+ inches)
1989/05/03 Steelhead B-Run 211,911 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1989/05/01 Steelhead B-Run 111,151 Catchable (6+ inches)
1989/05/01 Steelhead B-Run 347,420 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1987/04/28 Chinook Spring 1,000 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1987/04/28 Steelhead B-Run 3,450 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1987/04/23 Steelhead B-Run 498,775 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1987/04/22 Steelhead B-Run 376,612 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1987/04/20 Steelhead B-Run 330,962 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1987/04/02 Chinook Spring 648,557 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1987/04/01 Chinook Spring 1,062,153 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1987/03/06 Steelhead B-Run 506 Adults
1986/05/07 Steelhead B-Run 42,443 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1986/05/05 Steelhead B-Run 181,315 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1986/05/02 Steelhead B-Run 36,503 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1986/05/01 Steelhead B-Run 115,858 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1986/04/30 Steelhead B-Run 312,668 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1986/04/28 Steelhead B-Run 198,617 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1986/04/25 Steelhead B-Run 318,394 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1986/04/24 Steelhead B-Run 34,438 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1986/04/03 Chinook Spring 249,110 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1986/04/02 Chinook Spring 257,210 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1985/05/03 Steelhead B-Run 197,263 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1985/05/02 Steelhead B-Run 165,976 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1985/04/29 Steelhead B-Run 672,334 Catchable (6+ inches)
1984/06/30 Chinook Spring 56,683 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1984/06/01 Chinook Spring 99,586 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1984/05/30 Chinook Spring 134,406 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1984/05/15 Steelhead B-Run 654,596 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1984/05/08 Chinook Spring 185,755 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1984/05/02 Steelhead B-Run 254,119 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1984/04/26 Chinook Spring 153,556 Fry (0-3 inches)
1984/04/25 Chinook Spring 113,850 Fry (0-3 inches)
1984/04/25 Steelhead B-Run 159,555 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1984/04/23 Steelhead B-Run 140,049 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1983/05/26 Steelhead B-Run 152,849 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1983/05/25 Steelhead B-Run 81,452 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1983/05/24 Steelhead B-Run 35,006 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1983/05/23 Steelhead B-Run 23,974 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1983/05/19 Steelhead B-Run 40,914 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1983/05/18 Steelhead B-Run 99,663 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1983/05/16 Steelhead B-Run 82,106 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1983/05/13 Steelhead B-Run 91,296 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1983/05/12 Steelhead B-Run 30,215 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1983/05/11 Steelhead B-Run 29,938 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1983/05/09 Steelhead B-Run 69,651 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1983/05/05 Steelhead B-Run 179,581 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1983/05/04 Steelhead B-Run 238,361 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1983/05/03 Steelhead B-Run 72,136 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1983/04/20 Steelhead B-Run 99,519 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1983/04/13 Steelhead B-Run 36,150 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1983/04/12 Steelhead B-Run 125,036 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1983/04/01 Chinook Spring 22,181 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1983/03/29 Chinook Spring 26,874 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1982/05/31 Steelhead B-Run 36,955 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1982/05/28 Steelhead B-Run 7,000 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1982/05/21 Steelhead B-Run 72,103 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1982/05/19 Steelhead B-Run 37,031 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1982/05/17 Steelhead B-Run 70,374 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1982/05/14 Steelhead B-Run 36,707 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1982/05/12 Steelhead B-Run 208,892 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1982/05/11 Steelhead B-Run 34,478 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1982/05/10 Steelhead B-Run 135,244 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1982/05/07 Steelhead B-Run 67,980 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1982/05/06 Steelhead B-Run 6,613 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1982/05/03 Steelhead B-Run 253,020 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1982/04/30 Steelhead B-Run 73,397 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1982/04/23 Steelhead B-Run 148,526 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1982/04/22 Steelhead B-Run 350,091 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1982/04/21 Steelhead B-Run 286,695 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1982/04/19 Steelhead B-Run 144,815 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1982/04/12 Steelhead B-Run 137,786 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1982/04/05 Steelhead B-Run 148,370 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1981/06/30 Steelhead 46,403 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1981/05/18 Steelhead 196,024 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1981/04/30 Steelhead 508,593 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1981/04/24 Steelhead 65,287 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1981/04/23 Steelhead 203,866 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1981/04/22 Steelhead 228,162 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1981/04/01 Rainbow Unspecified 100,000 Fry (0-3 inches)
1980/05/14 Steelhead 62,694 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1980/05/05 Steelhead 128,984 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1980/05/01 Steelhead 25,125 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1980/04/30 Steelhead 30,516 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1980/04/29 Steelhead 57,702 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1980/04/22 Steelhead 413,996 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1980/04/21 Steelhead 339,191 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1980/04/18 Steelhead 69,969 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1980/04/17 Steelhead 25,103 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1980/04/16 Steelhead 50,834 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1979/08/21 Steelhead 37,000 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1979/06/30 Steelhead 444,288 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1978/11/13 Rainbow Unspecified 5,330 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1978/04/26 Chinook Spring 73,234 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1978/04/26 Steelhead 24,417 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1975/11/04 Crappie Unspecified 800 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1975/11/04 Largemouth Bass 200 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1974/05/16 Steelhead 2,204 Adults
1974/04/16 Steelhead 1,193 Adults
1972/05/24 Steelhead 463 Adults
1972/05/23 Steelhead 161 Adults
1972/05/15 Steelhead 137 Adults
1972/04/20 Steelhead 343,267 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1972/04/19 Steelhead 153,293 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1972/04/18 Steelhead 284,975 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1972/04/17 Steelhead 162,124 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
Source: IDFG Fish Stocking Database.

Licenses and Tags

Learn more about IDFG Licenses, Tags & Permits
 

See our separate pages for Chinook, Coho and Steelhead Seasons and Rules

Fishing Rules, 2022 - 2024

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 after the second day of the season.

Special Rules

Clearwater River From the mouth upstream to the Clearwater River Bridge at Orofino
  • Trout limit is 6; only trout with a clipped adipose fin, as evidenced by a healed scar, may be kept; no harvest of Cutthroat Trout
  • Fishing between the posted boundaries 100 yards upstream and downstream from the Nez Perce Tribal Hatchery Ladder (near Cherry Lane Bridge) and extending into the river channel approximately 50 yards is prohibited
  • Fishing from the shoreline or wading along the perimeter of Dworshak National Fish Hatchery is prohibited
Clearwater River From the Clearwater River Bridge at Orofino upstream to the confluence of the South Fork and Middle Fork Clearwater rivers
  • Trout limit is 6; only trout with a clipped adipose fin, as evidenced by a healed scar, may be kept; no harvest of Cutthroat Trout
  • September 1 through April 30 - No motors allowed
Clearwater Region Bag Limits
Bass (Largemouth and Smallmouth)

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

Brook Trout

  • Brook Trout limit is 25

Bull Trout

  • Bull Trout limit is 0, catch-and-release

Kokanee

  • Kokanee limit is 25

Salmon 

  • Spring and summer Chinook Salmon seasons and limits are set annually 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 limit is 0 and fishing for or targeting Sockeye Salmon is illegal
  • Fishing for or targeting salmon is prohibited unless a salmon season is specifically opened for that water

Steelhead (ocean-going)

  • Defined as Rainbow Trout longer than twenty (20) inches in length 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)
  • Seasons and limits for steelhead can be found here
  • Fishing for or targeting steelhead is prohibited unless a steelhead season is specifically opened for that water 

Sturgeon

  • Sturgeon limit is 0, catch-and-release
  • Sturgeon must not be removed from the water and must be released upon landing
  • Barbless hooks are required
  • Use of a sliding swivel device to secure a weight, and a lighter test line to secure weight to sliding swivel device is 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
  • Does not include Bull Trout and Brook Trout which are listed separately

Whitefish

  • Whitefish limit is 25

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, size or possession limit
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