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 Salmon 94,988 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
2009/10/07 Rainbow Trout 27,030 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
2009/10/06 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 25,840 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
2008/10/08 Rainbow Trout 29,319 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
2008/10/07 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 21,450 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
2007/10/04 Rainbow Trout 27,000 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
2007/10/03 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 25,200 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
2006/09/07 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 23,184 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
2006/09/06 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 25,410 Fry (0-3 inches)
2005/10/04 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 26,539 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
2005/10/03 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 25,318 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
2004/09/27 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 26,375 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
2004/09/26 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 27,657 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
2003/10/08 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 23,760 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
2003/10/07 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 27,298 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
2003/06/19 Chinook Salmon - Fall 114,964 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
2003/06/03 Chinook Salmon - Fall 199,632 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
2003/06/03 Chinook Salmon - Fall 506,488 Fry (0-3 inches)
2003/05/27 Chinook Salmon - Fall 191,382 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
2003/04/15 Chinook Salmon - Fall 145,331 Catchable (6+ inches)
2003/03/13 Coho Salmon 279,500 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
2002/10/03 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 41,682 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
2002/10/02 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 26,426 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
2002/04/21 Steelhead 1,365,823 Catchable (6+ inches)
2001/10/16 Rainbow Trout 14,015 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
2001/09/28 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 36,600 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
2001/04/23 Steelhead 1,253,471 Catchable (6+ inches)
2000/10/03 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 25,245 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
2000/10/02 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 26,243 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
2000/05/03 Steelhead 1,311,447 Catchable (6+ inches)
1999/10/06 Rainbow Trout 27,000 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1999/10/05 Rainbow Trout 21,700 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1999/04/26 Steelhead 1,248,133 Catchable (6+ inches)
1998/10/07 Rainbow Trout 23,450 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1998/10/06 Rainbow Trout 26,010 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1998/04/27 Steelhead 1,228,944 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1998/04/20 Steelhead 30,601 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1997/04/28 Steelhead 680,517 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1997/04/21 Steelhead 215,534 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1996/10/07 Rainbow Trout 13,100 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1996/04/29 Steelhead 1,378,034 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1995/10/11 Rainbow Trout 25,945 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1995/10/10 Rainbow Trout 23,760 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1995/04/24 Steelhead 1,213,577 Catchable (6+ inches)
1995/04/17 Steelhead 150,746 Catchable (6+ inches)
1994/10/05 Rainbow Trout 30,536 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1994/10/04 Rainbow Trout 22,823 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1994/06/01 Rainbow Trout 31,200 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1994/05/02 Steelhead 1,153,418 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1994/04/19 Steelhead 136,447 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1993/10/26 Rainbow Trout 75,000 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1993/10/19 Rainbow Trout 28,000 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1993/10/18 Rainbow Trout 25,000 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1993/05/03 Steelhead 1,217,990 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1993/04/19 Steelhead 88,500 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1992/09/30 Rainbow Trout 114,560 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1992/09/29 Rainbow Trout 23,000 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1992/04/30 Steelhead 1,224,101 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1992/04/15 Chinook Salmon 959,369 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1991/10/17 Rainbow Trout 48,200 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1991/10/16 Rainbow Trout 51,062 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1991/04/29 Steelhead 1,192,503 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1990/10/11 Rainbow Trout 35,033 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1990/10/09 Rainbow Trout 25,970 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1989/10/04 Rainbow Trout 25,900 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1989/05/04 Steelhead 179,624 Catchable (6+ inches)
1989/05/04 Steelhead 101,049 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1989/05/03 Steelhead 122,745 Catchable (6+ inches)
1989/05/03 Steelhead 211,911 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1989/05/01 Steelhead 111,151 Catchable (6+ inches)
1989/05/01 Steelhead 347,420 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1987/04/28 Chinook Salmon 1,000 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1987/04/28 Steelhead 3,450 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1987/04/23 Steelhead 498,775 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1987/04/22 Steelhead 376,612 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1987/04/20 Steelhead 330,962 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1987/04/02 Chinook Salmon 648,557 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1987/04/01 Chinook Salmon 1,062,153 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1987/03/06 Steelhead 506 Adults
1986/05/07 Steelhead 42,443 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1986/05/05 Steelhead 181,315 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1986/05/02 Steelhead 36,503 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1986/05/01 Steelhead 115,858 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1986/04/30 Steelhead 312,668 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1986/04/28 Steelhead 198,617 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1986/04/25 Steelhead 318,394 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1986/04/24 Steelhead 34,438 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1986/04/03 Chinook Salmon 249,110 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1986/04/02 Chinook Salmon 257,210 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1985/05/03 Steelhead 197,263 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1985/05/02 Steelhead 165,976 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1985/04/29 Steelhead 672,334 Catchable (6+ inches)
1984/06/30 Chinook Salmon 56,683 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1984/06/01 Chinook Salmon 99,586 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1984/05/30 Chinook Salmon 134,406 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1984/05/15 Steelhead 654,596 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1984/05/08 Chinook Salmon 185,755 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1984/05/02 Steelhead 254,119 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1984/04/26 Chinook Salmon 153,556 Fry (0-3 inches)
1984/04/25 Chinook Salmon 113,850 Fry (0-3 inches)
1984/04/25 Steelhead 159,555 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1984/04/23 Steelhead 140,049 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1983/05/26 Steelhead 152,849 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1983/05/25 Steelhead 81,452 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1983/05/24 Steelhead 35,006 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1983/05/23 Steelhead 23,974 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1983/05/19 Steelhead 40,914 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1983/05/18 Steelhead 99,663 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1983/05/16 Steelhead 82,106 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1983/05/13 Steelhead 91,296 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1983/05/12 Steelhead 30,215 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1983/05/11 Steelhead 29,938 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1983/05/09 Steelhead 69,651 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1983/05/05 Steelhead 179,581 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1983/05/04 Steelhead 238,361 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1983/05/03 Steelhead 72,136 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1983/04/20 Steelhead 99,519 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1983/04/13 Steelhead 36,150 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1983/04/12 Steelhead 125,036 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1983/04/01 Chinook Salmon 22,181 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1983/03/29 Chinook Salmon 26,874 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1982/05/31 Steelhead 36,955 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1982/05/28 Steelhead 7,000 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1982/05/21 Steelhead 72,103 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1982/05/19 Steelhead 37,031 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1982/05/17 Steelhead 70,374 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1982/05/14 Steelhead 36,707 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1982/05/12 Steelhead 208,892 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1982/05/11 Steelhead 34,478 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1982/05/10 Steelhead 135,244 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1982/05/07 Steelhead 67,980 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1982/05/06 Steelhead 6,613 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1982/05/03 Steelhead 253,020 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1982/04/30 Steelhead 73,397 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1982/04/23 Steelhead 148,526 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1982/04/22 Steelhead 350,091 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1982/04/21 Steelhead 286,695 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1982/04/19 Steelhead 144,815 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1982/04/12 Steelhead 137,786 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1982/04/05 Steelhead 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 Trout 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 Trout 5,330 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1978/04/26 Chinook Salmon 73,234 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1978/04/26 Steelhead 24,417 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1975/11/04 Crappie 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, 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

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, 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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