Northern Idaho?

[rjtfroggy]

Sadly no river is as good as it was.

You are so right, when I was a kid the river that flows through the center of the city would change colors every day, green, yellow, blue, whatever. Now there are trout and salmon swimming in it.
Knowing what it was like I would never eat anything from it, but over the past 50 years they have cleaned it up.

 

[SKWERLZ]

You are so right, when I was a kid the river that flows through the center of the city would change colors every day, green, yellow, blue, whatever. Now there are trout and salmon swimming in it.
Knowing what it was like I would never eat anything from it, but over the past 50 years they have cleaned it up.

the fishing spot on the Clearwater next to the paper mill is called the stink hole.
It’s the first riffle in the river and a popular spot.
Thankfully it’s not so stinky anymore.

 

[INTJ]

Go down and fish the Clearwater and snake rivers.
Excellent fishing.
Love that area.
View attachment 1440825

Nice fish. I have a friend that offered to take me down to fly fish the Clearwater a couple months ago but I just couldn't get away. Next year I'll go for sure.

 

[Brians356]

The Clearwater isn't what it was back in the 90's. Do they even have a Springer fishery? I know it was closed.

Spring Chinook opened in Idaho on April 22, goes until August 10. Limit 4 salmon per day, only 1 may be an adult. Possession 12 salmon, only 3 adults.

https://idfg.idaho.gov/sites/default/files/seasons-rules-fish-chinook-2023-spring-mobile.pdf

There's also smallmouth bass in the Clearwater.
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[Will Henry]

A little over fifty years ago, my wife and I caught some smallmouth bass; right where Potlatch Creek runs into the Clearwater. Nice fish to catch and looked pretty good, so we took them home to eat. They tasted just like a copper penny. Smallmouth bass caught elsewhere were never that good either and I have decided they are essentially inedible. WH

 

[L.Sherm]

I used to fish the Clearwater for steelhead mid 90's to early 2000's it was a great fishery then.
I've got a real good friend of mine who fishes the Clearwater alot for Springer and Steelhead he was pretty bummed when it was closed a few years ago

 

[L.Sherm]

I see 2020 it was Closed.

 

[Brians356]

What are we looking at ? I’m assuming trout but also not sure.

Could be a fall Chinook.


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[Brians356]

I see 2020 it was Closed.

Springer season has been closed certain years in the past, but it's open in Idaho as we speak. (See regs. I posted above.)
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[L.Sherm]

Could be a fall Chinook.

View attachment 1440897
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That is a Salmon, skwerlz is a steelhead

 

[L.Sherm]

Springer season has been closed certain years in the past, but it's open in Idaho as we speak. (See regs. I posted above.)
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I saw your post, I didn't know if it was opened back up.

 

[Brians356]

the fishing spot on the Clearwater next to the paper mill is called the stink hole.
It’s the first riffle in the river and a popular spot.
Thankfully it’s not so stinky anymore.

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[Brians356]

That is a Salmon, skwerlz is a steelhead

I couldn't see enough of it, but you're right.
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[Brians356]

I saw your post, I didn't know if it was opened back up.

Here's a detailed recent article about Columbia Basin salmonids:

At the mercy of a fickle ocean: Even when conditions hit Goldilocks zone, it doesn’t guarantee a strong salmon return to inland Northwest

Whether it’s good, bad or middling, salmon don’t have a choice.

www.lmtribune.com

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[L.Sherm]

I fished the Skagit River in N.W. Wa. from mid 70's untill 1991 when I moved for steelhead and Salmon, I have my opinions from first hand experience what happened in that river and it wasn't all Ocean conditions. My money says alot of the rivers in western Wa and Oregon fisherys have gone down the same path including the Clearwater.

 

[Brians356]

the fishing spot on the Clearwater next to the paper mill is called the stink hole.
It’s the first riffle in the river and a popular spot.
Thankfully it’s not so stinky anymore.

In the '60s my dad (a PFI employee) and I fished for steelies in a hot spot on mill property that was called the "Tail Race".
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[JFrank]

Could be a fall Chinook.

View attachment 1440897
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Nice Fish..He’s pretty green for a king but has that black mouth of a chinook. Interesting .. I’m more of a salt water guy, fishing out of Nea Bay and Westport. Haven’t been out in several years though.

 

[Bill K]

Get a good snow blower and also add a snow plow to one of your vehicles, pickup/jeep prefered. Snow Sport makes one that work well and is not to expensive. Works for me in my area, N.E. Ca. From what I gather I get more snow than you will in that area of Idaho.

 

[SKWERLZ]

Nice fish. I have a friend that offered to take me down to fly fish the Clearwater a couple months ago but I just couldn't get away. Next year I'll go for sure.

I quit fishing in BC when I found the Clearwater
It’s my favorite summer steelhead river and has fantastic access for fly fishing.

 

[SKWERLZ]

I fished the Skagit River in N.W. Wa. from mid 70's untill 1991 when I moved for steelhead and Salmon, I have my opinions from first hand experience what happened in that river and it wasn't all Ocean conditions. My money says alot of the rivers in western Wa and Oregon fisherys have gone down the same path including the Clearwater.

I fished the skagit and Sauk a lot years ago, another sad outcome.
My beloved stillaguamish is another sad story.