07-30-2004, 03:46 PM
CHINOOK SALMON
Although the spring chinook salmon run did not live up to preseason predictions, anglers in the region still enjoyed some good salmon fishing this year. By mid-June about 65,000 fish had crossed Lower Granite Dam. About 20,000 of these fish returned to hatchery facilities in the Clearwater drainage, such as Dworshak and Kooskia National Fish Hatcheries, and satellites of the Clearwater Anadromous Fish Hatchery on the Lochsa and South Fork Clearwater Rivers. Rapid River Fish Hatchery near Riggins saw nearly 15,000 fish. The majority of returning salmon this year were II-salt fish that averaged about 8 to12 pounds.
Anglers are reminded that only half of the surplus hatchery fish (above hatchery brood needs) are available for sport harvest. The Nez Perce Tribe has treaty rights to the other half. Attainment of this harvest share by sport anglers resulted in a fishery closure in the Clearwater drainage. As of early July, anglers had caught about 95% of the Clearwater harvest share and the season on the mainstem, North Fork and Middle Fork Clearwater Rivers closed on June 20. The remaining portion of the harvest share will be used in the Lochsa and South Fork Clearwater, which will remain open. IDFG fishery managers are estimating the salmon harvest weekly but we expect these fisheries to remain open at least through mid-July.
Fishing on the South Fork Clearwater and Lochsa Rivers is fair now, and there should be fish available in those rivers through the end of the season. Anglers drifting eggs or shrimp are doing the best on the South Fork Clearwater, and anglers casting Blue Fox spinners, pixie spoons, and jigs and bobbers, and assorted salmon flies are doing well on the Lochsa. Call the Lewiston Regional Office or local sporting goods stores for more up to date information.
All salmon fisheries are subject to earlier closure for biological reasons. Limits are 2 per day, 6 in possession, and 20 for the season. Barbless hooks are required and any chinook salmon with an unclipped adipose fin must be released immediately. On the Lochsa River, no bait and only one barbless hook (which may be a single, double, or treble hook) are allowed.
LOWLAND LAKES
With summer here fishing can be good at our lowland lakes, but most of these waters have substantial algae and other aquatic plant growth in the summer, which can make fishing more challenging. Winchester, Spring Valley, Moose Creek, Elk Creek, Mann, Soldiers Meadow and Waha Lakes will all be providing good fishing opportunities for stocked rainbow trout.
Visitors to Winchester Lake will notice numerous floating structures on the lake this year. These are part of a project to improve water quality and fishing by oxygenating the deeper portions of the lake. Trout, yellow perch, bass, and crappie populations should all benefit from this project.
Mann Lake near Lewiston is the lowest elevation lake in the region and usually warms up first. Fishing can be very good for largemouth bass, crappie, sunfish, and planted rainbows. Crappie and sunfish are very abundant in the lake and anglers are urged to harvest as many as they can eat to reduce their numbers. Some very large channel catfish have been taken the last couple of years at Mann Lake, including a new state record of just over 31 pounds caught a couple of years ago. More catfish were planted last year to keep this fishery going.
Deer Creek Reservoir near Headquarters, Idaho was completed this spring. It is a 100-acre lake and will be managed as a stocked rainbow and cutthroat trout fishery. We expect the fish to grow very well in the fertile new lake. The reservoir will be open all year to fishing, but because of wildlife related road restrictions, the access road will be open to motorized vehicles May 20-September 30 annually. Outside of those dates, anglers and other lake users will need to make a hike of about half a mile to reach the lake. It was stocked with trout at the end of April and fishing should be excellent there throughout the summer.
Dworshak Reservoir is dropping as federal fish managers draw down the reservoir to help juvenile fall chinook salmon migrate to the ocean. Kokanee fishing continues to be good throughout the reservoir. Recent kokanee surveys have found that young kokanee did not survive well last year. Anglers so far have verified that finding; most are reporting catching fewer but larger fish this spring, with some fish already up to 13”. Trout fishing can be very good with spinners and spoons at the creek mouths. Bass anglers are doing well on small to medium sized fish; with a few fish going over three pounds. The reservoir from Grandad Bridge upstream opened to fishing May 29.
RIVERS AND STREAMS
As we swing into summer, most of our rivers and streams are clear and fishable. Anglers fishing the Lochsa, Selway, and North Fork Clearwater Rivers as well as many of their tributaries are doing very well on 10”-16” westslope cutthroat and rainbow trout. To protect these outstanding fisheries, these rivers and most of their tributaries have restrictive regulations on them, so be sure to check the regulations before you go. Small spinners, spoons, and most of the usual trout flies are the lures to use.
The under appreciated whitefish is very common in the region and can grow to 20 inches. They are active all year and can provide excellent spring fishing. Fish with small wet flies just off the bottom in riffle areas for the best results.
Bass fishing continues to be good on the Snake and lower Salmon Rivers. Smallmouths have been averaging 10-12” lately, but there are some bigger fish around for the lucky or persistent angler. Curly tail grubs and small crankbaits are the standard offerings.Please check the regulations before going fishing and contact the Clearwater Region at (208) 799-5010 or at [url "mailto:clearwtr@idfg.state.id.us"]clearwtr@idfg.state.id.us[/url] on the Internet if you have specific questions.
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Although the spring chinook salmon run did not live up to preseason predictions, anglers in the region still enjoyed some good salmon fishing this year. By mid-June about 65,000 fish had crossed Lower Granite Dam. About 20,000 of these fish returned to hatchery facilities in the Clearwater drainage, such as Dworshak and Kooskia National Fish Hatcheries, and satellites of the Clearwater Anadromous Fish Hatchery on the Lochsa and South Fork Clearwater Rivers. Rapid River Fish Hatchery near Riggins saw nearly 15,000 fish. The majority of returning salmon this year were II-salt fish that averaged about 8 to12 pounds.
Anglers are reminded that only half of the surplus hatchery fish (above hatchery brood needs) are available for sport harvest. The Nez Perce Tribe has treaty rights to the other half. Attainment of this harvest share by sport anglers resulted in a fishery closure in the Clearwater drainage. As of early July, anglers had caught about 95% of the Clearwater harvest share and the season on the mainstem, North Fork and Middle Fork Clearwater Rivers closed on June 20. The remaining portion of the harvest share will be used in the Lochsa and South Fork Clearwater, which will remain open. IDFG fishery managers are estimating the salmon harvest weekly but we expect these fisheries to remain open at least through mid-July.
Fishing on the South Fork Clearwater and Lochsa Rivers is fair now, and there should be fish available in those rivers through the end of the season. Anglers drifting eggs or shrimp are doing the best on the South Fork Clearwater, and anglers casting Blue Fox spinners, pixie spoons, and jigs and bobbers, and assorted salmon flies are doing well on the Lochsa. Call the Lewiston Regional Office or local sporting goods stores for more up to date information.
All salmon fisheries are subject to earlier closure for biological reasons. Limits are 2 per day, 6 in possession, and 20 for the season. Barbless hooks are required and any chinook salmon with an unclipped adipose fin must be released immediately. On the Lochsa River, no bait and only one barbless hook (which may be a single, double, or treble hook) are allowed.
LOWLAND LAKES
With summer here fishing can be good at our lowland lakes, but most of these waters have substantial algae and other aquatic plant growth in the summer, which can make fishing more challenging. Winchester, Spring Valley, Moose Creek, Elk Creek, Mann, Soldiers Meadow and Waha Lakes will all be providing good fishing opportunities for stocked rainbow trout.
Visitors to Winchester Lake will notice numerous floating structures on the lake this year. These are part of a project to improve water quality and fishing by oxygenating the deeper portions of the lake. Trout, yellow perch, bass, and crappie populations should all benefit from this project.
Mann Lake near Lewiston is the lowest elevation lake in the region and usually warms up first. Fishing can be very good for largemouth bass, crappie, sunfish, and planted rainbows. Crappie and sunfish are very abundant in the lake and anglers are urged to harvest as many as they can eat to reduce their numbers. Some very large channel catfish have been taken the last couple of years at Mann Lake, including a new state record of just over 31 pounds caught a couple of years ago. More catfish were planted last year to keep this fishery going.
Deer Creek Reservoir near Headquarters, Idaho was completed this spring. It is a 100-acre lake and will be managed as a stocked rainbow and cutthroat trout fishery. We expect the fish to grow very well in the fertile new lake. The reservoir will be open all year to fishing, but because of wildlife related road restrictions, the access road will be open to motorized vehicles May 20-September 30 annually. Outside of those dates, anglers and other lake users will need to make a hike of about half a mile to reach the lake. It was stocked with trout at the end of April and fishing should be excellent there throughout the summer.
Dworshak Reservoir is dropping as federal fish managers draw down the reservoir to help juvenile fall chinook salmon migrate to the ocean. Kokanee fishing continues to be good throughout the reservoir. Recent kokanee surveys have found that young kokanee did not survive well last year. Anglers so far have verified that finding; most are reporting catching fewer but larger fish this spring, with some fish already up to 13”. Trout fishing can be very good with spinners and spoons at the creek mouths. Bass anglers are doing well on small to medium sized fish; with a few fish going over three pounds. The reservoir from Grandad Bridge upstream opened to fishing May 29.
RIVERS AND STREAMS
As we swing into summer, most of our rivers and streams are clear and fishable. Anglers fishing the Lochsa, Selway, and North Fork Clearwater Rivers as well as many of their tributaries are doing very well on 10”-16” westslope cutthroat and rainbow trout. To protect these outstanding fisheries, these rivers and most of their tributaries have restrictive regulations on them, so be sure to check the regulations before you go. Small spinners, spoons, and most of the usual trout flies are the lures to use.
The under appreciated whitefish is very common in the region and can grow to 20 inches. They are active all year and can provide excellent spring fishing. Fish with small wet flies just off the bottom in riffle areas for the best results.
Bass fishing continues to be good on the Snake and lower Salmon Rivers. Smallmouths have been averaging 10-12” lately, but there are some bigger fish around for the lucky or persistent angler. Curly tail grubs and small crankbaits are the standard offerings.Please check the regulations before going fishing and contact the Clearwater Region at (208) 799-5010 or at [url "mailto:clearwtr@idfg.state.id.us"]clearwtr@idfg.state.id.us[/url] on the Internet if you have specific questions.
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