North Fork of the Clearwater River
river in Idaho
A magnificent, wild, and largely undeveloped freestone river, the North Fork of the Clearwater offers an unparalleled wilderness fly fishing experience. Its pristine waters are home to robust populations of large Westslope cutthroat trout and provide spectacular seasonal runs of steelhead.
Conditions right now
No USGS gauge is linked to this water yet, so we can't chart flows.
October Caddis are making a strong appearance
- 01October Caddis are making a strong appearance, providing a substantial meal for eager trout.
- 02Consistent Blue-Winged Olive (BWO) hatches are active, especially on overcast days.
- 03Mahogany Duns are also active and can draw fish to the surface.
- 04Terrestrial activity, particularly with hoppers, still holds potential on warmer afternoons.
- 05Focus on deeper runs and foam lines where emerging insects collect, and seams between faster and slower currents.
What to tie on
Picked from reports, hatches and the season. Tap a fly for the recipe and where else it works.
October Caddis (Dry)
Matches the prominent October Caddis hatch now active on the river, a key fall food source.
Buy at AmazonBlue-Winged Olive Comparadun (BWO)
BWOs are actively hatching in the fall, especially on overcast days, and a Comparadun is an excellent low-profile pattern for selective fish.
Mahogany Dun
Fall hatches of Mahogany Duns are underway, providing excellent dry fly opportunities for trout keying on adult mayflies.
Buy at AmazonSchroeder ess Parachute Hopper
Terrestrials like hoppers are still a significant food source in early fall along grassy banks, attracting opportunistic feeders.
Jujubaetis
An excellent Baetis nymph for subsurface feeding, perfectly matching the active BWO nymphs when trout aren't rising to dries.
Buy at AmazonFlashback Hare's Ear Nymph
A versatile nymph that imitates various active aquatic insects, effective year-round, especially when fish are feeding subsurface.
Where to fish and who to ask
Upper Lolo Trail Access
Various points along the Lolo Trail road providing access to upper stretches.
Weitas Creek Confluence
Access point where Weitas Creek joins the North Fork, known for good fishing.
Get North Fork of the Clearwater River reports by email
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Idaho season by season
What changes on the water through the year, with the flies for each season.
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Quick answers
Common questions about North Fork of the Clearwater River.
What flies work best on North Fork of the Clearwater River?
Our top scored fly patterns for North Fork of the Clearwater River right now are October Caddis (Dry) (95% confidence), Blue-Winged Olive Comparadun (BWO) (95% confidence), Mahogany Dun (90% confidence). These picks are scored from recent fishing reports, hatch data, and seasonal patterns.
What fish species are in North Fork of the Clearwater River?
North Fork of the Clearwater River holds Steelhead. See the species links on this page for fly recommendations and seasonal behavior for each.
Is North Fork of the Clearwater River fishing well right now?
We publish a fresh bite report for North Fork of the Clearwater River each week based on recent on-the-water intel. The current report — with conditions, hatches, and what's producing — is on this page.