3/31/2026 Clearwater River Spring Chinook Report

The 2026 Idaho Clearwater River Spring Chinook season will open Saturday April 25th. The run projection is strong at this time and the initial opening regulations call for a 2 hatchery Spring Chinook per day limit with the fishing being open on Thursday - Sunday. The Salmon Fishing guides here at Clearwater River Outfitters will be ready to go and plan to have knock it out of the park fishing and a slightly early run timing. We plan to see good fishing on the lower Clearwater by the first part of May with the upper river by Orofino getting better by mid May. 

A few tips for the early part of the Salmon run…

If the river temperature is below 50 degrees the best technique will likely be anchoring with or back trolling sardine wrapped Quickfish or MagLips. The Salmon egg bite usually takes off when river tempetkres get into the 50’s and 60’s.

When running Roe (Salmon Eggs) in the early part of the Salmon season prepare to fight off the trash fish. Squawfish and pea mouth chubs are terrible bait grabbers the first few weeks of the season. They will run you out of bait quickly until many of them have been caught and killed over the first couple weeks of fishing. If you are short on good bait beware!

Prepare for all kinds of weather! Spring weather can be all over the place so be ready for when it turns nasty! The occasional hail storm might send you calling butt back to the launch so dress in layers and plan for the best, but be prepared for the worst.

Idaho fish and Game now has a wonderful app for your smart phone. It is called GoOutdoorID. You can purchase you fishing license and Salmon tag right from the app and select e-tagging to use the app to tag your fish right on your phone! It really works!

Good Luck, tight Lines and Fish On!!!

The Fishing Guides at Clearwater River Outfitters