NF Clearwater Fishing

Host: Dick Brereton

Outing: Registration for this outing is required and includes a fee of $5.00 to cover the cost of the communal Saturday Dinner.

This is meant to be a social fishing weekend and we are camping at Hidden Creek Campground. There are 13 large campsites and each is first come – first served. This campground does have vaulted toilets and potable water. A full campground is unexpected, however, we recommend sharing a campground and the $10 nightly fee per site.

Bring your own fishing gear, tents, food and camping supplies. Idaho Fishing Licenses are required.

Please let us know how many people will be in your party

Meal: There will be a communal BBQ Saturday evening and we’ll have discussions and stories around the camp fire.

Directions: I-90 east for 139 miles to Superior, MT (Exit 47). At the exit stop sign take a right on River Street and then a Left on Diamond Rd. Continue on Forest Road 250 up over the pass heading south back into Idaho (this is a dirt road until the top and then it becomes paved for a short way). Continue on Forest Service Road 250 until it turns into Black Canyon road. Hidden Creek Campground will be on further down this road on the left. (There are signs).

Informational:

The North fork of the Clearwater River is one of the lesser known cutthroat fisheries in our area (that is a good thing). Cutthroats in the 14 inch range are common and typically a 17 to 18 inch fish will be caught during your day.

Primary patterns during this time of year include Mayflies, Golden Stones (size 10 & 12), Yellow Sallies (12 & 14), and tan caddis (12 & 14). Occasionally you’ll see large hatches of ants (14). Hoppers (10 &12) are out and about at this time. Standard array of subsurface nymphs will work, but the dry fly action is enough to rule this out in all but the most dire of circumstances. A Chubby and dropper is all you will need. Please do not forget the Emergers: X-Caddis and Rosenbauer’s Rabbit’s Foot Emerger in a variety of sizes will serve you nicely.