CLEARWATER & SNAKE RIVER FISHING REPORT
October 2nd, 2026
Lewiston, ID
The steelhead push into the upper system took a noticeable step forward this week.
Lower Granite counted 1,515 steelhead today, bringing the season total to 18,841 fish. That is a gain of 7,362 fish in one week, compared with last Thursday’s total of 11,479. The daily count has also jumped sharply from 614 fish last week.
Bonneville is now sitting at 62,418 steelhead for the year, with 81 fish counted today. The lower daily number at Bonneville is not surprising this far into the run, while the stronger counts at Lower Granite show that more fish are moving farther upstream.
Locally, the Clearwater is continuing to cool and settle. It is currently running at 3,110 cfs and 55°F, giving anglers lower, cooler water than they had a week ago. The Snake is at 14,800 cfs, while the Grande Ronde is holding at 568 cfs.
For steelhead anglers, the combination of cooler water and a much stronger push of fish over Lower Granite should make the next several days worth paying attention to.
Clearwater River
3,110 cfs | 55°F
The Clearwater continues to move in the right direction for fall steelhead fishing.
The river has dropped another 410 cfs since last week, and the temperature has fallen from 58°F to 55°F. Those cooler conditions should give anglers a little more flexibility with how they fish.
Floating and intermediate setups are worth keeping in play, especially through broad tailouts and shallower runs. A Scandi head paired with a light leader can be a good way to cover water without putting the fly too deep.
For heavier or faster runs, a Skagit setup still makes sense. There is no need to fish the same tip everywhere. Adjusting sink rate based on depth and current speed will usually give a cleaner swing.
The biggest reason to be encouraged is the jump in Lower Granite numbers. More than 7,000 additional steelhead have moved over the dam since last week, putting more fish into the upper system.
This is also a good time to keep your fly selection fairly broad. Smaller traditional patterns in black, purple and orange can work well in clearer water, while larger flies remain useful for deeper slots or lower-light periods.
Snake River
14,800 cfs
The Snake has dropped slightly from last week, but the fish counts are the bigger story.
With 1,515 steelhead crossing Lower Granite today, there are noticeably more fish moving through this part of the system than there were a week ago.
Rather than focusing only on the deepest water, look for places where traveling fish can pause without fighting the strongest current. Inside bends, softer edges, tailouts and current breaks can all be productive.
Floating lines can cover the shallower sections well, while Skagit heads and sink tips give anglers more control in deeper runs.
At 14,800 cfs, the river remains very fishable, although flows can move around depending on dam operations.
Grande Ronde River
568 cfs
The Grande Ronde is holding close to last week’s level and is beginning to feel more like an early steelhead river.
With more fish moving over Lower Granite, anglers should start seeing increasing opportunities as the run continues to build.
At 568 cfs, the river offers a good mix of shallow and deeper holding water. Tailouts, slower edges and deeper traveling lanes are all worth covering.
Smaller traditional flies and floating lines are good choices through shallower sections. In deeper pools and runs, adding a light sink tip can help keep the fly in the zone longer.
This is still a time of year when moving around can pay off. Fish are traveling, so covering several runs may be more productive than staying in one place all day.
North Fork Clearwater River
708 cfs at Canyon Ranger Station
The North Fork has barely changed from last week and remains at a comfortable fall flow.
At 708 cfs, anglers should have plenty of accessible pocket water and deeper runs to work through.
Nymphs are a dependable choice around larger rocks and current seams, while small streamers can be effective in deeper pockets.
Afternoon dry-fly opportunities are still possible, but as fall progresses, subsurface presentations will continue to become more important.
Lochsa River
398 cfs at Lowell
The Lochsa has now dropped below 400 cfs.
With less water moving through the river, anglers should concentrate on areas that still offer depth and cover. Deep pockets, pool heads, seams and water around larger rocks are better bets than shallow flats.
Smaller mayflies and caddis can still bring fish up during the warmer parts of the day.
When surface activity slows down, adding a nymph or switching to a small streamer can help reach fish holding deeper.
The lower water also means a little extra stealth can make a difference.
Selway River
547 cfs at Lowell
The Selway dropped more noticeably this week and is now sitting at 547 cfs.
Lower water should make much of the river easier to cover, but it also means fish may become more concentrated around deeper pockets and runs.
Dry-dropper setups remain one of the better all-around options because they let anglers cover both the surface and subsurface water at the same time.
Smaller attractors, caddis and mayfly patterns are all worth carrying. Blue-wing olives should also become increasingly important as cooler fall weather settles in.
St. Joe River
328 cfs at St. Maries
The St. Joe remains low and fairly stable.
At 328 cfs, anglers should spend most of their time around deeper pools, shaded banks, riffles with enough depth and any place that gives trout some cover.
Dry-dropper rigs are still useful, particularly during the afternoon, but nymphs will become more dependable as water temperatures continue cooling.
Clear water can make fish easier to spook, so approaching good runs carefully is important.
Looking Ahead
The biggest takeaway this week is simple: more steelhead are moving into the upper Snake River system.
Lower Granite added more than 7,300 fish to its season total in seven days, and today’s count of 1,515 is a major jump from what we were seeing last week.
At the same time, the Clearwater has cooled to 55°F and dropped to 3,110 cfs. That gives anglers a good mix of lower water, cooler temperatures and increasing numbers of fish.
The trout rivers are continuing their gradual move into fall conditions. The Lochsa, Selway, North Fork and St. Joe are all running lower, so anglers should begin shifting more attention toward deeper water and subsurface presentations.
As October gets underway, steelhead fishing is becoming a much bigger part of the picture around Lewiston. The numbers are finally starting to build, and there are more reasons to spend time on both the Snake and Clearwater this week.
Question of The Day
"What flies do carp eat?"
Carp feed on a variety of forage. So having everything from small craw patterns, clam patterns, nymphs, mulberry patters and even in some cases cottonwood seed flies. So, it’s essential to carry a wide variety of flies in your box. It all depends on your fishery and where the fish are when they are actively feeding. My preference is to fish for carp on flats.