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Fishing reports  for the Snake River - Clearwater River and the waters in and around  the Lewiston, Idaho and Clarkston, Washington region.






July 2, 2008

'MOST FISHING RODS WORK BETTER IF YOU GRASP THEM AT THE THICK END.  IF YOU GRASP A FISHERMAN AT THE THICK END,  YOU MAY GET A THUMB BIT OFF."

Ed Zern
How To Tell Fish From Fishermen

You can put your salmon gear away unless you have a trip planned West or North or you may get it ready for steelhead fishing.  The steelhead are coming as yesterdays count of 998 over Bonneville Dam and over 200 through McNary say it loud and clear we are coming.  In fact, there have been 500 or more over the big dam 11 of the last 12 days.  It is my best guess that in two or three weeks we should have fishable numbers showing up here.

Smallmouth bass appear to be doing great all the way from the Oregon border down to Lower Granite Dam.  Up the Snake best fishing has been in or on the slower flow areas and back eddy water.  The original Rapala balsa silver minnows, countdowns and look a likes have been good hard bait choices.  Tubes and three and five inch grubs in green pumpkin, root beer brown, watermelon and smoke colors have been our best sellers.  One setup that can work well right now is a tube rigged with a worm hook the same way you would a plastic worm.  You can either Texas Rig the tube to fish deeper areas or without the forward weight to fish it almost like a top water bait in shallower areas.

Reports have been good from the Grande Rhonde, the river and its mouth, all the way down the Snake to Swallows Nest and from Evans Road area to Silcott Island staying on the South side of the Snake.  The water has been about 4 to 6 degrees warmer than the North side.  Spotty reports continue on down the river until you get into the Wawawai Landing area which has been reported as one of the hottest spots for bigger fish with a couple approaching 6 pounds.

Tubes, worms and grubs are all good baits.  But some of the largest fish have been reported caught on smaller suspending jerk baits fished in anywhere from six to twelve feet of water right before drop-offs to 20 or 30 feet.  There was reported that the jerk baits that work best has orange on them or on their belly.  I noted yesterday that watching some crawdads in the shallow water near my shop that they are showing bright orange on their bodies.

There has been a major change in Washington state wide bass limits.  There are now separate size and daily limits for smallmouth and largemouth bass.  The daily limit for largemouth is 5, only one over 17 inches, and the rest must be under 12 inches.  For smallmouth, the limit is 10 with one over 14 inches and no minimum size.

Cat fishing has turned up on most of the Snake River system.  Cut bait and large shrimp are reported to be the best bait fished right on the bottom and most fish are being caught in 15 to 30 feet of water.. Asotin out under the power lines, below the Elks club, near the Southway Bridge and the Evans Road hole are sending me the best reports.  One fishermen at the Evans Road hole the other day said he had 14 to the bank with the biggest fish pushing 18 pounds

We are beginning to get a few reports from the sturgeon fishermen.  Most of the fish have been in the 4 to 6 foot range and whole fish and squid seem to be the baits of choice.  I admit reports are spotty and I should have more information the next time around.

With the current river conditions, weather conditions and other variables its suggested you might give us a call at 509-758-2474 before you hit the river so we can do our darnest to help you catch fish.

DID YOU KNOW THAT THE FAMOUS ZARA SPOOK TOPWATER PLUG WAS NAMED THAT BECAUSE IT SUPPOSEDLY WIGGLES LIKE THE LADIES OF THE NIGHT ON PENSACOLA'S ZARAGOSSA STREET.

Joel Vance
North American Fish


June 4, 2008

"No angler merely watches nature in a passive way. He enters into its very existence."
   John Bailey
   Reflections On The Water's Edge

With the Clearwater surging 60,000 at Spalding and the Snake at 99,000 at the Anatone Gauge, mother nature is making it very difficult to fish many parts of the rivers from a boat.  Two fishermen have lost their lives on the Clearwater and two boats were sunk on the Snake since salmon season opened.  Fishermen ~~ please watch the river conditions and be careful and alert whenever you are out there or even near the waters edge.

Salmon fishing has really been tough over the last 4 or 5 days for those backtrolling wrapped plugs in the main stream section of the Clearwater.  Having said that, fishermen who have found slacker flows near the shores, back eddys. or slower water and have backtrolled eggs on jet divers or bounced them on a two way setup have had some really decent numbers to report. Our best reports have come from the river from Spalding to Cherry Lane.

The plunkers from the bank have been catching some nice fish.  They have been using spin and glow setups with eggs or dyed shrimp and plug cut herring setups.  Because of the strong currents along most of the Clearwater has taken anywhere from 4 to 9 ounces of weight to hold the bottom and don't be surprised if you see some sturgeon gear being used.

It is worth a comment to say that the salmon fish counts at both Bonneville and Lower Granite Dams still look good.  As of June 1 there were 33,970 over Granite and that compares with 17,230 last year.  Bonneville is still producing around 1,000 fish a day.

Changing fishing hats, the conditions have also made smallmouth bass fishing more difficult.  Results from an ABA tournament last Sunday was a good test on the Snake.  The winning weight was just under 14 pounds for 5 fish and the big fish was slightly over 4 3/4 pounds The faster water, muddy conditions and the fact that of the smallmouth are already moving on the redds, made it tougher fishing.  Last year this same tournament was won with over 20 pounds.

One tip for you bass fishermen right now is that the most productive colors for grubs and tubes seems to be junebug and smoke with black flecks.  Muddy waters means darker colors usually work best.

There have been no recent reports from the either the catfish or sturgeon fishermen.

Finally, its free fishing Saturday in Idaho on June 7 and free fishing weekend in Washington this Saturday and Sunday.  This would be a good time to take the kids out to the local lakes and ponds which have been stocked for the occasion.

"Contrary to common belief, it is not true that if you cut a worm ~ fishermen in half each half will grow into a complete fishermen. For which we should all be grateful."

   Ed Zern
   How To Tell Fish From Fishermen.




Stu at Waters Edge





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Either come in or give us a call at the shop at 509-758-2474 and maybe we can help you increase your catch.  Good Luck!!!                   


                                         


Copyright ©  2007 ...Waters Edge

New At the Tackle Shop!
Waters Edge continues to provide more cured baits to help your fishing.
Find fresh Salmon bait for your Clearwater trip.... Sturgeon baits are still available.


Bait and Tackle Shop
Clarkston Washington and Lewiston Idaho
1550 Port Drive
Clarkston, Washington
509-758-2474