[Previous entry: "Clearwater and Snake River Fishing-2004"] [Main Index] [Next entry: "Clearwater River, Snake River and Hells Canyon-4/18/04"]

03/01/2004 Archived Entry: "Sturgeon, Smallmouth Bass, Catfish and Spring Chinook-March 1, 2004"

Sturgeon fishing has been quite good the past couple of weeks in the upper reaches of the Snake River-from Heller Bar upstream into Hells Canyon the fishing has been excellent. The low water temps are slowing the bite somewhat but with a little patience we have been doing very well in this region.

Bass are beginning to stir around and with just a slight rise in water temps we will see some pretty fair fishing, at this time the water is holding in the low 40s but with the longer days this should soon rise into the 50 degree range and the smallmouth will start moving into their spring feeding patterns.

The reservoirs on the lower Snake are beginning to show some catfish activity and as with the smallmouth we only need a minimal rise in water temps to set them off. As the runoff begins we will see an instant increase in activity for all species in the reservoir areas.

Spring Chinook-that pretty much says it all! It appears our Clearwater Springer season will open on April 17th with a daily limit of 2 adipose clipped fish, at least that is the proposal that has been sent up for consideration. The peak run is generally during the last week of April and the first 2 weeks in May-the fish seem to be a little behind schedule this year and that may push our peak back a few days but chances are good that we will have some good fishing during that entire period.

For more information contact us at 1-509-751-0410 or email--plong@clarkston.com