Selway River

100.1 miles of pristine wilderness river with outstanding cutthroat trout fishing. True backcountry setting - float access recommended. Abundant cutthroat in headwaters eager for dry flies.

Species: Westslope Cutthroat, Rainbow Trout, Bull Trout, Steelhead. Difficulty: advanced. Rewards technical skill and local knowledge.

Best timing: Summer. Summer fishes best at first light and late evening; midday is technical.

Regulations: Wild trout regulations. Bull trout catch-and-release. Always confirm with the current IDFG rule book before fishing.

Clearwater context

The Clearwater drainage is steelhead country — specifically B-run fish that spend an extra year at sea and arrive at trophy sizes from October through March. Dworshak Reservoir holds the state-record smallmouth and an outsized kokanee fishery. Above the reservoir, the North Fork stays cold and productive year-round; the Lochsa and Selway feed in as wild and scenic westslope cutthroat strongholds. Lewiston, Orofino, and Kamiah are the staging towns.

Plan for the experience level the fishery rewards.