Tom Steinbrenner of Missoula, who is arguably the most avid steelhead fisherman in Missoula and possibly Montana, reported how his steelhead fishing has been going this year on the Clearwater River in Idaho.

See Tom’s report from today, 11/5/2012, below:

With the water on the rise, the steelhead are moving up the Clearwater, and there are fish up to Kooskia.  In the Orofino Area, the fish are being taken side drifting from both Jet boats and drift boats, pulling plugs and bobber fishing the seams, Spey Rodders are throwing purple Perils and leach and muddler patterns and hitting fish when they cover plenty of water.

I lost the biggest “B” run I’ve had on in the last 5 years sunday morning.  Some of these Steelhead are huge this year.

The outlook is fair to midland for the rest of the fall fishery being only half as many fish showed up compared to the last five year average.