I've seen some photos of vividly colored, magnum sized steelhead that were said to come out of the South Fork of Idaho's Clearwater River.

I want one! When is the best time to go and can you recommend a competent guide? I'd prefer fly fishing, but my skills are mediocre.

I live 7 miles from the waters edge and I cannot name a guide on the South Fork. It is combat fishing. You will have a hard time finding a place to park let alone cast. I have not bothered with it in 5 years. It is just no fun.

If you want a nice B run steelhead than you need to fish the main clearwater above Lewiston, Idaho. There are many guides for fly or regular based in the Lewiston or Orofino Idaho area. Give it a search. They will tell you the best time which for fly fishing has been at least for me, early September on the main Clearwater. The main river is good from then on through early December in my experience and the South Fork (same fish) gets good numbers in february and March (right now) but they are now getting softer and starting to set on the redds where they are endlessly harrassed until the close of the season by the above mentioned idiots (I mean fishermen).

You can also fish the A run on the salmon (smaller fish).

Thank you very much.

Ive fished and caught steelhead on the clearwater , from shore and my freinds boat.

Generaly alot of hours fishing required to land one.

That's why they say steelhead is a fish of a thousand casts.