The Clearwater River is a freestone river in Washington, listed as Special-regulation trout water by Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife / Fish and Wildlife Commission (WAC 220-312).
1 USGS gauge on the water reports flow. 1 guide nearby are listed here.
Clearwater River is a freestone river in Washington. Washington has 2 waters named Clearwater River in the USGS Geographic Names Information System; this page is the stream whose mouth is in Pierce County, the one the agency list names.
Pick one of its USGS gauges and hear from us when the flow moves into or out of its usual range for the date, or crosses a flow you set. We check the public USGS reading every 2 hours and email only when it crosses, at most once every 6 hours. Flow alone is not a fishing forecast or a safety call.
Signed in: one step. Otherwise we email a confirmation link first. Every alert has one-click links to stop it.
Start from the agency's public access map. Nothing on this page grants or implies access: check the agency map, posted signs and landowner permission before you fish.
Nothing on this page grants or implies access.
Gauges, shops and guides within 40 miles
Map of Clearwater River: gauges, shops and guides
Map of Clearwater River with 1 USGS gauge.
Restrooms within 2 miles of Clearwater River in a straight line, nearest first, with what anglers found when they went. The map says a restroom is there, not whether it is clean or open today.
No restroom mapped within 2 mi yet — add one you know.
Campgrounds, fishing access sites and boat ramps often have one that isn't on the map yet.
Restroom locations and map details: © OpenStreetMap contributors, Open Database License, read Oct 24, 2026. Ratings, answers and photos are members' own; who shared them is never shown, and every photo is reviewed before it appears. Visits older than 18 months no longer count. Distances are straight-line miles, not driving. Nothing here grants access to private land. Community guidelines.
Catch and releaseRepresentative photo · not White RiverThe Columbia River in Washington. Photo: Belle Unruh, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not White River.
Washington · about 7 mi
Special-regulation trout waterRepresentative photo · not Cedar RiverThe Methow River near Pateros, Washington, at sunset. Photo: Thayne Tuason, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Cedar River.
Washington · about 20 mi
Special-regulation trout waterRepresentative photo · not Puyallup RiverThe Columbia River Gorge looking east from Crown Point, Oregon. Photo: Hux, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons Not Puyallup River.
Washington · about 20 mi
Special-regulation trout waterRepresentative photo · not Raging RiverWashington · about 29 mi
Special-regulation trout waterRepresentative photo · not American RiverWashington · about 32 mi
Special-regulation trout waterRepresentative photo · not Nisqually RiverThe Necanicum River at Klootchy Creek Park, Clatsop County, Oregon. Photo: Jsayre64, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Nisqually River.
Washington · about 32 mi
Seasons, limits, special regulations and closures for each reach are on the agency pages below. Read them before you go.
Each comes from the agency's own published list; where the list names a reach it is quoted. A designation applies to the listed reach, not necessarily the whole water. Listed in the finder under trout.
On the Selective gear rules waters list (Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife / Fish and Wildlife Commission (WAC 220-312), read 2026-10-20). All waters with this designation
Measured from the NHDPlus High Resolution (flowlines and waterbodies) (U.S. Geological Survey, read 2026-11-04) for this water’s own mapped feature. Rounded figures; they describe the channel, not today’s conditions.
Whole Clearwater River, not only this reach.
Listings marked Unclaimed are built from open map records and the business's own website: confirm licensing, rates, dates and hours directly.
1 guide name it on their website
Ellensburg, WA · 52 mi
Spey & two-handed · Lodge packages · Yakima & Methow
Names this water
No shop nearby yet.
The hatch and season chart for this water's region.
1 hatch charted for the region, not measured on this water. From Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife.
Salmonfly (May)
None of our destination hubs is within 40 miles in a straight line. The trip planner builds a trip around the water itself: the guides and shops listed within 40 miles of it, its gauges and its nearest towns and airports.
No hub within 40 miles
A wade-fishing checklist for big western trout rivers: a 9 ft 5–6 weight outfit, nymph, dry and streamer setups, waders, boots and a wading staff, with estimated prices by tier and where to buy.
9′ rod, 5–6 weight, floating line · Rainbow and brown trout, whitefish
Open the checklistSeams, shelves and soft water, shown on real rivers.
Public YouTube videos from established channels, chosen by us to support this page. Not sponsored; the creators are not affiliated with Legendary Fly Gear.
Not sponsored All videos on reading water
Indicator rigs, depth and detecting the take.
Public YouTube videos from established channels, chosen by us to support this page. Not sponsored; the creators are not affiliated with Legendary Fly Gear.
Not sponsored All videos on nymphing
Trip stories anglers chose to share publicly and tagged with Clearwater River.
No stories from here yet.
Not a statement of access, fish presence or conditions.
A water page organises discovery. It does not assert public access, legal access, current fish presence, guide availability or fishing conditions.
Flows, gauge statistics and flood stages come from USGS and the National Weather Service when the page is shown. Regulations, stocking, species and season statements link to the agency that publishes them; this page copies only the species names and the quoted sentences. Guide and shop listings come from the Legendary directories. Position: the USGS gauge CLEARWATER RIVER NEAR BUCKLEY, WA. Water type is our own classification.
Caution: Low water: go quiet and stealthy
No water temperature here.
At CLEARWATER RIVER NEAR BUCKLEY, WA (USGS 12097820) Provisional USGS data
USGS 12097820
What the agencies suggest
Approach the stream carefully and with a low profileIowa Department of Natural Resources
Fishing upstream will usually spook fewer fish than working downstreamIowa Department of Natural Resources
Deep pools and undercut banks provide refuge during sunny days and low waterMinnesota Department of Natural Resources
General guidance from the readings and the published lines named above, not a fishing forecast. Local rules and closures come first.
Reading Nov 5, 2:30 PM PST · provisional USGS data
Lowest for this date on record for Nov 5 Rising · 24 h
Discharge, last 7 days: 169 readings from Oct 29, 3:30 PM PDT to Nov 5, 2:30 PM PST; ranging 7.41 to 17.1 ft³/s; latest 11 ft³/s.
USGS provisional data may be revised. Source: USGS instantaneous values.
| Time | Discharge (ft³/s) | Gauge height (ft) |
|---|---|---|
| Nov 5, 2:30 PM PST | 11 | 21.7 |
| Nov 5, 1:30 PM PST | 10.4 | 21.7 |
| Nov 5, 12:30 PM PST | 9.71 | 21.7 |
| Nov 5, 11:30 AM PST | 9.4 | 21.7 |
| Nov 5, 10:30 AM PST | 9.4 | 21.7 |
| Nov 5, 9:30 AM PST | 9.09 | 21.7 |
| Nov 5, 8:30 AM PST | 8.8 | 21.6 |
| Nov 5, 7:30 AM PST | 8.8 | 21.6 |
| Nov 5, 6:30 AM PST | 8.8 | 21.6 |
| Nov 5, 5:30 AM PST | 8.8 | 21.6 |
| Nov 5, 4:30 AM PST | 8.8 | 21.6 |
| Nov 5, 3:30 AM PST | 8.8 | 21.6 |
| Nov 5, 2:30 AM PST | 8.5 | 21.6 |
| Nov 5, 1:30 AM PST | 8.5 | 21.6 |
| Nov 5, 12:30 AM PST | 8.22 | 21.6 |
| Nov 4, 11:30 PM PST | 8.22 | 21.6 |
| Nov 4, 10:30 PM PST | 8.22 | 21.6 |
| Nov 4, 9:30 PM PST | 7.94 | 21.6 |
| Nov 4, 8:30 PM PST | 7.94 | 21.6 |
| Nov 4, 7:30 PM PST | 7.94 | 21.6 |
| Nov 4, 6:30 PM PST | 7.67 | 21.6 |
| Nov 4, 5:30 PM PST | 7.67 | 21.6 |
| Nov 4, 4:30 PM PST | 7.67 | 21.6 |
| Nov 4, 3:30 PM PST | 7.67 | 21.6 |
| Nov 4, 2:30 PM PST | 7.67 | 21.6 |
| Nov 4, 1:30 PM PST | 7.67 | 21.6 |
| Nov 4, 12:30 PM PST | 7.41 | 21.6 |
| Nov 4, 11:30 AM PST | 7.67 | 21.6 |
| Nov 4, 10:30 AM PST | 7.41 | 21.6 |
| Nov 4, 9:30 AM PST | 7.41 | 21.6 |
| Nov 4, 8:30 AM PST | 7.41 | 21.6 |
| Nov 4, 7:30 AM PST | 7.41 | 21.6 |
| Nov 4, 6:30 AM PST | 7.41 | 21.6 |
| Nov 4, 5:30 AM PST | 7.41 | 21.6 |
| Nov 4, 4:30 AM PST | 7.41 | 21.6 |
| Nov 4, 3:30 AM PST | 7.41 | 21.6 |
| Nov 4, 2:30 AM PST | 7.41 | 21.6 |
| Nov 4, 1:30 AM PST | 7.41 | 21.6 |
| Nov 4, 12:30 AM PST | 7.41 | 21.6 |
| Nov 3, 11:30 PM PST | 7.41 | 21.6 |
| Nov 3, 10:30 PM PST | 7.67 | 21.6 |
| Nov 3, 9:30 PM PST | 7.41 | 21.6 |
| Nov 3, 8:30 PM PST | 7.41 | 21.6 |
| Nov 3, 7:30 PM PST | 7.41 | 21.6 |
| Nov 3, 6:30 PM PST | 7.67 | 21.6 |
| Nov 3, 5:30 PM PST | 7.67 | 21.6 |
| Nov 3, 4:30 PM PST | 7.41 | 21.6 |
| Nov 3, 3:30 PM PST | 7.67 | 21.6 |
| Nov 3, 2:30 PM PST | 7.67 | 21.6 |
| Nov 3, 1:30 PM PST | 7.67 | 21.6 |
| Nov 3, 12:30 PM PST | 7.67 | 21.6 |
| Nov 3, 11:30 AM PST | 7.67 | 21.6 |
| Nov 3, 10:30 AM PST | 7.67 | 21.6 |
| Nov 3, 9:30 AM PST | 7.67 | 21.6 |
| Nov 3, 8:30 AM PST | 7.67 | 21.6 |
| Nov 3, 7:30 AM PST | 7.67 | 21.6 |
| Nov 3, 6:30 AM PST | 7.67 | 21.6 |
| Nov 3, 5:30 AM PST | 7.94 | 21.6 |
| Nov 3, 4:30 AM PST | 7.94 | 21.6 |
| Nov 3, 3:30 AM PST | 7.94 | 21.6 |
| Nov 3, 2:30 AM PST | 7.94 | 21.6 |
| Nov 3, 1:30 AM PST | 7.94 | 21.6 |
| Nov 3, 12:30 AM PST | 7.94 | 21.6 |
| Nov 2, 11:30 PM PST | 8.22 | 21.6 |
| Nov 2, 10:30 PM PST | 8.22 | 21.6 |
| Nov 2, 9:30 PM PST | 8.22 | 21.6 |
| Nov 2, 8:30 PM PST | 8.22 | 21.6 |
| Nov 2, 7:30 PM PST | 8.22 | 21.6 |
| Nov 2, 6:30 PM PST | 8.22 | 21.6 |
| Nov 2, 5:30 PM PST | 8.22 | 21.6 |
| Nov 2, 4:30 PM PST | 8.22 | 21.6 |
| Nov 2, 3:30 PM PST | 8.22 | 21.6 |
| Nov 2, 2:30 PM PST | 8.22 | 21.6 |
| Nov 2, 1:30 PM PST | 8.22 | 21.6 |
| Nov 2, 12:30 PM PST | 8.22 | 21.6 |
| Nov 2, 11:30 AM PST | 8.22 | 21.6 |
| Nov 2, 10:30 AM PST | 8.5 | 21.6 |
| Nov 2, 9:30 AM PST | 8.5 | 21.6 |
| Nov 2, 8:30 AM PST | 8.5 | 21.6 |
| Nov 2, 7:30 AM PST | 8.5 | 21.6 |
| Nov 2, 6:30 AM PST | 8.5 | 21.6 |
| Nov 2, 5:30 AM PST | 8.5 | 21.6 |
| Nov 2, 4:30 AM PST | 8.5 | 21.6 |
| Nov 2, 3:30 AM PST | 8.5 | 21.6 |
| Nov 2, 2:30 AM PST | 8.5 | 21.6 |
| Nov 2, 1:30 AM PST | 8.5 | 21.6 |
| Nov 2, 12:30 AM PST | 8.8 | 21.6 |
| Nov 1, 11:30 PM PST | 8.8 | 21.6 |
| Nov 1, 10:30 PM PST | 8.8 | 21.6 |
| Nov 1, 9:30 PM PST | 8.8 | 21.6 |
| Nov 1, 8:30 PM PST | 8.8 | 21.6 |
| Nov 1, 7:30 PM PST | 8.8 | 21.6 |
| Nov 1, 6:30 PM PST | 8.8 | 21.6 |
| Nov 1, 5:30 PM PST | 9.09 | 21.7 |
| Nov 1, 4:30 PM PST | 9.09 | 21.7 |
| Nov 1, 3:30 PM PST | 9.09 | 21.7 |
| Nov 1, 2:30 PM PST | 8.8 | 21.6 |
| Nov 1, 1:30 PM PST | 9.09 | 21.7 |
| Nov 1, 12:30 PM PST | 9.09 | 21.7 |
| Nov 1, 11:30 AM PST | 9.09 | 21.7 |
| Nov 1, 10:30 AM PST | 9.09 | 21.7 |
| Nov 1, 9:30 AM PST | 9.09 | 21.7 |
| Nov 1, 8:30 AM PST | 9.4 | 21.7 |
| Nov 1, 7:30 AM PST | 9.09 | 21.7 |
| Nov 1, 6:30 AM PST | 9.4 | 21.7 |
| Nov 1, 5:30 AM PST | 9.4 | 21.7 |
| Nov 1, 4:30 AM PST | 9.4 | 21.7 |
| Nov 1, 3:30 AM PST | 9.71 | 21.7 |
| Nov 1, 2:30 AM PST | 9.4 | 21.7 |
| Nov 1, 1:30 AM PST | 9.71 | 21.7 |
| Nov 1, 1:30 AM PDT | 9.71 | 21.7 |
| Nov 1, 12:30 AM PDT | 9.71 | 21.7 |
| Oct 31, 11:30 PM PDT | 9.71 | 21.7 |
| Oct 31, 10:30 PM PDT | 9.71 | 21.7 |
| Oct 31, 9:30 PM PDT | 10 | 21.7 |
| Oct 31, 8:30 PM PDT | 10 | 21.7 |
| Oct 31, 7:30 PM PDT | 10 | 21.7 |
| Oct 31, 6:30 PM PDT | 10 | 21.7 |
| Oct 31, 5:30 PM PDT | 10 | 21.7 |
| Oct 31, 4:30 PM PDT | 10 | 21.7 |
| Oct 31, 3:30 PM PDT | 10.4 | 21.7 |
| Oct 31, 2:30 PM PDT | 10.4 | 21.7 |
| Oct 31, 1:30 PM PDT | 10.4 | 21.7 |
| Oct 31, 12:30 PM PDT | 10.7 | 21.7 |
| Oct 31, 11:30 AM PDT | 10.4 | 21.7 |
| Oct 31, 10:30 AM PDT | 10.4 | 21.7 |
| Oct 31, 9:30 AM PDT | 10.4 | 21.7 |
| Oct 31, 8:30 AM PDT | 10.7 | 21.7 |
| Oct 31, 7:30 AM PDT | 10.7 | 21.7 |
| Oct 31, 6:30 AM PDT | 10.7 | 21.7 |
| Oct 31, 5:30 AM PDT | 10.7 | 21.7 |
| Oct 31, 4:30 AM PDT | 10.7 | 21.7 |
| Oct 31, 3:30 AM PDT | 10.7 | 21.7 |
| Oct 31, 2:30 AM PDT | 11 | 21.7 |
| Oct 31, 1:30 AM PDT | 11 | 21.7 |
| Oct 31, 12:30 AM PDT | 11 | 21.7 |
| Oct 30, 11:30 PM PDT | 11 | 21.7 |
| Oct 30, 10:30 PM PDT | 11.4 | 21.7 |
| Oct 30, 9:30 PM PDT | 11.4 | 21.7 |
| Oct 30, 8:30 PM PDT | 11.4 | 21.7 |
| Oct 30, 7:30 PM PDT | 11.4 | 21.7 |
| Oct 30, 6:30 PM PDT | 11.7 | 21.7 |
| Oct 30, 5:30 PM PDT | 11.7 | 21.7 |
| Oct 30, 4:30 PM PDT | 11.7 | 21.7 |
| Oct 30, 3:30 PM PDT | 12.1 | 21.7 |
| Oct 30, 2:30 PM PDT | 12.1 | 21.7 |
| Oct 30, 1:30 PM PDT | 12.1 | 21.7 |
| Oct 30, 12:30 PM PDT | 12.1 | 21.7 |
| Oct 30, 11:30 AM PDT | 12.1 | 21.7 |
| Oct 30, 10:30 AM PDT | 12.5 | 21.8 |
| Oct 30, 9:30 AM PDT | 12.5 | 21.8 |
| Oct 30, 8:30 AM PDT | 12.5 | 21.8 |
| Oct 30, 7:30 AM PDT | 12.9 | 21.8 |
| Oct 30, 6:30 AM PDT | 12.9 | 21.8 |
| Oct 30, 5:30 AM PDT | 13.2 | 21.8 |
| Oct 30, 4:30 AM PDT | 13.2 | 21.8 |
| Oct 30, 3:30 AM PDT | 13.2 | 21.8 |
| Oct 30, 2:30 AM PDT | 13.6 | 21.8 |
| Oct 30, 1:30 AM PDT | 13.6 | 21.8 |
| Oct 30, 12:30 AM PDT | 14.1 | 21.8 |
| Oct 29, 11:30 PM PDT | 14.1 | 21.8 |
| Oct 29, 10:30 PM PDT | 14.5 | 21.8 |
| Oct 29, 9:30 PM PDT | 14.5 | 21.8 |
| Oct 29, 8:30 PM PDT | 14.9 | 21.8 |
| Oct 29, 7:30 PM PDT | 15.3 | 21.8 |
| Oct 29, 6:30 PM PDT | 15.8 | 21.8 |
| Oct 29, 5:30 PM PDT | 16.2 | 21.8 |
| Oct 29, 4:30 PM PDT | 16.2 | 21.8 |
| Oct 29, 3:30 PM PDT | 17.1 | 21.9 |
Normal for Nov 5: 71–287 ft³/s (middle half of 15 years of record). Now: 11 ft³/s, lowest for this date on record.
Lowest for this date on record for this date. 11 ft³/s is below the lowest daily mean recorded on this date of daily mean flow for Nov 5 at this gauge over 15 years of record (2012–2026): 10th 44, 25th 71, median 110, 75th 287, 90th 711 ft³/s.
Daily means on record for Nov 5: lowest 30.6 ft³/s, highest 1,110 ft³/s.
Classes as USGS labels them (hyswap: flow categories (WDFN_stats schema) (U.S. Geological Survey) ); percentiles from the USGS daily statistics (U.S. Geological Survey) (approved daily means; the reading is provisional and instantaneous).
Rising over 24 hours: discharge up 43.4%, from 7.67 to 11 ft³/s. Rising or falling means a change of more than 10% in discharge (or 0.2 ft of gauge height) over 24 hours; our rule of thumb, not a USGS class.
The National Weather Service has no flood-stage gauge here, so no official flood category is shown.
No current water-temperature reading at this gauge, so no temperature guidance is given. Take a stream thermometer. Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife publishes no water-temperature line for trout anglers that we found. The lines below are the National Park Service's, federal guidance, not a Washington rule: 68°F.
This gauge is on our page for Clearwater River, but no agency page we read lists its species.
Rising water. Rising over the last 24 hours (discharge up 43.4%). Keep your way back to the bank in sight and watch the level while you fish. “Rising” is our rule of thumb: more than 10% in discharge or 0.2 ft of gauge height in 24 hours, not a USGS or NWS class.
Turn Around Don't Drown. “A mere 6 inches of fast-moving flood water can knock over an adult.” No flow number makes a crossing safe; if in doubt, stay out.
Turn Around Don't Drown (National Weather Service)Guidance from the readings above and the published thresholds named with each line; not a fishing forecast, a safety guarantee or a statement about access. Local rules and closures come first.
Checked Nov 5, 3:20 PM PST; readings refresh at most every 15 minutes and statistics daily. Provisional USGS data can be revised. Conditions change: re-check before you go. This is general guidance, not a fishing forecast, a safety guarantee or a statement about access.
Catch and releaseRepresentative photo · not White RiverThe Columbia River in Washington. Photo: Belle Unruh, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not White River.
Special-regulation trout waterRepresentative photo · not Cedar RiverThe Methow River near Pateros, Washington, at sunset. Photo: Thayne Tuason, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Cedar River.
Special-regulation trout waterRepresentative photo · not Puyallup RiverThe Columbia River Gorge looking east from Crown Point, Oregon. Photo: Hux, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons Not Puyallup River.
Special-regulation trout waterRepresentative photo · not Raging RiverSpecial-regulation trout waterRepresentative photo · not American RiverSpecial-regulation trout waterRepresentative photo · not Nisqually RiverThe Necanicum River at Klootchy Creek Park, Clatsop County, Oregon. Photo: Jsayre64, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Nisqually River.
